Counting dents sounds simple until a bonnet has hundreds of them. It is easy to lose track of which dents you have already counted, and every dent you miss comes straight off your quote.
Use a PDR light (a fluorescent line light is the standard) or move the car under cover so there is no ambient glare. The dents show as dark bends in the light’s reflection. Scan one panel at a time, from one edge to the other, and keep your marking pen moving so you can see where you have been.
Experienced technicians spot hail damage just walking past a car, but they still count systematically. Practise the routine until it is automatic.
Go deeper: this tip comes from the PDR eBook. See what is inside the eBook.
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