Rear Fender Repair / Replacement
 

I have a damaged rear fender. I want to have the fender replaced in an effort to avoid body filler. The adjuster commented that no matter what I would wind up with body filler, even if they replaced the panel.

I am not expert, but I can understand how a small amount might be used on a new fender in order to make sure it is "perfect" however, I can't fathom how we would be talking about the same amount of body filler as would be involved in fixing a panel that has to be pulled back in to form.

What am I missing here?

It depends on how bad the damage is, but normally, replaceing a quarter panel will use less body filler then to fix the damage.

If they replace the fender as a whole it wont need filler but doing that is expensive

There will be a welded and ground seam where the quarter panel ends on the rocker and one on the roof. A thin layer of filler is used in both spots to perfect the surface. Like BlackZ said it depends on how bad the damage is and how good the body guy is also.
Post a pic

Thanks all. You confirmed what I was thinking.