Spring is here and it’s time to take an inventory of any damage to your car exterior.
Repair of those minor dings, dents and scratches can keep you safe, save you money and give your car exterior a road-ready facelift just in time for the nice weather.
Dings, Dents and Scratches
No matter how carefully you park your car, you’re never completely safe from parking lot dings. Or maybe you’ve been involved in an accident that left some minor dents on your car. Everyday wear and tear can leave minor scratches on the body of your car.
Whatever the issue, now is the time to take stock of the damage and make the repairs.
Here’s why:
1. Safety
What looks to be a minor ding or dent could be far more serious than you think it is.
What seems like minor dings or dents can affect everything from alignment, bumper integrity, position of your battery and other operating components in the engine or more serious frame damage.
Taking the car in for a professional inspection lets you know for sure.
2. A Stitch in Time Saves Money
Letting minor damage go without repair for extended periods of time can lead to more serious and costly issues to the car body or mechanics as time goes on.
Leaving damage unrepaired allows it to potentially spread to other areas of the vehicle. What was once a minor repair becomes a far more costly one as it begins to affect other areas of the vehicle.
3. Damaged Finish
In most cases, even minor dings and dents get worse with time because of their ability to spread. Additionally, the original point of impact stays highly vulnerable to even more damage.
Unrepaired damage can potentially peel away the protective top coat, putting the paint and ultimately metal underneath at risk for damage.
You may not realize there has been more serious damage hidden underneath of what looks to be an insignificant dent or ding.
4. Rust
Minor unrepaired damage puts the impacted and surrounding areas of your car body at risk of rust or corrosion to the car finish, paint and underlying metal.
When the top coat or sealant is compromised or damaged, UV rays and water go on the attack and the potential for rust and corrosion damage is high. Extensive, untreated rust spreads and causes holes in the car body as rust eats away at anything in its path.
5. Trade and Resale Value
If you’ve been following today’s car market, it’s an unprecedented time for high mark-ups on used vehicles and low inventory in general.
If you are thinking of buying a new car or even selling the one you have, you can increase the value of your car when it’s in pristine condition and free of dings, dents and scratches.
When selling or trading in your car, a damaged car body leads potential buyers to believe you’ve neglected the overall care and maintenance of your vehicle for as long as you’ve owned it.
Even if that’s not the case, it sends the wrong message.
Not to mention that the better your car looks, the more value it has for you or someone else.
Professional Auto Body Repair
With all the many ways your car can be damaged, the best course of action is to fix damage early on. The sooner you take the vehicle in for a body shop estimate and inspection, the sooner you know what you’re dealing with and the more money you can save in the long run.
Body shop professionals have all the diagnostic tools to assess any underlying damage and make the proper and permanent repairs.
Conclusion
While you can try your hand at minor auto body repairs, some repairs are simply too much for your best DIY efforts. There’s also the possibility of you putting a band aid on an issue that requires more involved treatment.
In Sonoma County, call the auto body repair experts at Downtown Autobody. We’re here to repair those dings, dents and scratches to return your car body to like-new condition and keep you safe.
