Living in major cities like Dallas can make protecting your vehicle from other drivers or general parking lots a real challenge. Eventually we are all faced with someone accidentally bumping our door, scratching a fender, etc. No matter how carefully you drive or how well you take care of your vehicle, sooner or later you will probably end up with a car dent or two. Somebody opens their car door into yours. A careless driver bumps into you from behind during a traffic jam and leaves you with a dent. Perhaps you accidentally throw a baseball into your car while playing catch with your kids. There are many ways that cars can accumulate scratches and dents.
If it’s a large dent, most people will get it fixed right away. But, when it’s only a small dent, it can be easy to put off delaying repairs. You tell yourself it doesn’t look good but it’s only a minor blemish. Or, the car is getting older, so a minor ding here and there doesn’t really matter. Or, you tell yourself you’ll get it fixed sooner or later, just not today. So, you put it on the back burner of your to-do list and somehow it never seems to get done.
Next thing you know, six months or a year have gone by and that car dent is still there. Only now it’s looking bigger and uglier than when you first got it. So, you begin thinking, “I really need to get that fixed,” but somehow a good reason for continued delay always seems to get in the way. Meanwhile, who knows what’s happening to your car underneath the dent?
- Damage to Paint
When you ignore the auto body paint damage that occurs with a dent, it will invariably get worse, never better. Weather conditions, everyday wear-and-tear, and even washing your car can cause the cracks in the paint to grow larger. This can lead to flaking and peeling, leaving the underlying sealant exposed. If the car dent is severe enough to damage the sealant as well, peeling paint can leave bare metal exposed. Once the metal is exposed to the elements, it’s only a matter of time before it starts to rust. - Rust Problems
Dents cause unsightly blemishes on your car. But, the real problem with most dents is the damage they cause to the paint. Cracks caused by the impact can allow water to seep underneath the paint and clear coat where it will reach the unprotected metal part of the car. Over time, the water will cause the metal to oxidize, causing rust spots. If the size of the dent and the damage to the paint are small enough, you may not notice the rust at first. By the time you do, there’s a good chance it will have expanded in size, making it bigger and unsightly compared than the original dent. - Cheaper to Fix.
Fixing car dents right away will invariably cost less than if you wait. It doesn’t take long for rust spots to appear or paint to start flaking away. If you live in areas with a lot of salt in the air (along the coast) or severe weather, the damage will spread even faster. - Reduced Resale Value
No matter how well your car runs, the exterior appearance is an important factor for anyone looking to purchase a used car. Few things lower the value of a used car like unrepaired dents, even if they’re small. Add paint damage and rust spots to the car dents and the price a buyer is willing to pay goes down even more. Furthermore, unrepaired dents are a sign of a neglectful owner. Potential buyers may wonder what else is wrong with the car because you didn’t take care of the engine, brakes, or other parts. Unless your car is old and in poor condition overall, fixing any dents should bring you a better price. - Safety For You & Your Vehicle
When it comes to car maintenance, safety is always the #1 priority. Even small dings and car dents can mask underlying structural damage that isn’t obvious on the surface. For example, today’s flexible bumper covers with plastic outer coatings are designed to minimize damage in low-speed collisions. Yet, the underlying damage can often be much worse than it looks on the surface. If you get in a head-on or rear bumper collision that damages the quarter panel, it could bend the underlying metal. This can lead to front- or rear-end instability that could compromise vehicle safety and cause an accident.
For many car owners, there’s one final reason to fix car bumper dents right away – pride of ownership. If you care about your car’s appearance and take good care of it with regular washing and waxing, it doesn’t make sense to leave a dent unrepaired.
If your vehicle has received body, frame or paint damage, call Texas Body Works at (972) 250-6722 and see how we can help! Contact us now to for a FREE ESTIMATE!