4 Reasons Why You Should Never Ignore Minor Car Dents
A minor, low-speed collision may result in little more than a dent in your bumper or fender. It may seem logical to simply ignore the damage as a cosmetic inconvenience, but even a small dent can lead to bigger problems in the future. There are several reasons why you should always have dents assessed and repaired by a mechanic.
1. Rust and Corrosion
One of the biggest concerns of minor dents is that they can eventually lead to major rust and corrosion problems. If the paint surface is even lightly chipped or cracked, moisture will make its way into the bare metal. Rust can spread underneath the surrounding paint, so you may not even be aware of the extent of the damage until a major repair or car panel replacement is needed.
2. Hidden Damage
What looks like a minor dent on the outside could be hiding more major damage underneath. This is especially true when the dent affects a front fender, as the impact may have also damaged or weakened axle joints or other parts of the wheel and brake system. A minor dent on a trunk or door may be just enough to keep it from sealing correctly, which can lead to water incursion and rot issues inside the car. All dents should be assessed to make sure there is no hidden collateral damage.
3. Paint Protection
Smooth dents with apparently undamaged paint are relatively common in a low-speed impact. The paint appears completely undamaged, and the panel is just dented inward a bit. Often, though, the clear coat over the paint has suffered minute cracking from the impact that isn't immediately visible. Over time these cracks will spread thanks to weather and moisture exposure. This will affect the paint quality across the entire panel, eventually leading to the need to repaint the entire thing.
4. Money Savings
Perhaps the biggest reason to fix a small dent right away is cost. If the dent is so small that putting off a repair is being considered, then chances are it qualifies for paintless dent removal. This low-cost repair consists of little more than popping out the dent and smoothing the panel mechanically. In some cases, it may also involve resealing the paint's topcoat to avoid some of the damage mentioned above. If you put off the repair, you may be dealing with a more involved removal process or a more expensive new paint job.
Contact an auto collision repair service near you if you have any questions about minor dents and damage.
