Did you know that dings and dents contribute to the largest portion of the damage done to cars?
For most people, their car is their pride and joy. Scratched and dents can make your car look aged, cheap, and not very well taken care of. This can cause understandable frustration, anger, and even embarrassment when this happens and the added headache of cosmetic repairs. The good news is there are a few things you can do to prevent this from happening.
Keep reading to learn a few helpful tips to prevent your four-wheeled baby from getting dings and dents.
Be Mindful Of Your Public Parking Spot
Public parking lots are the most commonplace for dings and dents. It’s a good idea to stop parking closer to the entry of the places you’re going to in order to avoid the crowded parking spots.
If for example, you’re parking at Mercedes Benz Stadium, make sure to park further away from the crowds in the back of the lot. Not only will you get the benefit of having some extra steps added to your day, but also protect your car and avoid the potential of having a new ding, dent, or scratch on your car.
Check Out The Car Next To You
Speaking of parking lots, if you don’t have the option to park further away from the crowd be mindful of who you park next to.
Generally, if you part next to a beat-up car chances are the owner doesn’t care much about scratched or door dings and likely won’t be careful opening up their car doors. Your best bet would be to not park next to these types of cars.
Another thing to keep in mind when parking spot hunting? Size matters. For the cars next to you that is!
If you drive a smaller car and the cars next to you are larger, or vice versa, you may be more susceptible to dings and dents. The reason for this is that the way the doors open will be either higher or lower than your vehicle’s side and will more likely hit you. Cars that are similar in size to yours will swing open level with your door to avoid bigger car dings.
Watch The Weather For Dings and Dents
Sometimes, it isn’t someone else’s fault when it comes to dings and dents. The weather can damage your vehicle just as much as someone opening their door too hard into your car. Weather-related damage to vehicles is the second more common cosmetic damage that can be done to your car.
Hail and wind that blow objects like branches around can hit your car and cause damage. It’s important to find a sheltered spot to keep your vehicle safe during inclement weather to avoid weather-related damage.
How Do You Wash Your Car?
The quick and convenient way of driving your car through a carwash can actually do more harm than good.
Make sure that if you do opt for one of those drive-thru washes, that it’s a reputable and touchless one. The ones that do not offer touchless can leave your vehicle scratched and nicked up from the brushes and mop-like curtain that you drive through.
Your best bet is to wash your car yourself by hand if you have the space and time to do so. If not, there are places that offer a self-cleaning service for your vehicle. Just be sure to do your research.
Keeping Up Cosmetic Vehicle Maintenance
Did you know that putting extra effort into the cosmetics of your vehicle will avoid scratching? How?
Applying a coat of wax to your vehicle after you give it a wash will help keep dust and airborne particles, both while you’re driving and when you’re parked. The wax will work as a protective barrier that will have those particles bounce off and keep your car paint scratch-free.
If you’re not sure how to wax a car yourself, more touchless car washes offer a wax coating for an extra cost, or you can visit an autobody shop for them to do it manually for you.
Sports Players In The Neighborhood?
A hockey puck or a soccer ball can easily find its way magnetically attracted to your car.
Whether you’re out on the driveway or road playing with your children, or the neighborhood kids are having a pick-up game in the street, pretty serious dings and dents can happen by a rogue puck!
This is yet another reason why finding a covered and safe parking spot is important. Or better yet, maybe trying to redirect the pick-up street game towards another neighbors house to prevent a dent. Either way, be mindful of the events that go on in the streets and driveway to avoid any damage or worse a broken windshield.
Getting The Proper Feel For Your Car
You’ll find after a while of driving your car, you get a pretty great feel for the distance of your hood, bumper, and the sides. Your car becomes a sort of an extension of yourself in terms of understanding where its limits are which makes driving and parking a breeze.
For those who are new drivers, learning this skill takes a lot of time, patience, and of course practice. During the time that you’re learning how to understand your vehicle feel and size, you’re more susceptible to getting self-inflicted dings and dents.
Try not to test your skills with tight parking spots, or cutting close on turns to avoid misjudging the distance and scratching your car, and preventing a dent.
Minimizing Dings and Dents
Whether you’re a new car owner or you’ve had your vehicle for a while now dings and dents are bound to happen. You can minimize the amount of these you get by following some of these helpful tips and tricks to keep your baby scratch and dent free!
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