Most body repairs minor things that could easily have been
avoided like corrective paint work, parking lot dings, and vandalism.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid being a victim of one of these minor
body repairs.
Corrective Paint Work
Most corrective paint work is a result of one thing: neglect.
A car, like your body, needs a certain amount of maintenance otherwise it starts to degrade. Most people associate this with things like tune-ups, oil changes, and tire rotations. But this maintenance goes for your car's body, too. Much like a person needs to shower every day to stay clean and healthy, so, too, should you wash your car. Dirt and dust cling to your car and act like sandpaper, slowly eroding the protective paint and clearcoat. When your car's body also has to contend with things like acid rain, and even more acidic bird poop, eventually the paint will begin to chip or, worse, the body will rust.
But don't stop at just washing your car! For an added layer of protection, it helps to wax your car every so often. Wax not only makes your car look shiny and new, but helps to resist dirt and dust build-up. We recommend waxing your car at least once every two months.
Parking Lot Dings
Perhaps the easiest type of body repair to avoid is parking lot dings. These are typically dings from shopping carts, car doors, or (in the worst cases) minor accidents. Here are some helpful tips on avoiding these issues:
Vandalism
Far and away, the best thing you can do to prevent vandalism is keeping your car in a garage. However, many people don't have this luxury. So what else can you do?
If you have a driveway, keep your vehicles parked in as far as possible and consider investing in motion-detecting outdoor lights. If you cannot park in a driveway, park near as many other cars as possible, but avoid parking near large buildings. These buildings can give vandals an easy place to hide. Also make sure the area you are parking in is well-lit.
Finally, investing in a full-size car cover is never a bad idea. Besides being more work than most vandals wish to put into their activities, it also protects your car from needing other types of minor body repair.
Corrective Paint Work
Most corrective paint work is a result of one thing: neglect.
A car, like your body, needs a certain amount of maintenance otherwise it starts to degrade. Most people associate this with things like tune-ups, oil changes, and tire rotations. But this maintenance goes for your car's body, too. Much like a person needs to shower every day to stay clean and healthy, so, too, should you wash your car. Dirt and dust cling to your car and act like sandpaper, slowly eroding the protective paint and clearcoat. When your car's body also has to contend with things like acid rain, and even more acidic bird poop, eventually the paint will begin to chip or, worse, the body will rust.
But don't stop at just washing your car! For an added layer of protection, it helps to wax your car every so often. Wax not only makes your car look shiny and new, but helps to resist dirt and dust build-up. We recommend waxing your car at least once every two months.
Parking Lot Dings
Perhaps the easiest type of body repair to avoid is parking lot dings. These are typically dings from shopping carts, car doors, or (in the worst cases) minor accidents. Here are some helpful tips on avoiding these issues:
- Do not park near a shopping cart corral. That's just asking for trouble.
- If possible, find an end spot. This effectively halves the chances of something bad happening.
- Do not squeeze your car into tight spaces.
- As a matter of fact, it is often best to park away from other cars. We recommend at least one space separation, preferably more.
- When pulling out, pull out slowly and check in both directions multiple times.
Vandalism
Far and away, the best thing you can do to prevent vandalism is keeping your car in a garage. However, many people don't have this luxury. So what else can you do?
If you have a driveway, keep your vehicles parked in as far as possible and consider investing in motion-detecting outdoor lights. If you cannot park in a driveway, park near as many other cars as possible, but avoid parking near large buildings. These buildings can give vandals an easy place to hide. Also make sure the area you are parking in is well-lit.
Finally, investing in a full-size car cover is never a bad idea. Besides being more work than most vandals wish to put into their activities, it also protects your car from needing other types of minor body repair.
