Dings and dents can happen just about anywhere on a vehicle. From top to bottom and everywhere in between, if you own a vehicle, chances are you have had to deal with these unfortunate, all-too-common occurrences.
You want to protect your car, but most dings and dents aren’t your fault. They can come as a mysterious door ding after you return from shopping or a hailstorm your local meteorologist didn’t predict.
Taking care of your car will take care of you, but sometimes, the unexpected happens. As a car owner, you must prepare for the unexpected and know how to protect your car from door dings and other everyday occurrences.
By following these tips, prevent door dings and protect your car from common dent occurrences.
Protecting Your Car from Door Dings
Remember that car you parked next to that you thought was hugging the line a little too tight? Someone opened their door while you were in the store, and…bam! Now, the side of your car has a large dent in it.
Several things can cause door dings. Other drivers in parking lots, runaway shopping carts that weren’t appropriately corralled, opening your door too fast next to another vehicle, or even kids playing baseball in the yard.
For this reason, prevention is critical. You can proactively do a few things to protect your car from door dings and other exterior damage.
Park away from other cars.
Parking further away to prevent car dents may be stating the obvious. Still, it’s a tip people often overlook for convenience. Step away from the crowd and give yourself a few spaces on each side. Set the tone inside the lines for everyone else, and exercise while you’re at it!
If all else fails, try to find an end spot – that means one less car to worry about in the parking lot.
Open your door slowly.
You’re excited to get where you’re going. Still, it’s essential to be aware of your surroundings – a curb, a railing at a gas pump, another vehicle, or even a wall could be in your way. Slowly opening your car door or readjusting your car within a space can help reduce the risk of accidentally colliding with another object. Even if you’re in a hurry, taking a second to slow down and assess your car with its surroundings can save your doors, mirrors, bumpers, and side panels from costly and unappealing dents and scrapes.
Educate your kids around the car.
Our kids might have excellent intentions, but they aren’t always the most careful. As a parent, you understand that accidents happen – especially when kids are involved. Because kids don’t understand how much your vehicle costs, a door ding or a dent may not seem like a big deal. Take some time to teach them how to be careful when entering and exiting the car and avoid playing with balls, bikes and other potentially damaging toys around it.
Protecting Your Car from Daily Dents
Unfortunately, dents and dings don’t just happen when your car is left unattended in a parking lot. Sometimes, it can happen while you are on the road or even in your driveway. Here are some tips to prevent daily dings and dents.
Leave space between the car in front of you.
When driving on main roads or highways, staying close behind the car in front of you can be second nature, especially if you are driving in traffic. However, the closer you are to that car, the more likely it is for debris from the road to be kicked back at your car. Rocks, salt, sticks, and other debris can impact your safety and cause serious damage to your headlights, hood, mirrors, and windshield if they become airborne from the car in front of you.
Maintaining at least a three-second following distance is recommended to give yourself enough time to react if something were to fly back in your direction.
Use covered parking to escape the elements.
If you have a garage or covered parking, use it! It is the best way to protect your car. Covered parking has many benefits, including protection from heavy winds, snow, tornadoes, or hailstorms that can come with costly deductibles.
Exposure to all the elements – ice, snow, rain, heat, sun, etc. – can wear down your car’s exterior. Heavy winds can pull down tree limbs or send branches or debris flying in your car’s direction. A hailstorm can leave your car with dozens of dents, even damaging the paint job depending on the hail size.
Leaving your car exposed to extreme temperatures in the summer and winter may not dent your car’s exterior but can wear down the paint and even the interior of your car, especially if you have leather seats. That’s why it’s essential to take advantage of covered parking as much as possible, no matter the season.
TIP: If you don’t have the luxury of a garage or covered parking, a quality vehicle cover is the next best thing. From basic $50 options to $500 workhorse covers that claim to stop ten softball-sized hail stones at “terminal velocity,” plenty of products are designed to protect your vehicle from the elements.
Don’t put or store items on your car.
When getting in and out of your car, putting items on the hood, roof, or trunk can be second nature throughout the day. From keys to coffee cups and even groceries, if your hands are full, your car’s exterior might become a temporary surface to hold these items.
However, something as small as your keys has the potential to scratch the finish of your car. Heavier items can leave permanent dents in your hood, roof, or trunk, especially if items are stored on your car for more extended periods. Even if your car is sitting in your garage, if it has items on top of it, your car’s exterior is at risk. Try to utilize extra storage and shelving in your garage to prevent dings and scratches on your car from storing items on it.
Get comprehensive coverage.
Not all vehicle owners have comprehensive coverage, leaving them to pay for weather-related damage out-of-pocket. Most insurance companies offer comprehensive coverage options that cover anything from a minor hailstorm to a tree falling on your hood, for instance. Check with your insurance company to determine their policy for this type of damage. This is a reasonable precaution to have “just in case” because if you fall victim to weather or hail damage, all you need to pay is a deductible.
Fix Door Dings and Exterior Dents with Dent Wizard
Dings and dents happen. That’s why Dent Wizard offers affordable Paintless Dent Repair and Hail Damage Repair and a full line of service plans to repair door dings, dents and more substantial damage to get your car back on the road quickly.
Additionally, suppose your vehicle has been damaged by hail. In that event, Dent Wizard will work with your insurance company to repair all dings and dents caused by hail, with a limited lifetime warranty and, in many cases, at no additional cost aside from your standard insurance deductible. To learn more about our services or receive a free estimate of your repair costs, connect with our experts.