Minor damage to your car, including scratches, dings, and dents, happen to even the most careful drivers. With minor damage comes unexpected repair costs. From parking lot mishaps, to rogue shopping trolleys, minor damage can still burn a hole in your wallet.
In this article, we explore the top 5 causes behind minor car damage:
1.Parking lot mishaps
Parking lots are the number one hotspot for minor car damage. Tight spaces, ignorant drivers and swinging car doors increase the risk of minor car damage.
Imagine this: You stop at the shops on your way home from work to get the one ingredient you’re missing for the night’s dinner. You meticulously park between the white lines, because you know how careless other drivers can be when opening their car doors. After returning to your car, you notice a scratch on your driver’s side door, with a smudge of white paint. Your car is silver… Where did it come from? You know it wasn’t there before, and unsurprisingly, there’s no white car in sight.
No matter how careful you are when parking your car, parking lot mishaps still happen. And when they do, you’re the one who’s left with the bill.
2.Rogue shopping trolleys
While a necessity for monthly grocery shops, unattended shopping trolleys can wreak havoc on your parked car. Just a slight breeze can send a rogue trolley straight into your car, leaving behind a nasty scratch or dent.
The problem with rogue shopping trolleys is that they’re created by careless shoppers. This makes them unpredictable and difficult to avoid. Despite designated storage areas, trolleys still manage to roam freely, posing a threat to parked cars. Rogue shopping trolleys can easily put a dent in your car, and your budget.
3.Curbs
We’ve all been there before. Minor collisions with curbs are a common occurrence. A slight misjudgement or a tight turn that leads to a bump with a curb. Those seemingly innocuous barriers between roads, sidewalks or parking spaces, pose a threat to your car.
Imagine navigating through a narrow street or attempting to parallel park in a tight spot. In the heat of the moment, you misjudge the distance between your car and the curb, resulting in a gentle, but harmful bump. The result? Scrapes, scratches, and sometimes even dents on your car’s rims, bumpers, or side panels.
4.Unpredictable weather
Mother nature can be unpredictable, and when she gets angry, your car often gets caught in the crossfire. Think of hailstorms, thunderstorms, and strong winds. Unpredictable weather can cause minor damage to your car. In a matter of minutes, your car’s once-pristine exterior could have unpleasant scratches, dings or dents. No matter the season, minor car damage can be costly to repair, especially if you don’t have the right coverage.
5.Flying stones
Flying stones are all too common, especially on highways, where debris gets kicked up from passing vehicles. These flying stones can chip away at your car’s paint, leaving minor paint chips and marks that can lead to rust if left unaddressed. If a flying stone were to hit your car’s windscreen, it would likely cause a chip. A chip on your car’s windscreen can lead to a series of cracks, which is a serious driving hazard.
You can’t avoid minor car damage
No matter how hard you try, it’s impossible to avoid minor car damage. You can take all the precautions, but minor car damage will still put a dent in your budget.
While minor car damage may seem insignificant, if left unrepaired, can cause major damage. Repair costs can add up quickly, especially if you don’t fix the damage straight away. The good news is, you can protect yourself from these repair bills with Scratch and Dent Insurance from Bidvest Insurance. Our Scratch and Dent Insurance covers specified minor car damage. Specified minor car damage includes:scratches, dents, windscreen chips, and tar removal.
Don’t let minor damage turn into a major headache. Get Scratch and Dent Insurance today and keep your car in showroom condition.
