Your vehicle needs more than mechanical maintenance and repairs to stay in its best condition. The body also requires maintenance and occasional repairs to look great and work as designed. Sometimes, it’s really easy to tell when your car needs the help of auto body services, but other times, you may wonder if it’s necessary. If you are wondering if you should visit a local auto body shop, here are three indicators that your car needs help.

1. Collision Damage Occurred

There’s no more definitive sign that a car needs auto body service than when it suffers collision damage. Unfortunately, car accidents are a reality that any driver must consider before putting in the keys. The very real potential for collisions occurring is why according to Grand View Research, the world’s auto collision repair market topped $195.27 billion in 2022 and should rise by nearly 2% annually through 2030. You might find yourself among those contributing to that percentage if you are in a collision that damages the body, which commonly happens.

2. Peeling Clearcoat and Fading Paint

You might notice some older vehicles that have peeling clearcoat and badly faded paint. That is caused by a lack of washing and waxing the paint to protect it against the outdoor elements. The sun’s hot UV rays are especially damaging to automotive paint and get a big assist from wind, blowing sand, and precipitation. The general effects of weathering are very damaging to automotive paint and could cause rust and corrosion that a local body shop could fix with a body prep and paint service.

3. Stone Chips, Scratches, and Shallow Dents

Stones and other hard objects thrown up by the tires of other vehicles can cause deep chips in your vehicle’s paint that might trigger rust. Scrapes, scratches, and small dents could occur in many ways, including by the doors of other vehicles that are parked next to yours when their owners and passengers get in and out. Hail is especially harmful to a vehicle and could total it by putting hundreds of tiny dents or more into the exposed surfaces of your vehicle. Hail also can break the auto glass, headlights, and turn signals. Whatever the cause might be, seemingly minor damage might lead to costlier problems if you don’t fix it with the help of a local auto body shop.

These are some of the reasons that you need to take your car in! If you have any questions or your car isn't feeling like it's running right, don't delay. With 20 years of experience, Quality Collision can provide the inspection and guidance you need. Call or visit our local auto body shop to learn more about our services!