It’s no stretch to say that nobody likes car dents. They affect the appearance of your car and can be a nuisance to repair. Luckily, knowing the most common causes of car dents makes it easier to avoid this type of damage.
The Doors of Other Cars
You know what it’s like. You park your car, do some shopping, and come back to your vehicle to find out that the person parked next to you dented your car with their door and then left.
While there are no official statistics about car dents, this is probably the top cause. That’s why you should always try to park away from other cars whenever possible.
Of course, you can’t avoid other cars forever. If you absolutely have to park next to other cars, choose small cars as your neighbors — they are less likely to dent your car due to their size.
Grocery Carts
The humble grocery carts are another common culprit when it comes to car dents.
To avoid this type of damage, steer clear of the areas where people are more likely to walk with their carts.
For example, shoppers tend to prefer parking spots near the entrance of the supermarket. This is convenient, but leaves your vehicle exposed to heavier grocery cart traffic.
Choosing the back of the parking lot prevents dents and helps you add some exercise to your routine.
Hail
No matter where you leave, hail season is dent season.
As you may imagine, hail damage is not exactly easy to repair, so you want to do all your can to protect your vehicle from this natural phenomenon.
Start by checking the weather forecast regularly. This has the added advantage of helping you stay ahead of other events that might affect your driving such as rain, fog, or snow.
Of course, covering your car also helps. Having a garage or a carport is a huge plus. But even if you don’t have any of those, you can always purchase a high-quality car cover.
Quick tip: check if your auto insurance policy covers hail damage. If it doesn’t and you live in an area where hail is common, it may be worth it to purchase hail coverage at an extra cost.
Falling or Flying Debris
Let’s say, for example, that it’s a sunny day and you decide to park under a tree. It makes sense, since this offers some degree of protection against sun rays and keeps your car cool while you are away.
But lo and behold — you come back to discover that a heavy branch fell on your car, causing a noticeable dent.
As you can see, this is perhaps the most unpredictable cause of car dents. There is no sure-fire way to prevent it, but there are some steps you can take to limit the risks:
- Remain alert at all times.
- Keeping a safe distance from other cars when you drive (the three second rule) will help you avoid both debris and collisions.
- Avoid distractions such as eating or checking your phone while you drive.
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