Caring for Your Car’s New Paint after a Repair

Your car has been to the collision shop, it’s been repaired, made to look new, and you’ve taken it home. If it had a new paint job, your body shop technicians were meticulous in ensuring that the new paint matched the old paint. Paint is tasked with protecting your car from rust, so it’s up to you to keep it in shape.

Look for Flaws

As with any repair, if you notice something isn’t right, say something as soon as possible. This goes for paint too! One of the hardest parts about painting a car after a repair is matching the original paint.

  • Look at the color on a bright sunny day.
  • Check up close and from a distance.
  • Look for hairs, dirt and overspray.
  • The paint should be smooth and even.

Take Extra Care for 30-60 Days

When your car was new, you were probably extra careful with it, protecting its shiny new paint and treating it with some fragility. After a major repair, this is a great way to treat fresh paint! It needs time to cure and harden before it can truly protect your car. While new cars have time in a protected environment before they’re sold, a fresh repair is back out on the road ASAP. Make sure to give your paint a little extra love and care.

The following are some everyday things that can damage your paint.

Dirt Roads & Construction Zones

Loose gravel and dirt is on the road, it’s unavoidable. If you can avoid dirt roads and major construction zones while your paint is fresh, it will go a long way in protecting your paint, which is vulnerable to chips and scrapes from flying debris.

Scraping or Chipping at Snow or Ice

In winter (or long-lasting spring), chipping away at snow and ice on your windshield is necessary. Make sure you’re not scraping it from the paint too!

Splattered Bugs

Splattered bugs on the windshield are an obvious annoyance, but thanks to the acidity of bug splatter (ew!) they’re also damaging to your paint and can become permanently etched into the surface.

Bird Droppings

As gross as it is go find bird poop on your car, the droppings can also be full of acidic berries, hard seeds, and other grainy bits that can dull and scratch the paint on your car.

Tree Sap

Parking under a tree leaves your car vulnerable to more than damage from animals, it might leave your car covered in sap! Sticky and full of chemicals that aren’t meant to interact with car paint, it’s best to find another shady spot to leave your car.

Sunlight

Sunlight can also damage your paint. The UV rays cause paint to dull and fade, just like they can damage your skin.

Commercial Car Washes

Keeping your car clean is an important part of protecting the paint! It’s best to hand-wash new paint in cool water with mild soap with a soft sponge or cloth. Don’t use chemicals, avoid dish or laundry detergent, and make sure your water is clean and not full of dust and pebbles. Avoid leaving it to dry in the sun.

How To Find A Great Collision Repair Shop

Tips for Finding an Excellent Collision Repair Shop

Choosing a collision repair shop following an accident isn’t always as simple as taking your vehicle to your regular auto maintenance provider. While your regular repair shop might have a thorough understanding of how to maintain your vehicle, it’s unlikely that they spend much time dealing with cosmetic issues, or with seriously damaged vehicles.

When you’re trying to find a collision repair shop, there are a few key things that you should look for.

Auto Body Shop vs Mechanic

A mechanic is typically the first stop for drivers looking for a repair. Mechanics generally have the skills and the tools to repair or replace the inner parts of a vehicle. If a dashboard warning light is on, if a headlight is broken, or if the car is making a funny noise, a mechanic is a great place to go.

However, if there are any issues involving the vehicle’s appearance, an auto body shop is generally needed. A body shop also has the tools and experience to repair or replace the inner workings of a vehicle. In addition, they evaluate the appearance of the vehicle and make it look like new.

Ask Around

Before you go to any shop, ask around for recommendations. Anyone in town, from friends and family to a friendly grocer or a neighbor can have tips, especially if you know they’ve been involved in an accident. The internet is also a great resource, and it’s full of reviews from people who have worked with various collision repair shops in your area.

Visit the Shop

Visit the shop before you commit, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. You can get a feel for how the shop is run and how they treat their customers from a quick visit.

● Is the staff professional? A great collision repair shop should treat you with respect, be organized, and be willing and able to answer questions that you have. They may also have awards, memberships, and other certificates hanging in the lobby.

● Can you see the vehicles that are currently being repaired? Look at their age, make, and model. Are they similar to yours? Ask the customer service staff if the shop has experience working on vehicles like yours.

● Ask about any work or parts guarantees, warranties, or standards. Check that they accept your method of payment, and ask if they have availability.

● Before a shop can commit, they’ll likely have to see your vehicle.