4 things that can damage your car's paintwork - and what to do about them!
A pristine car with a showroom shine is something that we all strive for, but every day our cars are exposed to a host of things that can damage the paintwork.
If you don’t tackle even minor damage quickly, it can lead to costly repairs in the longer term; expect to pay a few hundred pounds for a panel respray and thousands for a more extensive repair.
However, with the right know-how up your sleeve, it is possible to ensure that common causes of damage to car paintwork don’t take the shine off yours – and prevent damage to your car’s paintwork in the future.
How to deal with damage to your car’s paintwork
Follow these experts tips to keep your car’s paintwork looking its best for longer.
Tar, grit and insects
Simply taking your car out on the roads exposes it to things that can stick to – and damage – the paintwork. In particular, tar and grime from road surfaces, and even splattered insects, can be difficult to remove.
A special tar and bug remover, like Halfords Bug & Tar Remover, should help break down this kind of residue without damaging the paint.
Similarly, small stones and grit can do considerable damage, depending on the speed you’re driving at. The National Body Repair Association (NBRA) advises using a touch-up pen stick such as the Halfords Chip/Scratch Repair Pen in a colour matched to your car’s paintwork on small nicks and scratches.
Martyn Rowley, executive director, NBRA suggests another clever trick: “A cost-effective way of providing temporary protection is using an acrylic-based clear nail varnish to touch up the chipped area. It provides a protective layer which water and air will not penetrate, preventing rust.”
car paintwork repair
Bird droppings and tree sap
Bird droppings on your car aren’t just annoying, they can also do considerable and permanent damage to your paintwork due to the acidity so it’s very important to deal with them before they get a chance to react with the surface of your car’s paintwork. Left untreated, bird droppings can eat through the surface of your car’s paintwork or bleach the colour of the paintwork underneath. Remove them with a wet cloth as soon as you can.
Similarly, tree sap should be cleaned off as soon as possible with a gentle car cleaner – for example, Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Wash & Wax Car Shampoo.
Direct sunlight
Parking your car in direct sunlight can result in the paintwork becoming faded as UV rays start to degrade it.
While it’s not always possible to park your car in a shaded area, regularly waxing the paintwork after washing will also help prevent sun damage and may help restore discoloured paintwork, depending how bad the damage is.
Car park dents
Your car may be vulnerable to flying debris on the road but it’s nothing compared to the hazards lurking in car parks. From shopping trolleys to careless drivers, it’s hard to avoid the odd scratch and dent.
The NBRA recommends using a scratch remover such as Turtlewax Scratch Remover or a touch-up pen to restore this kind of damage to your car’s paintwork.
Sun cream and fuel
They may not be the first things that spring to mind when you think of likely causes of damage to car paintwork, but sun cream smears from hands and fuel that drips onto paintwork when you’re filling up can also spoil your car’s paintwork.
Wipe these away as soon as possible and clean your car regularly to prevent long-lasting damage.
car paintwork repair
Expert tips to prevent damage to your car’s paintwork
- When visiting a supermarket or retail park, try to park away from trolley bays and corners to avoid your car being exposed to mishaps.
- There’s no better way to safeguard your car’s paintwork than to keep it in a garage. If you don’t have one, check to see if your local council rents garages or search for a garage to rent near your home online on a website such as On The Market or Gumtree.
- Washing your car regularly is one of the best defences against paint damage but always do so when it is cool and out of sunlight.
- Wipe away anything that has stuck to or smeared your car’s paintwork as soon as possible after you notice it.
- Wax your car after washing to protect the bodywork for even longer.