Different Types of Car Dents Explained

Try as we all may, accidents happen even to the most careful of us. Whether it’s an act of nature, a wayward shopping trolley or a pre-occupied driver, dents, dings, scrapes and bangs can and most likely will happen to you sometime during the life of your car. For some of us, maybe even a few times. Luckily, there are techniques and specialty shops that are there when our cars need them the most.

As there are many ways to get a dent, there are then many types of dent and not all of them are treated the same way. Some can cause way more damage than others and others look simple to repair, but underneath may require precision techniques to not damage your car’s paint job. 

Being able to identify different dents can save you time and money in the future. Let’s go over the types of dents you could come across in your years as a car owner and how to go about fixing them so your car keeps looking fab for years to come.

Types of Car Dent

Round Dents

One of the most common types of dent that are found on the body of a car. Round dents are often caused by direct impact to the car from, as they name implies, a round object or piece of debris. These are also among the easiest dents to repair because of their round shape, though can also look like a funnel with a point midway down or form a shallow pool.            

Hail damage can also be classified as round dents and they are usually found on the vehicle’s bonnet, roof and boot lid. If the hail is particularly large or sharp, it can cause huge amounts of damage and it is recommended to get it into a specialist quickly after contacting your insurance company.

Dings

As the name suggests, it’s less severe than a round dent. Sometimes this term is used for all types of dents, but it is actually a very specific kind. Dings are minor, with a general diameter of around half a centimeter. With a ding, there is no paint chipping or metal exposure to rust.

Common causes are shopping carts, rocks, slamming the car door against an object or having another door hit the side of your car. These types of dents shouldn’t cause too much trouble and can easily be fixed.

Creased Dents

When sharp objects or heavy objects, such as edges of metal doors, tree branches, or bike handlebars, are dragged along the side of your car, you get a creased dent. Creased dents come in many shapes and sizes, often warp the body of the car and can even stretch metal out of place. Depending on the severity, creased dents can cause more denting and points on the body of a vehicle and they also have been known to grow worse over time if left alone.

Sharp Dents

Sharp dents are the kind of dent that is found on the body line of your car, called swage because the points stick out a little. These dents are often deeper and tighter than round dents, making them harder to repair, especially if they are in a difficult spot. Because of how they look after they are formed, sharp dents are the easiest to identify and spot.

As the name suggests, these dents are caused by colliding with a sharp object. Many times, these are due to car accidents and the sharp dent is at the point of impact. Sharp dents usually have steep sides, leaving the rest of the panel relatively untouched. Professional dent removal techniques are recommended for sharp dents due to how they sink into the surface of the car. 

Multi-Point Dents

Not all dents have just one point of impact, such as multi-point dents. They are normally the result of car accidents and tend to be more complex than the other types, but they are fixable with professional repair techniques such as paintless dent repair. Because they range in complexity and size, it is recommended to go right to a professional and skip the DIY approach.

Determining the Damage

No matter how big the dent is, you will want to get it fixed as soon as possible. From small to large, as long as the paint has not been damaged, a PDR specialist can get you in tip top shape in no time. If the paintwork has been damaged, then it will need to be fixed in order to prevent further damage to your car. Leaving bad dents with damaged paintwork will leave your car open to rust damage. 

Top Quality Dent Repair and Service

At Caversham Coachworks, our mission is to provide top quality car repairs and dent removal services. Our technicians have the skills and tools to get your vehicle looking new again, whether you’re dealing with a minor or a serious dent. We offer exceptional service and use the most modern, safe techniques to repair your vehicle.

Call us today to get your free estimate and see why we are the leading independent vehicle repair centre in Berkshire and Central Oxfordshire.