Are you one of the millions of Americans that are currently driving around with damage to your vehicle? Car repairs can be expensive, even if you claim them on your insurance. In many cases, you have to pay a deductible and your auto insurance premium increases. While many automobile damages are simply cosmetic, there are some that you might consider having repaired.
Auto body dent repairs
You were involved in a minor fender bender and have a tiny dent on the side of your vehicle. You didn?t want to pay your insurance deductible to have it repaired, as driving around with a dent isn?t a big deal to you. However, a dent in the auto body, even a small one, can indicate that the integrity of the vehicle has been compromised. When a dent occurs, it can weaken the rest of the vehicle. If you are involved in another auto accident, you might not be as well protected. With winter coming, you are also more likely to be in an auto accident with slippery roads and winter driving conditions.
Bumper repairs
Rear end accidents are also very common. In fact, there were nearly 2 million rear end collisions in 2014 alone, accounting for almost 33% of all crashes that year. Your vehicle was designed with a strong bumper for this purpose. It protects you in the event that you are rear ended. You also have one on the front of your vehicle, to protect you in the event that you are the one that rear ends someone. Because the bumper appears to be a separate part of the vehicle on many cars, a lot of drivers do not worry about bumper damage. But, what if you are in another accident? Your bumper is already damaged so you are more likely to sustain worsened automobile damage. This could cost you more in repairs or it could mean that you are more likely to be injured in the auto accident.
Windshield replacements
This is perhaps one of the biggest repairs that are left untouched. In a recent survey, the research found that an estimated 77% of cars were in need of maintenance or repairs. Many of these needed repairs are in the form of glass repairs. Glass breaks or chips can result from many situations, even when the vehicle is not in an auto accident. You could be driving down the road one day, have a tiny pebbly fly onto your windshield and you are left with a windshield crack.
While many drivers see windshield cracks as cosmetic, they can actually be very dangerous to drive around with. A windshield crack means that the glass is not as strong. It will not protect you the same if you are involved in another auto accident or if another tiny pebble hits the same class. Fortunately, auto glass repairs are very simple and are usually very affordable, even at your local auto body shop. Long cracks especially should receive glass repairs, as soon as possible. About half (53%) of windshield cracks and replacements are from a crack that is seven to 12 inches long (called a long crack).
Sometimes, it is easier to drive around with minor vehicle damage than to schedule an auto glass repair or to pay the high costs of repairs. Yet, many of these needed repairs that appear to be cosmetic are actually dangerous. Glass repairs especially, should occur if you have a long windshield crack. Additionally, driving around with a dent or bumper damage that reduces your safety is never a good idea. It is always a good idea to have your vehicle inspected following an auto accident.