The Hidden Costs of Delaying Collision Repair

FinanceBuzz recently conducted a poll among drivers regarding which vehicle maintenance tasks they typically put off – one being oil changes.

1. Damage to your vehicle’s structure

An apparent scratch or dent may seem minor, but it can cause far more significant problems beneath the surface. Structural damage may compromise passenger safety during an impact by decreasing body absorption capacity for impact forces; such structural dents should be repaired quickly in order to avoid future complications.

Repairing these dents requires precise analysis, and one effective way to do that is through blueprinting. A technician uses computer programs to accurately evaluate damage and create a comprehensive repair plan for their car.

One reason collision repair times have increased recently is due to delays in parts delivery. A Society of Collision Repair Specialists (SCRS) Consumer Tip video featured on NBC Los Angeles explored these supply chain challenges and their effect on repair timelines – frustrating both customers and repairers, but unfortunately out of their hands.

2. Damage to your vehicle’s interior

Just because your vehicle appears fine on the surface doesn’t mean there aren’t hidden damage that could prove costly in the long run. Unseen damage can impact its underlying structures, suspension and mechanical systems and lead to problems like poor handling and excessive tire wear.

It isn’t unusual for technicians to discover new issues when disassembling parts during repair work, which may make your estimate more expensive than anticipated.

If you do not have insurance, there are others ways to access repair funds. While credit cards or loans may provide financing options to cover repairs on your car, home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) should always be considered first as they offer lower interest rates as well as the ability to use an asset you already own as collateral for financing purposes. HELOC loans often take less time than other forms of financing to obtain and can help speed up repairs as well as possibly bypass insurance deductible payments and save you money long term.

3. Damage to your vehicle’s paint

Car paint provides more than aesthetic value; it also protects the metal body of your vehicle from corrosion. Once scratched or damaged, moisture and salt may enter through any cracks in the surface and lead to corrosion of metal panels; eventually causing costly repairs that must be addressed immediately.

Minor paint chips or scratches left untreated can quickly expand over time, spreading to other parts of your vehicle. Even minor damages like these could become serious safety threats that require immediate action to be taken immediately in order to keep driving safely.

Timeframe of collision repairs depends heavily on availability of parts. With supply chain issues impacting various industries, repairs that usually take less than a week can often take several weeks longer – leaving you without transportation to get to work, school or extracurricular activities during this period.

4. Damage to your vehicle’s interior

Accident estimates often do not accurately account for all damages at once. When repairs begin, mechanics often discover additional repairs or damages which must be addressed; this can significantly raise your repair bill.

If you choose to finance your repair, take care in considering the terms of your loan carefully. Failing to meet loan payments on time could cause more stress than necessary – thus it’s best to fund repairs properly from the start.

By choosing Five Star Body and Paint you get the best repairs while saving up to $1000 on your deductible. Call today to schedule your free estimate.