When your car has had the misfortune of suffering body damage, it can be easy to overlook the importance of repairing. Often, individuals may not have much experience with this aspect of car ownership, which can make it difficult for them to make sound choices about having this type of damage repaired. If you are a new car owner, learning the answers to the following common auto body repair questions will help you to be better prepared for this task.

Why Is Repairing Scratched Car Paint Important?

Scratched paint can be among the more common types of damage that your car may experience. While this might not seem like a serious problem, paint damage can gradually worsen. Eventually, you may find that your car's paint is peeling away or rust is forming  on the exposed metal. Sadly, these problems can worsen until it is necessary to completely repaint the car to restore its appearance.

You can help to avoid needing to repaint your car by using an auto paint patch kit to close any scratches that have formed. To use these kits, you will need to thoroughly clean the scratched portion of the paint as dust and dirt can inhibit the new paint from bonding with the old paint. After cleaning the scratched area, you will want to follow the directions in the kit to ensure you mix a color that will be indistinguishable from your car's original paint. Once the scratch has been covered, you will want to allow a couple of days before washing the car to give the new paint time to cure.

Will The Car Need To Be Repainted After A Dent Is Repaired?

Dents can be another common form of auto body damage that will need to be addressed. Unfortunately, there is a common belief among some individuals that having a dent repaired will always involve painting the car. This belief comes from the idea that the process of removing the dent will chip and flake the car's body paint. However, you should be relieved to learn that paintless dent repair can be an effective solution for repairing minor body damage.

This approach to dent repair uses suction to gently pull the dent out of the car's body. Depending on the size and location of the dent, this technique can often spare the paint from any damage, which can help to keep these repairs short and as affordable as possible. In order to know whether this is a viable repair option, an experienced professional will need to inspect your car. However, many auto body shops give potential customers free estimates, which can help you to know if this will be an option for your car before you commit to having the repairs done.