Living in western North Carolina is a blessing. We are surrounded by beauty in every direction. From mile-high peaks to an abundance of waterfalls, there is no shortage of natural wonders. Asheville is known for its world-class art scene and fantastic restaurants. We have premier shopping, excellent schools, and top-notch medical care. There is a lot to love about living in this area.
However, every place has its downsides. While the pros far outweigh the cons, weather, dirt roads, and heavy traffic can wreak havoc on your vehicle’s exterior. Between the challenging terrain, heavy traffic, and potentially dangerous weather, maintaining your vehicle can feel like a full-time job.
If you have dents and dings, there are products and guides for how to DIY those repairs; however, you may not want to risk it.
In this article, we are discussing dents and dings, how to avoid them, and whether or not you need a professional to repair them.
How You Get Dents and Dings in Asheville, NC
The Asheville area has a number of hazards that can contribute to causing dents and dings on your car’s exterior. A few of the most common causes include:
- Hail: It is not at all uncommon for thunderstorms to drop large hair on drivers and vehicles in western North Carolina.
- Ice: During winter, freezing rain can accumulate on branches and powerlines. As it melts, falling chunks of ice and broken limbs can damage your car.
- Wind: The mountains and valleys can be windy. Whether it’s from thunderstorms, remnants of tropical systems, or just powerful cold fronts, wind-driven damage is common in this part of the state.
- Other weather: Whether it’s snow or heavy rain, roads and highway conditions can deteriorate quickly. When the roads become slick, slipping and sliding vehicles can get dinged and dented.
- Traffic: We welcome tens of millions of tourists to western North Carolina each year. Fender benders and parking lot incidents are common.
- Dirt Roads: There are a number of dirt roads in our area. Rocks and gravel are a frequent source of dents and dings.
- Parking Lots: Grocery stores and shopping center parking lots are always a source of dents and dings. Here in western North Carolina, we also have a number of tight trailhead parking areas, where people are unloading hiking, biking, and watersports equipment.
With so many opportunities to have your vehicle damaged, it may seem like dents and dings are unavoidable.
How to Avoid Dents and Dings
Besides simply not driving or parking anywhere, there are a few steps you can take to reduce your chances of getting dents and dings.
Be Weather-Aware to Avoid Dents and Dings
If the weather in western North Carolina isn't to your liking, wait five minutes for it to change. You've probably seen a day that appeared to be sunny and pleasant turn rainy in a matter of minutes.
Storms, on the other hand, rarely appear out of nowhere. Learning to foresee adverse weather can save you money on vehicle repairs.
Being weather-aware is one of the keys. You don't have to be a meteorologist to figure out which days are the most likely to see hail. Follow local meteorologists and pay close attention to the skies to avoid getting caught in hail or high winds.
Maintain Your Vehicle
Being stranded is an opportunity to have your vehicle damaged. Practicing property automobile maintenance is key to helping make sure you stay on the road. The following are examples of proper maintenance:
- Replace the oil in your vehicle.
- Hoses that are worn or damaged should be replaced.
- Service of transmission
- Replacement of windshield wiper blades
- Repairs to the paint and bodywork
- All fluids have been refilled, including windshield washer fluid.
Avoid Trouble Spots During Weather and Tourist Season
During tropical storms, mudslides and flooded roads can wreak havoc on your usual driving routes. You may discover that the conditions were not so severe on your way to work but have swiftly deteriorated, leaving your journey home a mess of fallen trees and submerged bridges.
Have a backup plan in place, especially if you're driving on a road that floods frequently. Fallen trees and powerlines, standing water or flooded bridges, and landslides are all risks you should avoid.
Additionally, there are parts of the area that are especially busy during the tourist season. If at all possible, you want to avoid the busiest parking lots and tourist destinations to protect your car from dents and dings.
Professional Dent and Ding Repair
Are dents and dings inevitable? It certainly seems that way for residents of western North Carolina. While there are DIY options for repairing your car’s exterior, the slightest mistake can lead to substantially worse damage.
If you accidentally chip your paint, it can lead to rust that could destroy your vehicle’s paint job. Even seemingly little damage, such as small dents, scratches, fender problems, or hail damage, can expose your vehicle to the elements, resulting in corrosion (rust). Once this is started, it can quickly escalate into far more costly repairs.
It is best to trust your dent and ding repair to the professionals. First Aid Collision is the place to go if you need help with a range of issues, including paint repair, scratches, dents, and dings.
Our specialists have considerable experience fixing all brands and models of automobiles. Contact First Aid Collision or bring your vehicle to us to correct dents, dings, and other auto body damage.