We’ve all done it, haven’t we? Grazed the edge of the garage, dinged something in the parking lot. I know I’ve racked up a scratch on my car or two before.

Not all scratches carry the same costs. Some deal surface-level damage, and a mechanic can fix them fairly cheaply. Others can seriously hurt the overall car value.

Keep reading to learn about the effects of scratches on your car and the ways you can address them.

How Much Does a Scratch on My Car Cost Me?

Even a small scratch on a car can have a high cost. The type of scratch you have can fall into one of three categories: scuff, primer, and deep paint. Car paint has  many layers  of different thicknesses, making each scratch different.

Scuffs, Shallow Scratches, Clear Coat Damage

These represent the least severe type of damage to a car. A shallow scratch only affects the topmost layer of the paint. People differentiate these types of scratches by how long the scratch extends.

Fixing either type of shallow scratch costs less than $300, unless the scratch goes across a large chunk of the body. A small scuff might go for as little as $50. This might seem like a high cost to repair for such a small thing, but later on, we’ll go over why even a small scratch should be a priority fix.

Paint Scratches

This type of scratch goes a little way into the paint, without fully penetrating it. This requires new paint as well as a new clear coat in the area. Some people call these primer scratches.

The cost to repair these can go as high as $1000, depending on the part of the vehicle to which they happen. A primer scratch requires a full repaint of the part regardless of its size, since the whole piece will almost always need to be repainted to as many layers as were lost.

Deep Scratches

If you can see bare metal or plastic, you have a deep scratch. These get pricey fast. A deep scratch can be thousands of dollars’ worth of repainting.

The good news: paint holds up better than you think. Most scratches won’t get this deep. Deep scratches often come from  a collision.

What Happens If I Don’t Fix It?

Don’t give in to the temptation to put off repairing a scratch, especially if it goes to the bare metal. Exposed metal can begin rusting as quickly as a few days after the incident. This compromises both the value of your car and its overall structural integrity.

Don’t Take Chances With Your Car

If you got home and noticed, “Oh, my window is broken,” you’d try to fix it as soon as possible, right? Treat your car with the same level of urgency the next time you find yourself saying, “Oh, there’s a scratch on my car.”

Whether you’ve got a shallow scratch or a deep gouge from an accident, we can help with your  auto body repair  needs. Don’t wait. Call us today.

Quick question, reader: do you consider yourself a good driver?

If you do, you’re not alone. Most people firmly believe that they’re good—or at least above-average—drivers. Unfortunately, the stats don’t bear this out.

According to the ASIRT, over 38,000 people die in road crashes on U.S. roadways each year. If you include the whole world, this number jumps to an astounding 1.35 million people.

Want to lower your chances of this happening to you? Here are the five most common car accident causes and what to do to avoid them.

1. Distracted Driving

Distracted driving has always been the number one cause of car accidents. With the advent of smartphones, things have only gotten worse. Any time you’re driving, you’ll see people who are both driving and texting.

The main issue with distracted driving is that it’s easy to get away with. The more you do it, the more entrenched this habit becomes. It causes you to feel like you’ve mastered the art of multitasking, which is when you’re at your most vulnerable.

2. Speeding

Speeding isn’t limited to kids with a brand new driver’s license. Every day, people speed up because they’re late for work or just need to get somewhere fast. As a result, they get into an auto accident causing death or serious injury.

If you’re in a hurry, speeding up is fine—as long as you’re within the legal limits. Remember: the faster you go, the less control you have over your vehicle.

3. Impaired Driving

Speaking of things to avoid behind the wheel, impaired driving is near the top of the list. Most DUI cases involve drunk driving, but drugs and prescription pills cause a fair share of accidents as well.

Found yourself far from home while intoxicated? You have plenty of good options, from calling a taxi to staying at a friend’s place. Similarly, stay away from your car after taking medication that induces drowsiness.

4. Bad Weather

You can’t always avoid driving in the rain, but you can be more vigilant about it. Rain can drastically change road conditions by reducing visibility, increasing slippage, and so on.

If pulling over and waiting for the rain to stop isn’t an option, try to maintain a low speed. Don’t hesitate to give way to anyone behind you who thinks you’re wasting time. Also, avoid driving through pools of water whenever possible.

5. Reckless Driving

Reckless driving can involve speeding, but it’s also a more general term. It can include sharp braking, making illegal U-turns, driving between lanes, and more. All of these can be contributing factors to car accidents.

Reckless driving is frustrating because it’s completely avoidable. If you feel you’re not in the right frame of mind to drive, don’t get behind the wheel. We all face internal or external pressure from time to time, but angry driving is not a solution.

Car Accident Causes and Aftermath

Most car accident causes on this list will seem obvious to experienced drivers. If you belong in this group, good for you—you don’t need our help! Otherwise, keep this list in mind the next time you go for a drive.

Unfortunately, sometimes prevention isn’t the best cure. If you’ve already gotten into a car accident, your best bet is to head to an auto body repair shop. We can help you—contact us right here!