All posts tagged restoring auto accident

In a Car Accident? 5 Ways to Make it Look Like Your Car Crash Never Happened

It would be great if car accidents never happened. However, chances are if you drive frequently you will at least encounter a small fender bender in your lifetime. Whether you have a small scratch or a large amount of damage to your car after an accident there are a few things you can do to make your car look like new. A few ideas for "erasing" the accident are below.

Get Repairs Done Immediately

When you think about repairing your car after an accident and making it look brand new again you might think the most important thing to do is paint the car, or remove any dings and scratches. However, time itself is the most important factor when it comes to making your car look like the crash never happened. Many people wait to get their car serviced after an accident, particularly if the damage isn’t too bad. But the sooner you get your car serviced and repaired, the easier it will be for your mechanic or body shop expert to get your vehicle looking outstanding again.

Wash Your Car

It might seem overly simplified, but washing your car can actually do a lot to improve the look of your car after an accident. During an accident there are a lot of things that happen that can make your car look dirtier or more damaged than it truly is. Taking the time to wash (and maybe even wax) your car after an accident can help you determine what was just dirt and easily removed paint scratches and what is truly in need of repair.

A New Color

If your car’s paint was scratched up in the accident getting it touched up might seem like an obvious course of action. But if there are significant areas of paint you’ll need to get touched up you might want to choose a whole new color for your car. The reason for this is because it is very hard to match old and new paint, even if it’s the exact same color. The combination can make it the newly painted areas stand out and make the repairs very obvious. However, getting your entire car painted gives your vehicle a consistent, brand new look that can go a long way to erasing the "wrecked and repaired" look of the car.

It’s All in the Details

After an accident most people know to get the paint redone and any major damage restored or fixed. However, paying attention to details like hubcaps, tires, grills, and other areas of your car can also help your vehicle look brand new after an accident. For instance, if you have brand new paint and a scuffed up grill it’s still obvious you were in an accident. Mismatched or missing hubcaps, scratched or non-working tail or headlights, and other details are also giveaways of an accident. Focusing on these details can help you make your car look brand new and nearly erase the signs of a crash.

Masking Damage with Accessories

Sometimes no matter how hard you try there are small areas of damage that can’t be restored to "like new" condition. If you have a small dent in your bumper or an area of your rear view mirror that is scuffed and can’t be repaired, use accessories to mask the damage. A well-placed bumper sticker or a lei around the rear view mirror can quickly and inexpensively mask minor damage, making it look like the accident never happened.

Following these tips can help you make your car look brand new again after a crash. Remember to always get your repairs done as soon as possible, and beware of using used parts. Not only do used parts often not match the parts you currently have, but they may have internal flaws that will cause you to spend more money later. Using a little creativity you can find ways to restore your car and cruise the roads with pride again in no time.

My name is Lizzie Weakley and I am a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. I went to college at The Ohio State University where I studied communications. I enjoy the outdoors and long walks in the park with my 3-year-old husky Snowball.

Lizzie found the information for this article from Collision One. They are the number one service based on independent customer service.