DARCARS Nissan of College Park

Jun 30, 2023

It doesn’t matter how carefully you drive: your car is always at risk of car dents and scratches. Whether it’s down to another driver’s carelessness, a moment of inattention, or just bad luck, accidents do happen, and your paintwork might suffer. Here’s why it’s important to be prompt and proactive about contacting your Nissan dealer to deal with car scratches and dents.

Getting Car Painted College Park, MD

How to Deal with Car Dents and Scratches

Identifying Car Dents

By looking at the shape and depth of the dent, you can start to understand the extent of the damage and decide on your next course of action. Dents might be:

  • Small indentations of less than half an inch in depth called dings
  • Round dents, which are large shallow depressions
  • Sharp dents, which taper to a deep inverted point
  • Creased dents, caused by a dragging impact on the car


Round dents and dings can sometimes be solved at home using suction, hot and cold treatments to “pop” it back into shape, or by pressing the dent out from the inside in a dentless paint removal. However, dents are recommended to be dealt with professionally, as they can compromise the structural integrity of your car.

Solving Car Scratches

Even if they seem minor, scratches in your paintwork can lead to serious long-term damage to your car. If the steel frame comes into contact with moisture, it will oxidize. This causes rust, which can spread to other parts of your car and cause further damage through debris and flaking. It also leaves your car exposed to the UV rays of the sun by breaching the clear coat, causing dull and patchy paintwork.

Very minor scratches might be solvable with a scratch and paint restore car kit or a scratch remover, although it’s important to check your car’s paperwork to match the exact color. But for deeper and larger scratches, it’s important to schedule an appointment at the dealership as soon as possible for expert retouching and resealing.

When to Contact Your Nissan Dealer in College Park, MD for Auto Repair

Dents and scratches can make your car less safe and lead to more serious problems that could undermine the resale value of your car. If you can see the metal underneath the paint, if the panels of the car have been misshapen or damaged, or if you’re in any way uncertain, the best course of action is to contact your dealership.

A dent or scratch on your pristine vehicle is always irritating, but your peace of mind and enjoyment of your car are worth the extra effort of making sure that the problem is solved effectively. For any paintwork concerns, contact us at DARCARS Nissan of College Park to keep your Nissan in perfect shape.