Assessing Vehicle Damage: Cosmetic Repairs vs. Structural Work
When your car suffers damage, be it a collision or general wear and tear, you must be able to identify what the problem is, whether it be cosmetic damage or if there’s been structural damage to your vehicle. Not being able to distinguish between the two can end up costing you money in wasted time and potentially cause ongoing problems as well as jeopardise your safety on the road and the longevity of your car.
This article will cover the difference between cosmetic damage and structural damage, how to determine the severity and what repairs you need to make.
Understanding Cosmetic Damage
‘Cosmetic damage’ means it is an injury to the vehicle’s appearance where the car still performs as originally intended. These damages are typically purely aesthetic in nature, have no impact on safety or performance, and include:
Scratches and dents are superficial cosmetic issues that normally occur as a result of minor collisions, parking incidents, or environmental wear. They can be an eyesore and ruin an otherwise flawless surface, but often times they have no impact on the vehicle’s functionality.
Paint Chips and Fading: Paint chips, fading, and ageing pavement can worsen with the elements, road debris, or as a car ages. Unsightly but generally confined to the exterior surface and non-structural.
Rut Springs: Many bumpers experience damage from crossing potholes, riding over train tracks or travelling on poorly maintained roads. Springs are common and usually secondary to taking a rut. These ruts are minor cosmetic dings that often do not require body repair or replacement, allowing the bumper to maintain its structural integrity.
Interior Wear and Tear: Stains, tears or fading on the seats and other interior parts are all cosmetic concerns. They don’t affect how the car performs but can diminish resale value and
Understanding Structural Damage
Structural damage is permanent damage to a vehicle’s frame, wheels, or other critical system that makes the vehicle unsafe. This level of damage causes more extensive (and spreads over more parts) and expensive repairs to fix. A few specific examples include:
Frame damage: This is the main structure of the vehicle that maintains and supports. Because of heavy crash or collisions, the frame of the vehicle may get damaged and compromise the whole structure resulting in poor functionality and precarious safety. Bent or cracked frames, once damaged, requires straightening.
Suspension and Alignment Problems: if the suspension system or alignment has been damaged, or is out of specification, it is likely that the vehicle’s handling, stability and tyre wear will be affected. These problems usually develop after impacts, or after a vehicle has been in an accident.
Chipped or cracked windshield or windows: you may consider a small chip just a cosmetic issue, but large cracks or windows shattering can be considered a maintenance issue (as it can endanger your visibility and allow in the elements). Anything less than chipped or cracked should be repaired or replaced immediately.
Mechanical Failure – Damages to the Engine or Transmission: These failures involve the engine, transmission, or other mechanical component interfering with the vehicle’s control. These are called structural and substantially affect the vehicle’s performance.
Assessing the Extent of the Damage
Finding out whether a crash has caused cosmetic damage or destabilising structural damage is critical to knowing how to proceed. Here are some steps to help you figure it out:
Visual Inspection: First, you want to do a thorough visual inspection of your vehicle. Does it look tattered and worse for the wear? Pay attention to obvious evidence of damage such as a dent, scratch, crack or misalignment. Also note other warning signs such as unusual noises or odd handling characteristics while you drive.
Get A Second Opinion: If you’re not sure whether a part is damaged or you suspect it might be structural, take it to a mechanic or professional body shop for a technical assessment. They’ll be able to make a thorough evaluation and tell you what’s wrong.
Diagnostic Tools: Many modern vehicles have on-board interfaces that will monitor problems and report them. Use them to read error codes or warning lights that may point to a problem.
Impact on Safety and Performance – Cosmetic damage doesn’t need to be fixed right away if it doesn’t affect how the vehicle looks, drives or operates, whereas some structural damage can make the vehicle unsafe to use and affect how it runs.
Repair Options and Considerations
Once you know the extent of the damage, you will have to find the best kind of repair to carry out. Here are some ideas for each type of repair:
Cosmetic repairs: painting, dent removal, bumper replacement or interior refurbishing. Cosmetic repairs tend to be light, and least likely to harm re-sale. They can also be among the least expensive fixes, and might even be done quite quickly.
- Structural repairs: Structural repairs often need more time and special equipment. It can include straighten frame or suspension, or replace some vital parts. Bear in mind, it is usually more expensive but it is mandatory to keep your vehicle safe and operational.
Cost vs Value: How much is it going to cost and is it worth it compared to the value of the car? Depending on the age or the extent of the damage, repairs may not make financial sense. It might be more important to repair or replace a car.
Insurance Provisions: Before you make any repairs, ensure your insurance policy covers the cause of the damage, as well as the repair. Some cosmetic repairs may not be covered by your policy. And if you want your insurance company to cover the cost of structural repairs, it needs to be extensive, beyond something quickly fixed with 2x4s and nails.
Conclusion
Knowing the extent of the damage to your vehicle is important before you attempt to repair it, as cosmetic damage would not affect the safety or performance of the vehicle. While you can assess the extent of the damage on your own, you may require the assistance of a professional, depending on the situation. Regardless of your approach, you should keep the safety of the vehicle in mind, as well as how much the repairs would cost.