Chances are no car owner wants to call a panel beater and take their car in to a shop for every little scratch and ding. In some cases, you can fix these minor scratches on your own with a bit of patience and the right tools, but in other cases, it's best to leave the repair in the hands of a professional. How do you know when you can make your own repairs versus calling a panel beater? Note the following.

1. Can you see metal?

When your car's paint is slightly scratched, you might be able to cover it over with touchup paint. However, if you can see metal, this often means that you need to do more than just cover up the scratch itself. When metal is exposed, you need to ensure it is properly sanded down and then covered with materials that will keep it from forming rust. A slight layer of touchup paint is not enough to protect metal, and if you don't fill the dent or ding with the right epoxy or another material, you could easily see rust and corrosion start to form in that area.

2. Does the car have a special paint?

Some limited editions of car models have special paints on the body, and a car manufacturer may have changed paint colors or blends with each year of manufacture. When shopping for the materials needed to make your own body repairs, note if you can find the exact paint to match. Generic brands or those from different years of the same car model may not be the match you assume and in those cases, it might be best to leave the repair to a professional. He or she may have access to more paint suppliers so that they can get the exact color of paint to match your car's body.

3. Might the repair compromise the safety of your car?

Filling in a simple scratch may not affect the safety of your car, but remember that most car bodies are built with crumple zones that are specifically designed to absorb the impact of a crash. If you don't properly bump out a door or panel when doing repairs, you may actually be putting your safety at risk during an accident. This can be a reason why it's good to leave major repairs to a panel beater like Bannockburn Panel Repairs, who can ensure it's done properly and your car is as safe as possible.

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