[newfoundlander61]

I noticed when I got home from Walmart that someone had clipped my drivers door and left some minor surface scuff marks. No dent of any kind. As I was pulling away I noticed a lady waving her arms towards me but never paid any more attention to it. Obviously I know now what it was about. No covservation with the driver ever took place as I had no idea my car had been dinged. Should I go to my local Collision Report Centre today and report. I underdstand I have 24 hrs to do so. I will give the car a quick rinse today and see if maybe I can just use some toughup paint (car is 10 years old). If I decide to go this route do I need to contact my insurance company regardless. Thanks for any info.

 

[MrMatt]

Check your local laws.
You don't have to report accidents below a certain threshold in most jurisdictions.

 

[Covariance]

Do you have what is called comprehensive coverage in Ontario? If so, call your insurance company.

 

[birdman]

I'm certainly not an expert on the subject but I had a similar scratch on our vehicle and tried to polish it out myself without success. I then took it to a smaller scratch removal shop who looked at it and he gave me a time to bring it in. I wanted to wait for it while being done and about 20 mins later the job was completed and it looked great. It was a young fellow who did it and when I went to pay the owner said "no charge" but a google review would be nice and I also slipped the employee who did it $20.00 (the owner was aware of this) and at the end of the day everyone was happy.

 

[AltaRed]

This is more than a small scrape and would require a re-paint since the scrape is through the topcoat. As mentioned, one's comprehensive coverage (if they have it) would cover it, less the deductible. That all said, it may be hard to justify on a 10 year old vehicle.

I had that done (in BC) about 5 years ago on a SUV that had a paint rub down the right side (right rear door and rear quarter panel), obviously done in a parking lot that I had not noticed for awhile. Insurance covered it less the deductible. I had not filed any police report on it. I simply explained it to the ICBC.

 

[newfoundlander61]

I went ahead and filed the police report to cover myself in case the other party decides to do the same then we can at least match up things to some degree. The hard part is trying to speak to someone with the insurance they I can understand. Sounds like an overseas call centre, wow couldn't understand a word they were saying. May just get it done and myself and pay for it. Then keep the car until it dies

 

[cainvest]

Not sure it would help but I wonder if Walmart would have security video of the hit?

 

[sags]

What is the mileage on the vehicle ?

I probably would buff it out and just drive it until it dies. The trade in value is not a lot for a 10 year old vehicle and if you claim an accident it may increase your premiums.

If you get it fixed at a body shop, it could show up on Carfax as being involved in an accident.

If you trade it in on a new vehicle, the dealer will discount the value of the trade in by the cost of repairs, but at some point that is immaterial anyways.

 

[Eclectic21]

... The hard part is trying to speak to someone with the insurance they I can understand. Sounds like an overseas call centre, wow couldn't understand a word they were saying.

That sucks.

So far for the five accidents in over four decades of owning a car, it's been good english and what sounds like a north american call centre for my insurance company.

... May just get it done and myself and pay for it. Then keep the car until it dies

My scrapes have been smaller and self-inflicted.

I have usually found someone and skipped insurance because it's had usually been less than the deductible.


Cheers

 

[AltaRed]

The hard part is trying to speak to someone with the insurance they I can understand. Sounds like an overseas call centre, wow couldn't understand a word they were saying.

That is a huge flag for an insurance company. I would never have my insurance with a company with whom I could not call in a moment of distress on the side of the road and have that person completely proficient and understandable in being able to deal with my accident. FWIW, I never did go with the cheapest insurance I could find for either home or auto. I went with ones with better 'review' history of attentiveness, or affiliated with a professional organization. In BC, we are unfortunately stuck with the socialist government company ICBC.

 

[nobleea]

Any kind of paint job is going to cost $2K or more through insurance. Maybe it can be buffed out, but it looks to be through the top coat down to base metal.

Most jurisdictions say 2K is the amount of reporting a collision. Some provinces will not allow bodyshops to start work until a police report is filed. I wouldn't be too concerned about when you report the collision. a week, two, three, whatever. They're so busy and backed up, won't make a difference.

 

[peterk]

Just went through it - though difference being I had the guy's insurance who scraped my car.

The police report is no big deal and then they give you a little paper slip to give to the body shop.

My paint damage looked to be similar to yours or slightly less, and the quotes were $2500-3000.

 

[TomB16]

It isn't possible to assess this sort of damage from these pictures. I'm not a body man but I've restored several cars and personally painted quite a few (ie: no expert but a bit more than an internet keyboard jockey).

If it's a 10 year old car and you're not particularly worried about it, and if it cannot be fixed for free, this sort of damage is fixable by removing the transferred paint, potentially touching up any scrapes that go through the color layer, and giving it a coat of clear.

Duplicolor makes really decent paint in rattle can form. It is available from CanTire.

BUT, sun faded paint cannot be color matched. With an analyzer, a paint shop could get close but not perfect. With a rattle can, you will be much further but if it's just a couple of tiny scrapes, you can paint a piece of cardboard and transfer the rattle can paint with a toothpick. For tiny scrapes, color matching is far less critical.

... and then there is the clear. It can easily be blended in but the surface finish won't quite match. The original paint has an orange peel that won't match the orange peel of the blended coat, particularly since you will have to sand it back to feather in the edges so the new clear will have extreme little orange peel.

So... fixable but how perfect will depend on how fussy you are. Probably not noticeable on a walk by. Keep in mind, a paint shop won't get it much better if you do a decent job. There are tons of YouTube videos on it.

I would estimate this job at 4 hours but someone who doesn't know what they are doing might take 20 hours. Of course, if this light color paint can buff off with no damage underneath, it might be fixable in 30 minutes. It will depend on how deep you want/have to get into the repair.

BTW, these sort of paint transfers usually clean up with acetone. Wet a soft cloth and hold it on the paint for a minute before rubbing gently. Don't just put some on a power buffer and start cutting. lol! A shop would probably use lacquer thinner but that would be playing with fire as it could damage the paint if left on too long so might be best left to the guys with the skills.

 

[ian]

Buff it out. Or do a cash deal with someone to spray.

 

[TomB16]

Hey newfoundlander61, what is happening with this? Did you decide to leave it? Have someone fix it? Plant a bush beside the fender where you park?

 

[newfoundlander61]

LOL, well since it was a hit and run and will not cause my insurance to go up I decided to get it fixed via a insurance claim. Total cost is going to be $1,300.00 I will pay my deductible of $500. Will be keeping the car for quite a few more years to come so may as will get it done.