When you’re in need of some panel beater repair work to your vehicle, you might be wondering what the difference is between cosmetic vs structural car damage. Essentially, cosmetic damage is what you can easily see on the exterior of your car, while structural damage is not always visible but can affect your vehicle’s integrity and render it unsafe.

Cosmetic Car Damage

Cosmetic damage is mostly surface-level and can include scratches, dents or even just chipped paint. These imperfections are often quite visible and can make your vehicle look unkempt, but they won’t, in most cases, affect the safety of your car.

Nonetheless, it is important not to neglect cosmetic damage because it may pose greater problems down the track. It’s best just to consult with car panel beaters, such as Bridgeroad Body Works, to arrange a car scratch repair or a dent repair Melbourne.

Structural Car Damage: Beyond The Surface

Structural damage may not be easily visible, but it may be noticed when you drive your car. That’s because structural damage can affect the chassis and the suspension system. Any damage to these areas may cause instability on the road and basically make your car unsafe to drive.

You’ll find that repairing structural damage can often be more costly and requires the services of highly professional car panel beaters who have the specialised equipment necessary to carry out the repairs.

How To Tell The Difference

While cosmetic damage is fairly easy to spot, structural damage will require more experienced evaluation. If your vehicle only has a few scratches or minor dents, which can easily happen under normal day-to-day circumstances, while these might be unsightly, they’re often quite easy to repair.

However, if your car has been involved in an accident, you can easily see any panel damage, but it will take a trained technician to inspect your vehicle to determine whether it has suffered structural damage. This may also be evident if your car tends to pull to one side or your suspension isn’t as comfortable as it used to be.

Need A Trusted Assessment?

If you’ve been involved in an accident, whether minor or major, it’s really important to get a trusted assessment from a professional panel beater. Remember that structural damage is not easily visible and needs to be checked by someone who knows exactly what to look for.

At Bridgeroad Bodyworks, we deal with both cosmetic and structural damage every single day. Our technicians are highly qualified professionals and can do a thorough check on your car to see exactly how much damage it has sustained. If you’re worried about the condition of your car, don’t hesitate to get in touch on (03) 9428 1833 today.