Types of Body Repair

Tony Mers • December 31, 2020

Obtaining damage to your vehicle can be incredibly frustrating. It is an inconvenience that forces you to make repairs, either for safety or aesthetics, and can even lead to long-term issues with insurance. Finding the right repair shop to fit your needs can be difficult, as there are several different types of auto body services. Knowing which one is right for your vehicle’s needs can be tricky. Therefore, it’s worth knowing the different types of auto body repair services that are available. A paint shopas well as glass, dent, and bumper repair are four types you should be aware of.

Paint Shop

A paint shop specializes in painting a car. This is a difficult and time-consuming task, which shouldn’t be taken on as a DIY home project. Rather, this is something that should be taken care of by professionals who work at a paint shop. If done improperly, a new paint job can actually devalue your vehicle, and there are several details that go into it besides just painting the car. If there is damage, like rust, it needs to be repaired before the vehicle is repainted to make sure that the final result is everything you expected it to be.

Glass Repair

There are six different types of breaks that a windshield can suffer. These include surface pit, combination, half moon, bullseye, crack, and star, and there’s countless ways that these breaks can happen. Hail damage, rocks kicking up off the highway, and branches falling from trees can all cause these types of damage. Going to a reputable auto body shop that specializes in glass repair makes the process of getting a windshield replacement much easier and ensures that only high-quality glass is used in the replacement.

Dent Repair

Dents are some of the most common damage that occurs to vehicles. Hail damage especially causes dents, but it's far from the only culprit. Generally speaking, there are two ways to fix dents in the body of a car. Either a filler is used and then painted over, or a professional can utilize a method called paintless dent repair. Paintless dent removal is the better of the two options, but it does require a specialized skill set, meaning it has to be done by a dent repair shop.

Bumper Repair

When dealing with collisions, bumper issues are one of the most common things that need to be repaired. Unlike an unsightly dent or issue with the paint, they also must be fixed for the relative safety of driving your car. This is because it protects all of the important components that make a car run. Bumper repair shops specialize in fixing and replacing damaged bumpers on cars and actually help to raise the value of a vehicle.

Having issues with your car can be frustrating, but it’s important to know your options and to repair your vehicle as quickly as possible, whether it be at a dent repair or paint shop. This isn’t just a matter of aesthetics, though that does matter, but of safety and value, too.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.