Wheeler Dealers presenter Mike Brewer has suggested one part is “impossible” to fix on every damaged second-hand vehicle on the road. The host of the popular classic car restoration series admitted that bodywork damage to the spare wheel well may not be fixed by mechanics.
Mike stressed that not even the “best panel beater in the world” could accurately restore the model to its original state. Although this could be a serious headache to owners, Mike suggested this is a simple first check on any second-hand model road users are thinking of buying. Any damage in this area could indicate vehicles have been involved in previous accidents as issues cannot easily be disguised.
Mike previously said: “An impossible thing to repair on a car. Let me tell you one impossibility to repair.
“You see the spare wheel well on the car underneath. If you open the boot and you look inside the spare wheel well, that was made in a factory and that is printed so it was round.
“If it has had one up the bum, You can’t, no matter how good you are, it doesn’t matter if you’re the best panel beater in the world, you can’t make that like it was in the factory. So I always look inside the spare wheel well.”
According to CheckaTrade, the cost of repairing car dents can cost hundreds of pounds, but will dramatically vary depending on a range of circumstances.
Repairing car dents can cost anywhere from £220 to £450, with an average cost of £335. But, they stressed that “the more complicated the damage, the more it is likely to cost to fix”.
However, road users have been warned that any vehicle bodywork damage could backfire and dramatically decrease the valuation of their models. Typically, cosmetic damage is likely to reduce their resale value by between £500 and £2,000.
Experts at Motorway.co.uk explained: “Minor damage from a collision can have a slightly higher impact on vehicle valuation, even if all necessary repairs have been made. Serious accidents that impact the structural integrity of your car or van are likely to significantly impact resale value.”