Car Park Ding or Bumper Scrape in Sydney? What to Do Next

You come back to your car at the shops, the station or work, and there it is: a fresh dent in the door, or a scrape on the bumper corner. Car parks are where a lot of Sydney's minor car damage happens. Tight bays, concrete pillars, trolleys and swinging doors all take their toll. It's frustrating, but a few simple steps in the first few minutes can make the next part much easier, whether you claim it, chase it up or just get it fixed.

Step 1: Check the car and your surroundings

Before you move the car, take a quick look. Is there a note under the wiper? Is another driver nearby who saw what happened? Check the damage is only cosmetic: if a light is broken, a panel is loose, or the car doesn't drive normally, don't keep driving it. Get it checked first.

Step 2: Take photos straight away

Photos taken on the spot are the most useful record you'll have. Take:

• a close-up of the damage
• a wider shot showing the whole panel and the car's position in the bay
• a photo of the bay number, level or nearby signs so you can show where it happened
• the other car's number plate, if you know which car it was

Note the date and time. The same photos are what a repairer needs to quote, so you won't have to take them twice.

Step 3: Ask about CCTV

Many shopping centre, station and office car parks have cameras. If you'd like to find out who caused the damage, contact the car park or centre management soon and ask whether footage covers your bay, as footage usually isn't kept for long. Give them the date, time and location.

Step 4: Decide whether to report it or claim it

If another driver hit your car and left, or you think the damage was deliberate, you can report it to NSW Police through the Police Assistance Line on 131 444. Keep any reference number, as your insurer may ask for it. If you know who did it, you can ask them to pay for the repair, or contact your insurer.

Before claiming on your own insurance, check your policy. Most policies have an excess, and depending on your insurer a claim may affect your no-claim bonus. For a small door ding or a scuffed bumper corner, many people decide a private repair is simpler, because a small repair often costs less than the excess.

Step 5: Don't leave it too long

A dent where the paint is unbroken can usually wait a little while, but don't leave it indefinitely. If the paint is cracked, chipped or scratched through to the metal, moisture can get in and the steel can start to rust over time, which makes the repair bigger. On plastic bumpers, a small crack can spread with vibration and temperature changes. Getting a quote early costs nothing.

Step 6: Avoid DIY fixes that make it worse

Touch-up pens can hide a tiny stone chip, but they won't fix a dent or a scratch through the paint, and a thick blob of touch-up paint has to be removed before a proper repair. Suction cups and glue-pull kits can crack paint or leave a high spot. If you try something gentle and it isn't working, stop.

Step 7: Get a free photo quote

Send the photos you took to us with your car's make, model and colour and your suburb. You can upload up to 6 photos on our quote form or text them to 0458 864 479. We'll look at the damage and come back to you with a quote and a time that suits you, at your home or work. If the damage is too big for a mobile repair, we'll tell you so you can go to a smash repairer instead.

We fix car park dents and scraped bumpers right across Sydney, including the Sutherland Shire, Parramatta, Campbelltown and the Eastern Suburbs. Read more about our mobile car dent repair and mobile bumper repair.

Car park damage FAQs