How to Search for Door Dings near Denver, Colorado 

It doesn’t take much — a runaway shopping cart, a neighboring car door swung too wide — and suddenly your vehicle has an annoying dent. While they might seem minor, door dings can impact your car’s value and appearance. That’s why many drivers start looking for fast, affordable car dent repair when damage appears. 

This guide outlines the top spots on your vehicle where door dings and dents hide in plain sight and how to get them professionally repaired.

Door Dents and Dings Can Hide in Plain Sight

Not every ding is visible at a glance. Some dents only show up when the light hits your car just right, while others may stay hidden for months, especially in areas you don’t usually inspect. Doing a full inspection is a good idea if you plan to trade in your vehicle, lease returns, or simply want to maintain your car’s value. Even minor dings can lead to paint damage or rust over time if left untreated.

To get a good look at hidden dents, you’ll need to park your car in natural light and walk around it slowly. Observe how the light is reflecting off the panels or hood. Sometimes you can feel the dents if you run your fingers across the surface. Here are a few places to look for dents that tend to hide:

Side Doors Are Common for Hidden Door Dings in Denver

Side doors are a natural and frequent place where you’ll find dents, which, as we know, often happen in parking lots and narrow parking garages. Dings frequently occur from other car doors swinging open or stray shopping carts making impact. But of course, we’re never there to actually see when or where the dent happened!

While most people glance at the center of the door, the lower half is often missed, and that’s precisely where many of these blemishes tend to hide. When inspecting your car for damage, crouch down and examine the doors from multiple angles. Drivers who spot these early can usually avoid larger issues with quick, affordable paintless dent repair (PDR) before the damage worsens.

Side Panels and Rear Quarter Panels Hide Subtle Dents

Your side and rear quarter panels are wide with curved surfaces that can easily collect minor dents and often disguise them well. A shallow ding may not be evident because of the natural reflection along these areas until you catch it in the right lighting. These panels are common targets in bumper-to-bumper parking situations and can be vulnerable to anything from bike handlebars to neighboring SUVs. If you notice a distortion or shadow while looking across the panel, it might be time to consider a car dent repair service near you.

Check Below Door Handles for Overlooked Car Dent Damage

It’s easy to ignore the space right beneath your door handles — but it’s one of the most dent-prone areas on your vehicle. People often brush keys, rings, or bags against this spot without noticing, and over time, it causes dips or dimples that are easy enough to overlook. 

Door handle dings are especially common in larger cities, where tight parking can make door access awkward. If you’re doing a close inspection, run your fingers under the handle and watch for any ripples. Many door ding repair services can fix this type of dent without repainting, especially if caught early.

Inspect Hood and Trunk Edges for Minor Door Dings or Panel Damage

The edges of your hood and trunk can also collect dents — especially from dropped tools, hail, or even just slamming them closed too hard. These parts of the car often have reinforced seams so that a dent might appear as a sharp crease or line instead of a smooth dimple. If you live in snowy parts of the country like Denver, where snow shovels, roof boxes, and winter gear often pass over the trunk, it’s worth giving these spots a second look. 

Rocker Panels and Wheel Wells for Lower Body Dings

The rocker panels and areas just above the wheel wells are closer to the ground — and as a result, they’re often out of sight and out of mind. Flying road debris, like rocks, gets kicked up underneath the rocker panels, for example.  Since they’re low, many drivers never think to check them until a rust spot appears. You’ll have to kneel down, look under, and check the entire underbody of your vehicle. Chances are you’ll be surprised at the dings and dents you see.

Passenger Side is a Hotspot for Unnoticed Dents

Most people don’t walk around the passenger side of their vehicle very often, which means this side can be a hiding place for all kinds of minor dents. The dents and dings most often happen when we’re not around to see them, so it’s easy enough for the damage to go unnoticed. Whether it’s parking lot damage, careless passengers, or tight parallel parking, this side takes more abuse than you might expect. For commuters and city drivers, doing a full walk-around inspection at least once a month is essential. Spotting a hidden door ding now can save you from more extensive auto body repair.

Professional Auto Body Repair Services in Denver

Locating all the dings on your vehicle means you’ll never be able to overlook them again! You’ll want to get them repaired. In many cases, minor dings can be easily fixed, but for many others, you’ll need autobody repair services, such as Mile High Dents, to remove them and get your vehicle to look good again. 

Mile High Dents is Denver’s premier autobody repair company. We’ve been in business since the 1980s and work and live in the same communities as our customers. If you have dings and dents on your vehicle that you want professionally removed, contact us online or at (720) 772-0133 with any questions about timelines and repair costs.