Scraping your alloy wheels on a kerb is frustrating. That horrible grinding sound, followed by the sinking feeling when you check the damage. The good news? Most alloy wheel kerb damage can be fixed without replacing your wheels.
What Happens When You Kerb Your Alloys?
When your wheel hits a kerb, the soft metal gets scraped, leaving visible scratches and scuffs. The impact can also chip the paint finish or cause small dents. Even a slow-speed parking bump can leave a kerbed alloy wheel looking rough.
Common Types of Kerb Damage
| Damage Type | What It Looks Like | Can It Be Repaired? |
|---|---|---|
| Surface scuffs | Light scratches on the paint | Yes, easily |
| Deep scratches | Cuts through to bare metal | Yes, with filling |
| Paint chips | Small flakes of missing paint | Yes, with respray |
| Minor dents | Small flat spots on the rim edge | Usually yes |
| Cracks | Visible splits in the metal | May need replacement |
Most kerb damage falls into the first three categories. These are all fixable using smart repair methods, saving you the cost of buying new alloys.
Why Kerb Damage Matters
You might think scratches are just cosmetic, but there are good reasons to get alloy wheel repairs sorted quickly.
Damaged areas can corrode. Once the protective coating is broken, water and road salt attack the bare metal, causing bubbling over time.
Badly damaged wheels can also affect your MOT, according to the GOV.UK MOT inspection manual, wheels must be free from serious damage affecting safety. While cosmetic repairs alone will not fail an MOT, cracks or distortion certainly will.
Finally, damaged alloys hurt your car’s resale value.
How Mobile Alloy Repair Works
A mobile car body repair service brings the workshop to you. A technician arrives at your home or workplace with everything needed to fix your wheels on the spot.
The alloy repair process typically involves:
- Cleaning the damaged area thoroughly
- Sanding down scratches and rough edges
- Filling any deeper gouges with specialist filler
- Priming and preparing the surface
- Using colour match technology to respray
- Applying a protective lacquer finish
This is far more convenient than taking your car to a body shop. Most repairs take just a few hours, and you can carry on with your day.
Smart Repair vs Full Refurbishment
Smart repair focuses on the damaged area only. The technician works on specific scratches without stripping the whole wheel. This is quicker and more cost-effective than full repair and refurbishment.
Having your alloy wheels refurbished completely makes sense for widespread damage, but for typical kerb scuffs, a professional alloy and scratch repair in Kent gives high-quality results at a fraction of the cost.
How Much Does Alloy Wheel Repair Cost?
| Wheel Finish | Typical Cost Per Wheel |
|---|---|
| Standard painted | £60 to £90 |
| Gloss or metallic | £70 to £100 |
| Diamond cut | £100 to £150 |
Diamond-cut wheels need specialist equipment, making them pricier to repair. Compared to buying new alloys at £150 to £400 each, professional paint repair is usually the smarter choice.
Other Services to Consider
While getting your wheels sorted, it is worth checking for other minor damage. Many mobile car paint repair Kent specialists also handle bumper scuffs, dent repairs, and other car body repairs during the same visit. This saves time and keeps your whole car looking its best.
Getting Your Wheels Fixed
The sooner you repair scratches, the better. Small scuffs are quick and cheap to fix. Leave them too long and corrosion sets in.
A mobile car body repair service in Kent can have your kerbed alloy wheel looking new again. The technician comes to your home or workplace and gets the job done while you carry on with your day.