Is it possible to have no trace after a car scrape?
3 Answers
If the car has good sheet metal and thick paint, it is possible to have no trace after a scrape. Here is the relevant information: Scrape insurance: Scrape insurance, referred to as scratch insurance in insurance company terms, covers vehicle damage caused by being scraped or scratched by people or other objects while the car is stationary. In contrast, vehicle damage insurance covers damage caused by active or passive collisions while the car is in motion. Precautions: After a scrape occurs, take photos promptly for documentation, have the traffic police determine responsibility, move the car to a safe location immediately, and involve the insurance company for compensation. Minor scrapes and scratches are unavoidable, so always drive safely.
I've been driving for over 20 years and have encountered this situation a few times. Especially when lightly brushing against another car from the side at extremely low speeds, sometimes no visible marks are left. I remember once while maneuvering in my neighborhood, my side mirror barely touched a neighbor's car door—my heart skipped a beat—but upon inspection, both plastic parts were unscathed. It was probably elastic deformation that bounced back. However, such outcomes are rare; nine out of ten times it leaves scratches or dents, especially when metal is involved—that always leaves marks. Material matters too: soft plastic bumpers may recover, but Japanese cars with thin paint easily show primer. Once my rear bumper grazed a stone pillar—looked fine from afar, but next day's car wash revealed micro-dents and hairline cracks. So never let your guard down after a scrape—immediately check paint reflection angles with a flashlight.
From a physics perspective, there is indeed a probability of leaving no trace. When the contact surfaces of both vehicles are made of elastic materials, such as the plastic bumpers commonly used in modern cars, the kinetic energy from a low-speed collision is converted into elastic potential energy, and the deformation automatically recovers after separation. It's similar to how pressing your fingernail lightly on a phone case won't leave a mark. However, real-world situations are more complex: most parts of a vehicle are made of metal with a paint layer on the surface, which is particularly brittle. There are also significant differences in paint hardness between vehicles. For example, the clear coat on German cars is typically thicker than that on Japanese cars, meaning only the other car's paint might chip in a scrape. It's advisable to carry a marker pen with you. If you suspect damage after a scrape, mark the contact area and check back in a couple of days to see if there's any displacement. This trick can help detect subtle plastic deformations that are hard to spot with the naked eye.
