Winter Is Coming Michigan: What That Means for Your Car and How to Keep It Protected
As Michigan gears up for another winter, drivers across the state are preparing for the same challenges we face every year: icy roads, freezing temps, slush, salt, and the never-ending battle to keep our vehicles clean and damage-free. Whether you commute daily, shuttle kids around town, or simply make the occasional trip across Midland, winter can take a real toll on your car’s appearance.
At CD DENTS, we want to help you get ahead of the season with a few simple reminders, tips, and check-ins that will keep your vehicle in great shape — and keep you safe on the road.
1. Road Slush & Salt: Michigan’s Winter Mix Isn’t Kind to Your Paint
As soon as temps drop the roads are treated with salt. Add in melting snow, and suddenly your vehicle is getting blasted with a corrosive mix every time you drive.
Salt and slush can:
- Eat away at your clear coat
- Cause rust to form faster
- Highlight scratches you didn’t even know you had
- Freeze inside door seams and fender edges
Tip: Make regular car washes part of your winter routine — even weekly, if possible. Touchless washes are great for winter because they rinse off salt without adding new swirls or scratches.
2. Winter Reveals Scratches You Didn’t Notice Before
Salt buildup makes tiny scratches more noticeable. Cold temps can also cause clear coat damage to spread faster.
This is a great time to:
- Do a quick walk-around of your vehicle
- Look for scratches, chips, or scuffs
- Check areas like door edges, rocker panels, and around wheel wells
If you spot something, don’t wait until spring — winter moisture can make even small damage worse.
And remember: CD DENTS now offers premium paint touch-up with our Dr. ColorChip system as well as door edge protective film. If you find scratches, rock chips, or door edge wear, we’re here to help before it spreads.
3. Michigan’s Slippery Roads = More Small Accidents & Parking Lot Dings
Winter driving increases:
- Slips on ice
- Sudden stops
- Minor collisions
- Parking lot slides
- Door dings from people losing their grip on their doors in windy, icy lots
Even minor contact can cause dents — especially on bodylines, which many drivers don’t realize can be repaired with Paintless Dent Repair.
Whether it’s a small ding, a winter slide-into-a-snowbank dent, or a sharper impact dent from icy roads, we can repair it quickly and often for much less than body shop prices.
4. Don’t Let Winter Wear Down Your Car — A Quick Check Now Saves Money Later
Before things get too cold, take a moment to check:
- Tire pressure (it drops fast as temps fall)
- Windshield washer fluid (winter blend helps melt ice)
- Door seals (frozen seals can tear)
- Your battery’s health (cold kills weak batteries)
And for appearance-related concerns:
- Look closely at your panels for dents
- Check for new scratches or chips
- Make sure winter grime isn’t hiding damage
If you’re unsure what you’re looking at, snap a few photos and message us — we’re always happy to take a look.
If Winter Damage Happens, CD DENTS Is Here to Help
We hope you stay safe and damage-free this winter, but accidents happen — especially in Michigan. If you get:
- A new dent
- A door ding
- A parking lot mishap
- A bodyline dent
- Rock chips or scratches
- Scuffs from snowbanks
CD DENTS can repair it. Our Paintless Dent Repair, Dr. ColorChip paint touch-up system, and door edge protective film services will get your vehicle back to looking its best quickly and affordably.
Winter is tough on cars — but you don’t have to deal with the damage alone.









