Bird Droppings and the Body of Your Car: What You Need to Know

There are a number of different things that can be damaging to the paint and body of your vehicle. Using the wrong type of cleansing soap, abrasive sponges and brushes, and weather elements, such as hail, can all be damaging to your car. While you may be aware of many types of elements that can damage your car, one of the items that often flies under the radar is bird droppings. Bird droppings, or bird poop, contains uric acid, which is corrosive. Here is more information about bird feces and your automobile. 

The Type of Damage Bird Droppings Can Do to Your Vehicle

The acid that is present in bird feces can be damaging to your vehicle in a few different ways. First, the acid can eat away at the wax and finishes that are present on the body of your car. Once the finish has been eaten or worn, the acid in the droppings can then start to attack the paint on your car. This can lead to fading or it can eat away at the paint entirely, depending on how long the droppings sit on your car. Once the finish is worn away and the paint is being affected, water can begin to sit on the body of your car as well, leading to rusting. So while bird droppings cannot directly lead to auto body rust, it can indirectly cause this major problem as well. 

How to Protect Your Car Against Acidic Bird Droppings

While bird droppings can cause significant damage to your car, there are things you can do to prevent the damage from occurring. One of the best things you can do is to avoid parking under a tree, minimizing the droppings that get on your car. If you must frequently park under a tree, invest in a car cover to prevent the droppings from landing directly on your car. If your car has been pooped on by birds, wash the vehicle as quickly as possible. The longer the droppings sit, the more damage they can cause. Finally, routinely waxing your car or using a clear coat on your car can help to minimize damage from the occasional bird dropping falling on your car. 

What to Do If Bird Droppings Have Already Affected the Paint on Your Car

If bird droppings have affected the paint on your car, you have two choices. You can live with the damaged or faded paint, or you can have your vehicle repaired. Having touch-up paintwork completed or having the vehicle entirely repainted can be beneficial if you want your car to look its best and/or if you plan on reselling the car in the future. An auto body repair shop can help you with paint damage and repairs. 

Bird droppings are corrosive and can damage the paint of your automobile. This can affect the overall aesthetic of your car and lower its resale value. If your car has been damaged by birds, an autobody repair shop can help to touch-up the affected area or repaint your vehicle if multiple areas of your car have been affected. Here at Certified Collision Center Autobody Repair, with locations in Tracy, Manteca, Stockton, Oakdale, Modesto, South Sacramento, Lodi, and Galt, we use paint-matching technology to help with touch-up painting and repairs. Schedule an appointment with us now. 

Request an Estimate

Please complete the information below and one of our technicians will contact you shortly.

Request a Quote Internal

Fill out the form to request an estimate for your vehicle.

  • Add photos of damage here
  • Drop files here or
    Accepted file types: jpg, png, Max. file size: 256 MB, Max. files: 5.