What is a high spot?

• A. A dent in a panel
• B. A raised area on a panel after repair
• C. A recessed area in the panel
• D. A crease in the metal

Answer: (B)

In auto body work, a high spot is a raised area that sticks up above the surrounding surface of the panel. After repair, hammering, filler, or over-sanding can create these protrusions, which stand out when you look at the panel or spray finish. They’re not dents or recessed areas (which are low spots), and they aren’t creases (which are folds or bends). Recognizing a high spot is important because if it’s left in place, the paint may not lay flat, leading to a glossy mismatch or paint problems. To fix it, you level the area with careful grinding or sanding, often using a straight edge or guide block to ensure the surface is even with the surrounding skin, then recheck and reblend as needed.