Ways To Save Money On Your Next Auto Body Repair Bill
It doesn't matter whether your car was dented in the parking lot of the grocery store or you were involved in a car accident, auto body repairs can be expensive. The good news is, there are several different things that you can do to help lower the cost of the bill. Check out these simple tips to help you save money on your next auto body repair bill.
Can the Dent be Repaired without Repainting?
Sometimes people put off having small dents repaired, because they believe that the repair work will cost a lot of money. However, if the dent in your car can be fixed without repainting the area, it lowers the cost of the bill. If a dent can be pulled out without damaging the existing paint, there's no need for the mechanic to sand, fill, or paint the car's exterior. So, the mechanic doesn't need to do as much work to complete the job, which means your bill will be lower. If you just need to have a few dents repaired, ask the auto body shop employee if paintless dent repair is possible.
Can You Repair Scratches on Your Own?
You might be surprised to discover that small scratches aren't hard to fix. To repair a small scratch on your car:
- Use the code on the driver's side door jamb to determine the exact paint color.
- Buy a bottle of touch-up paint with the same color code.
- Sand the scratched area down using a piece of 2000-grit sandpaper.
- Cleanse the area with soapy water, and wait for it to dry.
- Paint the sanded area with the touch-up paint, and let the paint dry completely.
- Apply rubbing compound to the painted area so that the finish blends with the finish on the surrounding area.
You might need to take your car to a body shop to have larger scratches repaired, but you can cut your costs by repairing small scratches before you go.
Consider Replacing Your Car Parts Separately
Sometimes replacing some of your car's damaged exterior can be less costly than repairing it. So, you should consider checking with your local junkyard for parts before taking your car to the body shop. Often, you can find things, such as quarter panels, fenders, and bumpers, for a decent price. If you find the parts that you need, replace them yourself. Then, take your car to the closest body shop to have it painted. This way, the paint on the replacement parts match the rest of your car.
Anytime you have to have body work done on your car it can be stressful. Fortunately, by doing some of the work yourself and asking if paintless dent repair is an option, you could save a good amount of money. Talk to local auto body repair services to see how they can help.
