Whether you've been in an accident or you're just feeling like your car could use a new look, you're probably thinking that you need to spend a chunk of change on body repair. Auto body repair is notoriously expensive, preventing many people from even considering upgrades. You might be pleasantly surprised to know that there's a number of DIY auto body repair options you can do on your own. These methods will still cost a little money, but they're far more rewarding and a lot cheaper than bringing your vehicle into an auto body shop. DIY Auto Body Repair OptionsOn the front end, you'll need to get a number of auto body repair tools. The nice thing is, you don't have to get everything under the sun. After you know the specific work you'll be doing on your car, you'll be able to buy only the tools you need to complete the project. Let's discuss which projects you can reasonably complete yourself. Hopefully, after reading this article, you'll realize that having little money doesn't have to be an obstacle. 1. Scratches and ScuffsThis is probably the most common issue that people neglect to save money. A scuff on your car isn't bad enough to require maintenance, but it's still an eyesore. Sand the area around the scrape or scratch. You'll need to be patient here and make as little mark as you can while still taking care of the mark. Then, you'll want to wax the area so it's smooth and apply your manufacturer's recommended paint. 2. Minor DentsMinor dents have an extremely effective method for fixing, and most people don't know about it. You can actually acquire a suction cup dent puller for your dents. Placing this on your dent and using the machine can take care of most, if not all of the dent and bring your car back to pristine condition. You might just need to do a paint touch up when it's done. 3. Broken LightsBroken lights are another one that you might think requires professional care. Look at the make and model of your car and identify the specifics of its headlights. Before you go into a body shop, find out if you can easily repair the light on your own. You could conceivably fix every car's light, but some are more difficult than others. Older cars tend to be easier to fix when it comes to light. 4. Bumper DamageSome of the bumper damage you'll experience can be fixed with items one and two above. However, more significant damages can be repaired relatively easily. Simply clean the damages to remove any rough edges, fill in the holes with body filler, and apply the appropriate coat of paint. 5. Rust HolesRust holes are many people's worst nightmare. The hole is extremely unattractive and can spread if it isn't taken care of. So long as the spot isn't in an area that is load bearing, you can fix the hole with body filler, similar to the small holes described in our bumper damage section. You can also use glass fiber if you prefer. 6. Broken WindowsBroken windows are definitely easier to fix by having a mechanic work for you. That said, you can fix them yourself. First, make sure to understand your car's window function and see which parts you'll be working with. Then, clear out the area, making sure that no shards are stuck. Contact your car's window manufacturer to see the specifications of the glass you'll need, then replace the glass. This can be difficult, and it's hard to give specific instructions because each car is different. Do your best to find car-specific tutorials online. 7. Make Sure You're SafeFixing your car is possible, but it's essential that you're extremely careful. One way to make sure you've done the job is to bring your car in after you've fixed it and have a checkup with a mechanic. They can tell you if anything looks off. Do It All Yourself if You CanThere's no reason you can't handle your own DIY auto body repair. In fact, there's no reason you can't do a lot of things yourself. That includes making money. If you're feeling tight on cash and would rather bring your car into a shop, make the money to pay for your repairs using thetips on our site.
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