Hi there, my name is Nancy. Welcome to my site about automotive maintenance. My car has lasted for more than 10 years without any major problems due to the strict maintenance schedule I follow. Vehicle maintenance includes oil changes, tune ups, tire rotations, alignments and a host of other important services. These services protect the vehicle’s components from excessive wear and unexpected failure. I will use this site to explore all of the different maintenance procedures and schedules available. I hope you can use the information on my site to keep your vehicle in great shape over the years. Thanks for visiting. Come back soon.
Most car owners budget at least a little money for ongoing maintenance and care of their car for things like oil changes or a new set of tires every couple of years. But if you get into a collision that leaves you with auto body damage, getting it fixed could suddenly leave you way over your expected auto budget for the year. With that in mind, there are a few tips you can try and keep in mind if you ever find yourself in this situation in order to keep your repair bill as low as possible. Here are 3 tips for potentially saving money on auto body repairs.
When Possible, Try and Fix It Yourself
While this won't apply to every situation, you might be surprised at just how much you can handle on your own if you are hell bent on saving money. For example, if your car has some body damage and also some minor scratches to the paint, you can try and touch up the paint yourself before you take the car in to get the body damage fixed. This will save you at least some money instead of making the auto repair shop fix the problem and having to pay for the service. You can find your car's paint code in the owner's manual or on the door jamb. Most auto parts stores will sell touch-up paint for this purpose.
Look For A Local Collision Center Instead Of Going To Your Dealer
While there's nothing wrong with getting a car serviced or repaired at the official dealer where you bought car, you may end up paying a premium for this. Dealers associated with a car manufacturer will tend to use only new parts to fix problems with your vehicle. A local collision center that specializes in repairs may have more options for you, including using used or refurbished parts to fix what is wrong with your vehicle.
Inquire About Paintless Dent Repair
Paintless dent repair, or PDR as it's called in the auto industry, is an alternative to traditional auto body repairs that can save you some money. Technicians can use PDR to repair dents without having to do any sanding or body filler. It's likely you will find someone who can handle PDR at a collision center because body repairs tend to be what these places specialize in. Your car insurance company may even waive the deductible or give a discount because of the cost savings the PDR provides.
If you want to save some money on your auto body repair, take a look at what needs done and figure out if there is a smaller section of the job, such as paint retouching, that you can do on your own. Paintless dent repair is a great way to fix your problem if your vehicle just has a few bumps and bruises. Choose a local collision center instead of going to your official dealer and you may find yourself some savings through refurbished parts and even potentially from lower labor costs.
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