There are plenty of reasons you might want to fix your car yourself following a collision. Maybe you've taken the settlement money from your insurance company, but you know you can complete the repairs for less than their estimate. Or you might not have collision coverage, leaving you to deal with the damage from an at-fault accident on your own.
Whatever the case, it's always a good idea to save as much money as you can when performing DIY collision repairs. While buying used body panels might not be the first option that comes to mind, you should consider these three reasons why they can be an excellent deal for any DIY body repair project.
1. Cost
There's no getting around the elephant in the room. Used body panels will typically always be cheaper than buying new parts. Whether you're trying to leave some money left over from your insurance settlement or just want to spend less, you'll probably be able to get your hands on a used part for a fraction of its new cost.
However, there's a more subtle benefit with used part pricing. In most cases, the price of the part will depend on its condition, with panels in poorer condition costing less money. This arrangement means you can customize your costs to your needs. You can go for pricy parts in good shape if you're restoring a relatively new car or cheaper parts if you're fixing an old beater.
2. Fitment
Fit and finish are critical parts of any body repair process. If the part you buy doesn't fit well, you'll waste time and effort trying to get everything properly aligned and looking good enough. In some cases, you may find that the final product is less than ideal, no matter how much time you spend working. These issues can be pervasive if you're trying to save money with aftermarket parts.
When you buy used, you're typically purchasing an original manufacturer part from a vehicle like yours. You can often buy these parts for similar prices to aftermarket alternatives, but you're guaranteed to get a compatible part that will correctly fit your car. Proper fitment can also be a significant advantage if you're restoring an older car where genuine parts may be harder to find.
3. Easy Preparation
If you're restoring a car damaged in a collision, you'll need to perform substantial preparation work. Even if you buy brand new body panels, you'll still need to sand, prime, and paint them. The extra work involved in preparing a used panel won't add much time or effort to this process. Additionally, it's relatively easy to deal with any cosmetic imperfections since you'll already have the part off of the car.
Restoring a car yourself is an excellent way to save some money, but you may not maximize your savings if you're focusing only on new parts. By purchasing used, you can get a great result while saving even more cash.
Contact an auto parts dealer near you to learn more about used car parts.
