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How do I fix broken car body panel pieces?

My rear quarter panel has a knick on it—I think I got dinged by another car while I was parked. How can you fix broken car body panel pieces?

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Nick Kunze · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Damage to your car can be a frustrating situation. Fixing a car body panel piece can be as simple as buffing out the damage or as elaborate as a full replacement.
Car body panels are sheets of metal welded onto the body of your car. These protect the car’s interior systems and the car’s passengers. How to fix a broken car panel is dependent on what is wrong.
For minor dings and scrapes, you can try to buff out the damage. If you don’t want to do this yourself, a mechanic can try buffing out any damage.
For more structural damage, you’ll likely need to get the car panel replaced. This is an expensive repair—the panels themselves are usually hundreds of dollars, and the labor involved with removing and replacing a panel is intensive. Expect to pay between $1000 and $2500 to replace a car body panel.
If the damage to your car body panel was caused by an accident or other covered incident, you can get the repairs paid for by your
car insurance
policy. To make sure you’ve got the best possible policy, you should download insurance broker Jerry.
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