[yenracer]

hi all,

I got rear ended on the driver side on the highway hit and run and i didn't buy full coverage only liability and the dude sped off and i couldn't catch up to him on the highway. how much is it to fix this. i want to really keep this car as i bought it back in march for about $2700 only around 116k miles. the engine looks and runs really good. i also bough 4 struts and was getting ready to change them in about 2 weeks until this thing happen.

just wanted to know the price range before i starting to call around the shops. is it hard to paint and buffer and do it myself if i'm a little handy? any suggestions on where to buy the stuff.

much thanks all and this forum rocks.

 

[schmiddr2]

I'm no body guy, but I'd imagine the whole rear quarter panel will need to be cut off and replaced. As for total cost, it depends on how perfect you want it to look. $1,500-3,000.

 

[Desertds]

Probably cheaper to buy another one and donate that one for a tax writeoff.

 

[Justice619]

I've taken autobody classes. Yes, rear quart panel needs to be replaced. Not really something someone can do a home without tools and experience. How much would it cost? Price are different depending on the quality of work like schmiddr2 said. You'll just have to call around to get an idea. But, most cases, you'll have to take the car to them to get an accurate estimate.

 

[yenracer]

do you think i can get away with replacing the the rear lights for my wife to take the car for her driver test. i know they ask for car insurance and test brake lights and turn signal lights but are they really picky about body damage? the reason is that this is my only car for her as her driving test is in 1 weeks. this sucks as the timing is really bad and to reschedule will take another 3 months . the car drives great nothing wrong just the body damage.

much thanks all for the input

 

[schmiddr2]

Shes probably not 16 years old, so she's waited this long, what's a few more months. If she must do it immediately then rent or borrow a car, get something small and easy to see out of.

GL getting that fixed or sold.

 

[Justice619]

It should be ok to pass a driver's test if you replace the tail light. They mostly care about the all the signals lights working during the test.

The body damage isn't bad enough to say it unsafe to be on the road. It's mostly cosmetic damage, not structural damage.

 

[yenracer]

thanks all, just wanted a second opinion. as far as i remember when i did my test, they ask for proof of insurance and stood in front of the car signal left signal right and went to the back honk the horn, press on brake, signal left signal right and then proceeded to enter the car and did the parallel parking and then if you pass you go out on the road for the road test. i hope they don't consider that damage as a safety hazard and tell me to fix it. replacing the taillight shouldn't be too hard. i'm not going to sell it as the car drives awesome.

much thanks everyone.

 

[Endzone3]

Man that's too bad about your car. Did that happen on I-30? I'll be more careful.


I don't think they will care about the cosmetics as long as the turn signal and brake lights work. When I took my test over a year ago (at age 58) the wait time was about 1 month. It has gotten crazy there.

 

[yenracer]

do you think i can get away with not changing the tail lights even though the housing is broken, surprisingly the bulb still works for the left signal. do you think the dps tester will say something and tell me to change the tail light housing? i'll eventually change it and try to fix this damage. i was calling around and parts itself corner panel about $300, bumper $150, and taillights $70. it happened on LBJ 635. i hate that highway. thank the lord my kiddo and wifey is okay.

 

[Sifu]

That damage looks well over $3,000+ in damages. If you love the car, it's paid off, the frame isn't tweaked then you may be able to find a full rear quarter shell and have someone cut and weld/glue in the newer one. Still going to be expensive but it may not be a totaled vehicle.

My biggest concern is a bent frame. Anything else I'd put into consideration.

 

[Bem]

Camry just a new rear plastic bumper skin replaced / installed cost $1000.00 Canadian

 

[SleepCreeper]

I JUST finished the rear bumper on my 2001. Samee thing happened to me last winter, hit and run on the interstate..

I bought an unpainted, primed bumper cover off amazon for $125.

Painted it myself for another 100$

Less than 3 hours to remove the old bumper and install the new one.

 

[cb91710]

I'm with schmiddr... but thinking on the high side of that $1500-$3000.
My '03 Tundra was hit on the front corner. Bumper, fender, hood, radiator support, and door skin was $8,000 and those were all bolt-on parts. No cutting and welding or metal blending was required... just parts and paint.

 

[1fastser]

Easily over $3Gs, unfortunately.

 

[surgeon0]

Some one hit my 02 rear with less damage than that, same side with same rear light, bumper bent with clips broken. They straightened out dents on panel. Replaced bumper and its inner chrome trim piece with aftermarket. Replaced with aftermarket tail light. Repainted one side (also removed rear triangle glass and re-glued after painting). It was a dealer-approved place where the nearby honda/toyota/nissan dealers drop their cars. It cost that person that paid out of pocket to avoid insurance for his daughter (driving a car without lic day before test) about $2780. So I agree that his has little bit more damage to the quarter panel than mine so over 3G is accurate. They also waxed and buffed the car to make it look same all over.

If you take it to a small shop, it would have cost half. But this guy wanted to do it right so there won't be problems later. This place offers lifetime warranty of the specific work performed.

It is possible to have the panel work done and then do the bumper re-paint or new used bumper work yourself.

As for the test, you just need to make sure both tail lights, brake lights work. Bumper is sturdy and not going to fall when you hit with your hand. Other than that the car can be as beat up as you want (dents) but is not a safety hazard. I took a car before where hood was secured down by a wire and passed the test.