the Cost of Auto Body Repair

My truck received some significant rear body damage from a small tornado. The rear lights were smashed out, the tailgate was dented, the rear bumper was almost torn off, and the driver's side was beaten up badly. All of this damage was repaired.

The service was done quickly (1 day after a 1 week wait for parts) and I was given a loaner to drive during the process. Another shop offered to do the work immediately as they had the parts in stock, but their price was substantially higher than the shop I ended up going with. Since the damage was such that it didn't stop me from driving the car, I just drove it with some dents for a week.

Shop around. I saved 40% just doing this - the highest estimate was about $1800. Also, if you need to drive, look for a place willing to give you a loaner for a day or two. Another tactic: don't be afraid to haggle. Simply tell them that you've got a better deal elsewhere and don't be afraid to walk out. At almost every shop, they were willing to negotiate when they saw me walking out the door.