Someone hit my car today while it was parked, and what's even better is that I bought my car TODAY. Yes, today. The front left fender needs to be replaced, everything else is fine. . Can anyone tell me how much this is going to run me at a repair shop? Can I buy a painted part online somewhere and do it myself? Can anyone reommend a shop that will get the job done quickly and well in the philly metro area?

I'm seriously about to cry....if i put this through my insurance will it go on my cars history as an accident? I'm trying to avoid that. Ugh

I know how you feel. 1 week after I bought my G some idiot in a red truck reversed into my rear bumper.

2 weeks after that, some ricer stole my stock Amber driver side corners including the FN socket / wiring harness. Dealer wanted 1700 for a new wiring harness.

Just go through insurance. Anything under a few grand isn't reported to the DMV. If it is, they will send you a few paperwork to fill out. Just don't fill it out.

I'd definitely go through isurance. Having to find a painted fender, possibly needing to blend it etc, is too much of a hassle.

How much would painting it cost if i found the part?

I want to go through insurance but I'm trying to avoid having it show up on my cars history report.

Hello, I work at a shop. For insurance purposes, the quote they will give you for a new fender and to paint it is about $745, not including blend/match/clearcoat. The price of the OEM part is $304.40, estimated install time is 2.5 labor hours, so probably 1 hour or less if you're skilled. Refinishing (painting) the panel will cost about $300, and you will want to blend and clearcoat the hood and adjacent door... could run you an extra $100 or so.

Hope this helps!

thanks for your input, will a shop usually allow me to bring in a part myself to be painted and installed?

absolutely... that would probably run you about $500 to install, paint, blend.

first and foremost did you file a report with your local police department, if you haven't then you need to. Second highly recomend going thru your ins. only b/c this should be covered under Comprehensive and not collision, so your rate can not change since you were not involved an accident. I work for a body shop and like monteitis said you want to get your fenders and possibly your hood blended. Why pay out of pocket when it wasn't your fault unless your saying it was.

A $500 fender bender and replacement bumper isn't going to lessen the value of your car. Go through insurance.

gl with repair. Thar really sucks.

fix it on your own. get a fender that's already painted, (used) and install it yourself. you don't want it to show on carfax when you sell your car

^ Definitely, that's why buying a used car sucks, because of people that try to hide things like this from potential buyers.

That sucks, I noticed that driver side corners are not tight at all and really easy to take out.

If you call your agent, they would probably advise if your premium will go up if you make a claim. Probably not, as it can be classified as vandalism.

same thing happened to me, bought my car. drove it home. got gas. stopped to eat. come out and my front bumpers been swiped - sorry bout that. but like forest gump says, "it happens."