Inflation has affected the car market and caused the price of new and used cars to increase substantially. Plus, higher interest rates have ballooned the average car payment to $729 per month. So if all you can afford to drive right now is a beat up car, you’re not alone. Luckily there are ways to make your beat up car look newer and shinier so you can proudly drive it. Here are six hacks to help you transform your clunker into a beauty.
6 Ways to Transform Your Beat Up Car
Remove Scratches
Most beat up cars have unsightly scratches in the paint. Over time, the metal underneath the flaking paint can become exposed and begin to rust, so it’s a good idea to fix defects when you notice them.
You may be able to remove shallow scratches yourself using a scratch eraser product, which you can apply with a microfiber towel or orbital polisher. Deeper paint scratches may require you to touch up your car’s paint. However, if you aren’t confident in your DIY skills, it may be best to bring your car to the local auto body shop for a paint correction instead.
Get a Paint Correction
A paint correction can help your vehicle look much newer by removing blemishes like hazing, scratching, and swirl marks. A stage one paint correction usually costs a couple hundred bucks, but can remove up to 50% of defects and transform your beat up car. If you’re willing to shell out a bit more cash, you can get a stage two paint correction to remove 85% or more of correctable defects.
Give Your Beat Up Car a Good Wash
Cars are exposed to the elements constantly and can accumulate a ton of dirt, bugs, pollen, and other debris. Giving your car a good wash and detailing the interior can help remove all these layers of grime and return the shine to your older vehicle.
Although you can get by with a garden hose, some soap, and a rag, buying a proper car cleaning kit can really transform your vehicle. This one contains 27 pieces to help you clean your tires and windows, polish your car, and detail small nooks and crannies like interior vents.
Wax Your Beat Up Car to Make it Shine
After you wash your car, you can wax it to make it shine even more and protect the exterior from dings and scratches. Although you usually have to wait until your car is fully dry to apply wax, Turtle Wax is specifically designed to be used on wet cars. This helps save you time because you can simply spray it on right after rinsing your car and wipe dry.
Clean or Replace the Carpet
Cleaning your car’s carpet may seem like a big task, but it’s easier than you think. First, vacuum up any dirt and debris using a portable vacuum. Then grab an upholstery cleaning spray and a carpet brush and scrub all the stains away. For an even deeper clean, you can rent or purchase a portable carpet cleaner to remove extra tough set-in stains and persistent odors.
However, sometimes the carpet in a beater is too far gone to save. In that case, you can purchase new carpeting specifically designed for your car’s make and model for around $200 and install it yourself to save money. Replacing the carpet is a budget-friendly way to give your beat up car a new lease on life.
Clean and Repair the Seats
After you refresh the carpet, don’t forget to vacuum and clean the rest of the upholstery. If you have fabric seats, you can use the same cleaning spray you scrubbed into the carpets to remove mystery stains on the upholstery. You can even break out the carpet cleaner to totally transform old, dirty fabric seats.
However, if you have a leather interior, you should get a specialized leather cleaning kit. It contains a cleaner to remove stubborn stains and a conditioner to keep the leather looking shiny and fresh.
If there are any holes or tears in the upholstery, it’s also a good idea to fix them. You can purchase a patching kit to repair your seats and prevent the tears from widening.
What are your favorite ways to refresh an old car on a budget? Share your tips in the comments!
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Vicky Monroe is a freelance personal finance and lifestyle writer. When she’s not busy writing about her favorite money saving hacks or tinkering with her budget spreadsheets, she likes to travel, garden, and cook healthy vegetarian meals.
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