Customizing your vehicle’s body can really make it feel uniquely yours. But the thing is, professional paint jobs are expensive. Also there’s legal paperwork you need to submit to the DMV in case of a car color change, which can be a real hassle. Not to mention, a normal paint job can be rather boring. What if you want to change your vehicle’s look in other ways? Thankfully, there are a few options out there if you want to spruce up your vehicle’s body without using a fresh coat of paint.
Slip On Some Decals
Decals are semi-permanent vinyl stickers that you can use to decorate your vehicle. They’re car body decorations that come in a wide range of colors and designs, with many cool car decal stores offering custom designs of your choosing. If you want to add an accent color to your vehicle’s body and don’t want to touch the paint, you can opt to use decals instead. Alternatively, you can also add other decor like racing stripes or your company logo by using decals.
Remember though, if you get a full-body decal for your vehicle that changes its apparent color, you need to declare the change to the DMV.
Difficulty: Decal application can be difficult, but doable if you’re only applying a small decal. That being said, it’s best to leave full wraps and precision pieces to the professionals.
Products You Can Use:
The GenuineXL Stone Guard Decal on Quarter Panel is a decal option for classic Porsches. Its premium black color can complement any paint job if you use the decal as an accent.
This German Rear Section Stone Guard Decal comes in a muted white perfect for that classic look. It fits Porsche 944 models from 1983-1991.
Customize With a Roll Pan
A truck roll pan is a great way to customize your vehicle without touching its paint job. This body modification fits underneath your truck’s tailgate, giving it a sleeker, more finished look. Roll pans also allow you to mount extra rear lights while giving you a place to hang your license plate. Roll pans are typically made of steel and can be painted different colors to match your truck. They come in a variety of different shapes, but most of them give your truck bumper a more rounded, rolling silhouette.
Just remember to check if your state laws prohibit you from installing a roll pan on your truck.
Difficulty: You need to be familiar with power tools if you plan on adding a roll pan to your truck yourself. Some roll pans require welding experience while others need you to drill into your truck body. If you aren’t confident in your abilities, let a professional handle the installation.
Products You Can Use:
The Key Parts Steel Roll Pan has a bright silver finish that’ll draw the eye as you speed down any highway. It adds a bit of subtle bling without being obnoxious.
N-Dure Primed Roll Pans come in a set of two primed pieces. Your truck silhouette is sure to look much sleeker should you choose to install these.
Add a Grille Guard
Another customization option for truck owners is a grille guard. Truck grille guards fit over your truck’s front grille to protect it against minor collisions, animal run-ins, and road rubble. They’re a great place to mount lights and accessories too if you need them for offroading.
Grille guards also have the added benefit of looking pretty cool.Grille guards have various designs that go from complex and futuristic nets of metal to simple and stylish interconnecting bars.
Difficulty: Grille guard installation difficulty depends primarily on the type of grille guard you buy. Some come preassembled, but you’ll need to assemble other models yourself. You’ll need some knowledge of basic hand tool use as well.
Products You Can Use:
The Ranch Hand Legend Series Carbon Steel Grille Guard has a hexagonal-pattern grille that gives an excellent, futuristic look.
The Luverne Tuff Guard Series Stainless Steel Grille Guard is the very picture of beautiful simplicity. It makes for a sturdy mount for lights and accessories as well.
Add a Rear Spoiler
Adding a car rear spoiler doesn’t just add a stylish new piece to your vehicle’s body. It changes the airflow around your vehicle, reducing drag. As your vehicle speeds down a highway, the spoiler lifts the passing air off its body and reduces turbulence and wind resistance. It also helps generate downforce, which pushes the rear tires into the road for better grip.
Difficulty: Installing a rear spoiler means drilling into your trunk hood. You also need to be careful about alignment. If either of these aren’t your forte, entrust a professional instead.
Products You Can Use:
This Primed Plastic Spoiler has a simple, curved design. It comes with a light attachment as well, so when you brake, the driver behind will have an extra warning.
The 6-Piece Kit Rear Spoiler includes bumper parts so your vehicle’s rear can be as good as new.
Change Up Your Convertible’s Top
Soft-top convertibles will inevitably need a touch-up every few years given the vinyl material is more prone to damage over time than hard-top materials. Vinyl tops shrink and grow brittle as they age, so replacing them is essential if you want to keep your convertible looking pretty. Picking a new color makes it all the more fun.
Difficulty: You’ll need a lot of patience for this project, as well as experience with power tools. You’ll also need to cut up precise pieces from your convertible top replacement to make room for some fasteners, which can ruin the vinyl if you do it incorrectly. Hand the job over to a professional if you have any doubts.
Products You Can Use:
The Kee Auto Top Buckskin Convertible Top comes in a charming, vintage brown color. It’s an understated classic that’ll never go out of style.
Get the Kee Auto Top Burgundy Convertible Top if you’re looking for that subtle pop of color. It’s eye-catching without being gaudy.
And there you have it! These are some of the best ways to customize your vehicle outside of giving it a new paint job. While there’s nothing wrong with a fresh coat of automotive paint, these car decorations are certainly worth a try if you want something different.
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
