by Louis Albornoz

Created on: February 20, 2007   Last Updated: May 04, 2007

The best way to improve the appearance of any used car or truck for less than $30.00 would be to apply a new paint job yourself.

For this you will need the following materials:

1. Spray paint (8-10 cans of durable outdoor spray paint)
2. Masking tape (one roll should be enough)
3. Painter's mask (the cheap, white fiber kind)
4. Rags or towels (any kind will do)
5. Newspaper (a full issue of your local paper should do)

6. A bucket of hot water (the hotter the better)

Your cost for materials will likely be as follows:

1. Spray paint - $25.00
2. Masking tape - $1.00
3. Painter's mask - $1.00
4. Rags or towels - Free or $1.00 for a bag of rags
5. Newspaper - Free, get some out of any recycling bin
6. A bucket of hot water - Free

This is a simple project that should take you no more than a few hours to complete.

Follow the below instructions and soon you will have a nicer looking used vehicle.

1. Soak a rag in the hot water bucket and scrub the exterior of your vehicle with the rag. You want to get your vehicle as clean as possible.

2. After you have thoroughly cleaned your vehicle's exterior, dry it off with a rag or a towel.

3. Use the newspaper and masking tape to cover any surfaces that you do not wish to get paint on. This means covering up the windows, headlights, trim, etc...

4. When you are finished covering and masking your vehicle, you will be ready to start painting.

5. Put on your painter's mask. It is better to use a respirator when doing any kind of painting but a painter's mask will protect your lungs better than nothing.

6. Proceed to spray all the areas of your vehicle. Apply the spray paint with wide, sweeping strokes, side to side. Start at the top of your vehicle and work your way down.

Maintain an approximate distance of one foot from the surface you are painting. You want to ensure an even and uniform application of paint.

7. Continue painting until you have covered all of the exposed areas on your vehicle.

8. When you are finished painting, give the paint some time to get tacky. This will usually just be a few minutes.

9. Once the paint has become tacky, remove all the newspaper and masking tape from your vehicle. Make sure to start at the top and work your way down.

10. Allow the paint several hours to dry and cure. Make sure your vehicle is positioned in a dry and well-ventilated area. Do not keep the vehicle in direct sunlight as this may damage the paint before it has cured.

11. You are now finished. Make sure to properly dispose of your garbage, especially any unused paint.

There you have it, a do-it-yourself paint job that will make your vehicle look like new for less than $30.00.

Disclaimer: Results may vary. If you truly want a nice looking paint job for your vehicle, spend the money and take it to a professional automotive painter.

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