How Much Do Body Kits Cost?

Since the very first personalized car, there’s no doubt that the culture of car customization has grown significantly in recent years.

This growth is seen not only with the expanding circle of custom car fanatics but also in the way the game has evolved. The number of pieces you can install on your car increased. The designs became much sleeker, more complex and more functional. But the cost still cuts deep through your budget. Especially if you don’t plan before purchasing and installing a custom body kit.

While every car enthusiast is always ready to pay the price of transforming their ride into a head-turner, it’s still best to take some time to calculate what your dream style really costs.

There are several points to factor in when it comes to the overall budget for a body kit. You should consider what type of kit you’re going for, the materials which these kits are made of, brands, and complexity and functionality of the design.

Lucky for you because our fellow car geeks and experts at AusBody Works have already shed some light regarding these matters and here’s what we have learned: 

Know What Type Of Body Kit You Want

Are you going full body or just the ground effects? We’re asking because the type of body kit you want to add will make a huge impact on your budgeting.

A full body customization obviously entails a bigger expense because of its many inclusions. Expect hood replacements, front and rear bumpers, and side skirts (left and right) if you wish to do full dress up on your car. If money is not a problem for you, then you’ll never go wrong with a full car body kit. Go big or go home, right?

If you want to muscle up your car even more, a wide body kit will do the trick. These are in addition to the five-piece full body kit that can beef up your car through installation or replacement of fender flares. It can be difficult and pricey to install but it’s all worth it once finished.

On the other hand, ground effects kit, sometimes called a “lip kit”, is probably the easiest kit to install. Its components are generally bolt-on attachments to the existing front and rear bumpers that give your ride a head-turning sporty look.

You can also have your body kits personalized. Mix and match from the components available on the market if you’re gunning for a more unique and personalized touch to your ride. Just keep in mind that these parts must not only be stylish, but also compatible with your car. A sleek spoiler or cool fender flares is nothing but wasted money if they won’t fit your car.

Choose The Right Material For your Body Kit

The cost of your body kit is also largely affected by the material used. Custom body kits available in the market are usually made of fibreglass, ABS plastic, polyurethane, carbon fibre and composite materials. These materials exhibit different characteristics that hugely impact the style and quality of a custom body kit. They come at different prices, too. So if budget and quality are among your many concerns, you should probably take note of these specifications:

Fiberglass is lightweight, affordable, and probably one of the most abundant materials in the market. It doesn’t deform when exposed in high temperatures but can be extremely rigid, so it can shatter easily when hit or suffer from great impacts.

Polyurethane, commonly known as “urethane”, is more heavy-duty and more flexible than fibreglass. But unlike the latter, urethane warps (unfortunately) when exposed to extreme heat. It’s also heavier and costlier than fibreglass.

ABS Plastic is also a tough, durable and dent-resistant material. When it comes to weight and durability, ABS Plastic is on par with polyurethane. They also fall under the same price range so there’s really not much advantages or differences between the two.

Carbon Fibre, on the other hand, needs no introduction. You probably know that it’s one of the strongest, lightest and most heavy-duty materials out there. No wonder why it’s the go-to material for race cars and other high-performance vehicles. It’s also a top-tier material for bikes, too. So don’t be surprised that this high-quality stuff comes with a heftier price tag.

Composite Materials, as the name implies, are a mix-and-match of some, if not all, of the materials mentioned above. Downside is that they tend to be pricier than the kits that are made of fiberglass alone.

Consider Shipping Costs

There’s a ton of reasons why shipping must be taken into consideration when costing out for a body kit customization.

First is the availability and proximity of a specific kit that you want installed on your car. Let’s say a body kit of this brand already piqued your interest and you’re ready to score it anytime. But if it turns out that the specific kit you had your eyes on went unavailable, you might want to source it from other manufacturers.

You’ll probably find another, there’s no doubt. But chances are you’ll find it from another state or region much farther away from you. So you have no choice but to pay for a heftier shipping.

Body kit pieces also need to match the dimensions of your ride. But that doesn’t mean that these pieces will automatically fit into the package-size limits set by these cargo companies. Bigger packages simply require a different package size which often entails additional cost.

These parts are also delicate and must be handled with utmost care. If they are handled roughly, chances of breaking and cracking are likely. To avoid these kinds of mishaps, your suppliers will opt out for a much more specific cargo carrier that can handle even large packages with the same utmost care.

Shipping may not be related to anything about car customization itself, but it can make or break (literally) your dream body kit installation. So make sure not to brush off this key factor when purchasing your body kit. 

Installation

After hours of scouring through the internet for the best and most affordable products you can find, here comes the most crucial part. Like they say, purchasing is only the tip of the iceberg. Installation is where the struggle really begins.

But fret not. It can be daunting, yes, but don’t be discouraged right away.

After receiving your package, here’s what you have to do. Investigate the pieces of your body kit for unwanted dents and cracks. Also, make sure that there’s no missing piece (yes, even the smallest components like screws or whatnots).

When you’re already sure that the package is complete and intact, it’s time to bring in the experts. That’s right. Don’t try to install it on your own. If you don’t want your ride to get damaged, call for help. Unless you’re a professional yourself, you will need an expert hand on this. It’s either you ask the experts to come over to your garage, or you drive straight to the body shop with the package in your trunk.

Fitting and modifying will take the best body shop to do it perfectly without scratches. So bring your car and body kit only to the best shop in town to have it all put together. Just make sure that this shop has the expertise on the material that you bought. For example, you opted for a carbon fibre body kit, therefore you should choose the shop that has experienced handling this material already.

The installation fee depends on how much work will it need to fit the body kit to your car. Sometimes, custom car experts need to modify the body kit pieces to match the components of your vehicle, and vice versa. Paintwork is often considered, too.

Like mentioned above, you can’t do this on your own. So it's paramount that you call for help. The toughest job in car customisation may also be tough on your wallet but trust us. Once you’ve seen the finished product, it’s all bang for the buck.

Choose The Right Kit

Or better yet, the right body kit chooses you.

The point is that body kits are not “one-size fits all”. Your style and budget always come into play when getting your car all spruced up.

So we always advise that you do your research first. Assess your budget and choose the type of body kit that will perfectly match your style. You may also ask for recommendations from the body shop regarding what will work for your vehicle.

We can’t stress this enough: the last thing you want is buying an expensive body kit, only to sell it again online for a much cheaper price just because the kit you bought and your car just didn’t click.

So make sure to take note of the key factors we laid out above before finalizing your decisions. When you’ve finally purchased and installed your desired body kit, we’d love to see your new and improved ride!