Collision & Body Work
Auto welding near you
Auto welding on exhausts, brackets, body metal, frames and trailers, at a shop or by a mobile welder at your driveway or yard.
- Time at the shop
- 2 h
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 1
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
1 shop in Canada does this
Collision & Body Work
What auto welding is
Auto welding joins or rebuilds metal on a vehicle: a split exhaust pipe or flange, a cracked bracket or skid plate, a rusted floor or rocker patch, a truck bed, a trailer hitch, or a crack in a frame that needs reinforcing. Most work is done by MIG welding on steel, TIG welding on thin metal and aluminum, and stick welding on heavy trailer and yard equipment.
The welder first checks the metal, since thin or rotted steel will not hold a weld and is cut back to sound metal instead. Everything near the joint that can burn is protected or removed: fuel lines, wiring, brake lines, plastic and the battery. Welds are then ground smooth and sealed against rust. Structural parts such as frame rails, suspension mounts and hitches are repaired only where that is safe, and a good welder will say when replacement is the better fix.
- For cars, vans, trucks, RVs and trailers
- Takes about 2 h
- Can be done at your address
What does auto welding cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
1 shop across Canada does auto welding.
What to expect
Auto welding, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Damage looked over and the repair explained, including whether welding is the right fix for the part
- Rust, paint, undercoating and oil ground off the joint so the weld bites into clean metal
- Fuel lines, wiring, brake lines, plastic and the battery protected or disconnected before welding starts
- Weak or rotted metal cut back to sound steel, with patches or reinforcing plates cut and fitted
- MIG, TIG or stick welding chosen to suit the metal, its thickness and where the joint sits
- Welds ground smooth where needed and sealed with primer or paint against rust
- Exhaust, bracket or hitch refitted and checked for leaks, fit and alignment
- Finished weld inspected by eye, and tested under load or with a leak check where that applies
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Have photos ready of what broke and where; the welder can tell you if the metal is sound enough to weld or needs a new part
- 02Ask whether the price is hourly with a minimum or a fixed quote, and whether materials and any call-out fee are extra
- 03For frame, suspension, hitch or trailer repairs, ask if the welder does structural work and will say when replacement is safer
- 04If the joint is near the fuel tank, ask how it will be protected; the tank may need draining or removing first
- 05For a mobile visit, confirm there is open space, dry ground and nothing flammable nearby, and where the vehicle will sit
- 06Ask whether the repair will be primed or painted afterwards, and who does that
Signs
When you need it
- An exhaust pipe or flange that is split or hanging low, with a rasping sound from underneath
- A cracked or rusted bracket, skid plate, mount or tow hook
- A rotted floor section, rocker or truck bed with sound metal around it to patch
- A trailer frame, hitch, ramp or fender that has cracked or torn away
- A custom bracket, rack or plate to be made and fitted, such as a mount for a light bar
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get auto welding done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Mechanical Repair
Exhaust & muffler repair
Exhaust repair for a loud or leaking system: leaks traced on a hoist, then muffler, pipes, flex joint, hangers or converter repaired or replaced.
Rust repair
Rust repair on rocker panels, wheel wells, doors and box corners: bad metal cut out or ground back, then patched, sealed and repainted.
Mechanical Repair
Trailer hitch installation
Trailer hitch installation for cars, SUVs, vans and pickups: receiver, wiring and brake controller fitted and matched to the trailer you plan to tow.
Collision repair
Collision repair at a body shop: damage estimated, structure straightened, panels refinished in matched paint and driver-assist sensors checked.
Maintenance & Servicing
RV & trailer service
RV and trailer service: wheel bearings, brakes, tires, seals, lights and hitch gear checked on travel trailers, fifth wheels, cargo trailers and motorhomes.
Questions
Questions about auto welding
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
Can a cracked exhaust pipe be welded instead of replaced?
Yes, if the pipe around the crack is sound. A weld on a flange or a seam takes about an hour and costs far less than a new section. Thin or rotted pipe will not hold a weld, so the welder cuts back to solid metal and fits a new piece. A muffler that is rusted through inside is usually better replaced.
Is it safe to weld a frame, hitch or suspension part?
It can be, when an experienced welder uses the right material and joint design on a part that is otherwise sound. Some parts should not be welded at all: high-strength steel structures can lose strength when heated, and steering and suspension parts such as control arms and knuckles should be replaced, not welded. A welder who declines and recommends replacement is looking after you. Ask whether the repair follows the maker’s guidance.
Can aluminum or cast parts be welded on a vehicle?
Aluminum can be welded with TIG or a spool-gun MIG setup on clean, oxide-free surfaces, but not every shop offers it. Cast iron and cast aluminum housings crack easily and need preheating and special filler, and the result is not always reliable. Ask before booking, and expect the welder to suggest a replacement housing when the part is critical.
Can a welder come to my home or yard?
For many jobs, yes: exhaust repairs, brackets, truck beds and trailers. The welder brings a portable machine, a grinder and a cutter, and needs open space, level dry ground and nothing flammable nearby. Anything that needs a hoist, a frame machine or the fuel tank removed goes to a shop.
How long does a welding repair last?
A good weld in sound steel is as strong as the metal around it, but rust returns at the edges if the repair is not sealed. A crack can also come back if its cause is still there, such as a missing bushing or a bracket carrying too much load. Ask the welder what caused the break, and get that fixed as well.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
Ready when you areTell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
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