I hit a pole with my car.. How do I fix it where the metal is showing?

You should cover any bare metal as soon as you can, if it's steel. Otherwise it'll rust and your problems get worse. If it's a small area, get some 600 grit abrasive paper, and rub the area to remove any loose paint and to roughen up the sound paint. Overlap onto the good paint about an inch. Gt it clean and dust free. Wipe with turps and let it dry naturally.

Then mask off around the damaged area with newspaper and masking tape

Spray the damaged area with primer. It's a special paint that dries with a matt finish. It's designed to help the top coat stick to metal and prevent the steel underneath from showing through.

When the primer dries -give it a day or two- get some 800 grit abrasive paper and rub it so it's smoth like your abdomen. Take extra care round the edges where it meets the old paint.you don't want a lip there.

Then you fill in any dents. Use auto body filler and apply like it says in the tin. This is a messy and unpleasant job. Let it dry and rub it smooth using a block and 600 grit abrasive. Then prime the surface again just like before so,you have a lump of filler sandwiched between two coats of primer paint. Let it all dry.

Then mask up the area again and spray with a colour matched paint. You can get this from,your local car body shop in aerosols size which are very convenient for small areas. Same as before, apply several light coats, allowing each to dry in between.

Let it dry for about a week then polish it with cutting compound. This is an abrasive paste like toothpaste but it polishes paint not teeth.

For larger areas of damage you need to,paint the whole panel and for that you need professional equipment so not really viable DIY unless you're really keen.

Use mild (low grit) sandpaper with water and sand away all rust. Feather the edges where the paint remains. Spray the area with spray can galvanizing paint.... not regular paint.... read the label.

Let dry two days and spray your chosen color over the grey galvanizing paint already applied. Couple coats.

Recommend you get one of those band-aide decals to put on top.

OR, go to a pro body shop and take money with you.

The car or the pole?!!

Body shops repair cars.

You any good with poles?

It's hard to tell you what to do, we don't know where the damage is at and what metal is showing. messing with vehicles 49 yrs

Take it to a good body shop.

Well, you certainly live up to your name if you think someone here can advise you about something they can't see.