What affects the cost of panel beating?

A panel beating quote is made up of labour to straighten or replace the panel, the cost of any parts, and the paint to finish it. The price moves with how much metal has to be worked, how many panels are touched, and what's hiding behind the damage. Here's how we build a quote, so you can see where the money goes.

1. Which panel

Panels aren't equal. A door skin is relatively simple. A rear quarter panel is welded into the body, so a replacement is a bigger job than a bolt-on guard. Bonnets and boot lids are bolt-on but large, so paint is a bigger share of the cost. Roofs are the hardest to replace because of what's attached underneath.

2. Repair or replace

If the dent can be pulled and worked back to shape without stretching the metal thin, repair is usually cheaper and keeps the factory panel. If the metal is torn, creased sharply, or the panel is rusted through, replacement is the better job. Sometimes the labour to repair a badly damaged panel costs more than a replacement part, so we quote whichever gives the best result for the money. Our repair or replace guide goes deeper.

3. Paint and blending

Every panel repair ends with paint. A single panel means prepping and painting that panel, then blending into the neighbours so there's no colour step. Multiple panels mean more paint, more masking and more time in the booth. Metallic, pearl and three-stage colours take longer to match. See spray painting.

4. What's behind the panel

This is the part a photo can't show. A door that's been hit may have a bent intrusion bar or a damaged window regulator. A guard impact can push the headlight mount or the inner guard. A rear-quarter hit can affect the boot floor. We check for this when the car comes in, and if we find more we tell you before we go further, with the price.

5. Parts

Replacement panels, clips, mouldings, badges, lights. Genuine parts cost more than aftermarket or quality used parts, and availability affects the time frame. For older or less common cars, parts can be the slow part of the job.

6. The car itself

A luxury or European car generally costs more to repair than a common hatchback: more complex panels, more trim to remove, more expensive parts, and paint systems that take more care. Aluminium panels need different techniques from steel.

7. Private or insurance

The repair itself costs the same either way, but the process differs. On an insurance job the assessor approves the quote; on a private job you do. Private customers sometimes choose a cheaper path (a used panel, or repairing rather than replacing) that an insurer might not. We'll give you the options.

Getting an accurate price

Send photos through the quote form: one from a few metres back showing the whole side of the car, and close-ups of each damaged area. For anything more than a single panel we'll usually ask you to bring the car in so we can check underneath. We'll give you a written price and a time frame, with no obligation.

If you're near Slacks Creek, drop in to 77 Moss St six days a week. Details on the panel beating page.