What is a SMART Repair?

  • Repair
  • Bodywork

FixMyCar looks at the different types of SMART repairs currently available to drivers in the UK.

Book a car repair now

Ellie Dyer-Brown

Wednesday February 07 2024

3 min read

There was a time when cosmetic damage to your car often meant replacing an entire panel or bumper, which was time-consuming and expensive.

SMART repairs have changed all of that. Repairers, who are now often mobile, use specialist tools and materials to fix modest amounts of damage to a localised area of your car, blending the paint into the surrounding area to make it look as good as new.

This guide explains everything you need to know about SMART repairs.


What does SMART stand for?

SMART is an acronym for Small Medium Area Repair Technology.


What types of work are covered by a SMART repair?

scratched car
iStock.com/Daisy-Daisy

SMART repairs typically cover a number of areas:

  • Paintwork scratches

  • Bumper scuffs

  • Minor dents

  • Scuffed alloys

  • Vandal damage


How do SMART repairs work?

dented car
iStock.com/Srongkrod

Minor dents without any damage to the paintwork can be repaired using paintless dent removal. This process involves gently manipulating the area to remove the dent without requiring filler or paint.

Paintwork damage, on the other hand, requires filler and paint. The area is sanded, filled, and then dried with a heater. After that, the area is rubbed down before being sprayed, lacquered and polished.

A SMART repair aims to fix the damage without replacing a whole panel or re-spraying the vehicle. It's much quicker and cheaper, and many technicians operate as mobile mechanics, which means it can be done at a location of your choice.


What type of damage isn’t covered by SMART repairs?

While SMART repairers can do wonders, they aren’t miracle workers, and there are some areas where you may need to contact a specialist.

These include:


How much does a SMART repair cost?

The cost of a SMART repair will vary depending on the damaged area's size, depth and location and your car’s paint finish, i.e., metallic or solid paint.

The good news is that in most instances, the cost of a SMART repair will be less than your insurance excess, meaning you shouldn’t have to claim on your policy.


Benefits of a SMART repair

car damage
iStock.com/sefa ozel
  • Lower cost than a traditional repair

  • Faster than a traditional repair

  • Can be done at a location of your choice

  • There's often no need to claim on your insurance

  • Increases the value of your car if you choose to sell

  • Ensures perfect colour match with existing paint


Looking to repair damage to your car? Find a trusted SMART repair technician on FixMyCar's garage network.

If you found this guide helpful, you might also like:

Get quotes in minutes
Save money on your car repair

Written by Ellie

Ellie Author Pic

Ellie is FixMyCar's Content Writer. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.

Find Ellie on LinkedIn.