Hopefully our FAQ section has answered some of the questions you may have about bodywork repair. However, if you would like more information, we have the produced the following guide to help you understand the subject in greater detail.
Body work repair covers a wide range of job types which means the cost will vary greatly as well as the length of time it will take to carry out.
Panel Beating
Panel beating is a job carried out by specialist bodywork technicians who are able to utilise specific tools and techniques to reshape the metal on the body of a car.
If you are involved in an accident, it will often be the body that takes the brunt of the damage as panels on a car are designed to absorb impact and reduce the force of a crash by cushioning the blow.
Even though a car may have suffered a huge impact, it doesn’t always mean that the panels need to be replaced.
Panel bashing involves using a huge variety of tools to manipulate the metal and get it back to it's original shape.
Depending on the extent of the damage, the amount of time and money spent will vary, however the cost is likely to be less than replacing an entire panel.
Respraying
Getting a respray is a quick and easy job which most specialist body shops will be able to carry out.
Depending on the facilities at the body shop you choose, the time the job will take will vary.
Some specialists will have state of the art spraying booths and work with classic and high end cars, these facilities will be able to deliver the highest quality of respray work as the paint and delivery system will be the best avaliable.
However the job is likely to be more expensive than a conventional body shop.
The time taken and cost of the serivce will depend on the type of paint and the size of the area requiring respray.
Wrapping
Wrapping a car can help protect the paintwork from weather, chipping and rusting as well as UV rays which can fade the paint on your car.
Furthermore if you happen to scratch or scuff your car, the wrapping will take the brunt of the damage and so protect the underlying paint.
You can have your car wrapped to display specific graphics if you are interested in changing the aesthetic of your car.
If you want a stripe on your car or other shapes, you can make the request from a specialist who will provide you with a quote.
Before a vinyl wrap is applied; all of the lights, door handles, trims and badges will be removed from the body of the car.
Special car wrapping surface cleaner will then be applied to your car before the wrap is applied.
The car wrap will can then be applied to the properly.
Once more, the time taken to complete the work depending on the size and shape of the piece.
Welding
Welding is an important part of bodywork car repair as it is essential for fixing different pieces of metal together.
Welding is a highly skilled job and should not be attempted unless you are a trained professional.
There are a huge amount of uses for welding on a vehicle as new parts can be created and existing ones can be repaired.
Many different parts of a car can be repaired with the help of a welding expert so do not think your car is written off if something falls out of the engine!
Accident Repairs
If you have been in an accident, we hope you're ok!
When it comes to having your car fixed after an accident it can be a toss up as to how much it will cost and how long the car will take to be repaired as the extent of the damage will be completely different from one to the next.
It's can be impossible to understand the extent of the damage to your vehicle after an accident so it's vital that you get more than one quote, as the cost could vary by hundreds of pounds from one garage to the next.
Rust Removal
Rust removal can be a job completed without the need of a mechanic, however it depends on the extent of the damage and the area which is affected.
Rust forms when an anode, cathode and electrolyte combine.
The metal in your car acts as the cathode and anode which reacts with water (the electrolyte).
Even if your car is under cover, rust will form as a result of these elements coming together if the climate is humid enough.
You can buy specific products online which can help remove rust which are effective at repairing damage, however its effectiveness will vary on the extent of the damage.
The cost of a rust repair will once more depend on the extent of the damage.
Scratches and scruffs
Getting a scratch or scruff is common for cars in the UK however they can be perfectly removed with the right technical knowledge, tools and materials.
It’s important to remember that even if you have suffered from extensive scratching or scuffs, a trained professional has the ability to remove them with precision.
Removing a scratch is far cheaper than having an entire body piece replaced like a bumper so always check with a body shop to see if they can remove a scratch before replacing anything.
On average it doesn’t take too long to have your body work repaired when it comes to scratches and scruffs.
It’s important that you get a car scratch removed as soon as possible as it may get worse over time and the value of your vehicle will reduce!
Having a scratch removed by an expert is the best option unless you are a trained professional, as there are a variety of materials and techniques involved in the process.
The cost and time taken to complete the work will depend entirely on the extent of the damage to the body work so make sure to get as many quotes as possible to avoid paying over the odds.
The mechanic will apply the paint to the car scratch, or car scuff, as part of the bodywork repair.
The Paintwork repair required for removing car scratches and car scuffs shouldn’t vary in time or cost greatly, from garage to garage.
Restorations
The bodywork required on a car restoration will be significant as whole panels are likely to require replacement and the ones which stay as part of the original vehicle, will need to be welded, have rust and scratches removed.
A full restoration make take years and they often do, as mechanics and hobbyists use their spare time and money to build their own cars.
A huge amount of car body work will be required on restorations as all of the components will be required to be removed and fixed back into place during different stages of the work.
Dent
Dent repair is one of the biggest parts of body work repair and is essentially the same as panel beating or panel bashing which is covered at the top of this guide.
SMART repair
SMART repair (Small, Medium Area Repair Technology) is a type of service offered by mechanics which is includes the use of specialised tools, paints and materials to provide your car with a good as new finish on an area which may be damaged.
Before the technology existed, if a panel was damaged, the entire piece would have to be replaced meaning more money and time would have to be spent on car maintenance.
The advances in technology mean that the speed and effectiveness of body work repair is significantly improved.
According to YouGov research, 65% of cars in the UK are carrying damage which could easily be repaired using SMART repair.
The specific jobs included in this type of body work are;
- Bumper repair
- Alloy wheel repair
- Scratch repair
- Dent Repair
- Alloy wheel refurbishment
- Bumper repair
- Exterior trim repair
Finding a mechanic you can trust to do a good job and charge a fair price, is not always easy which is why we simplified the process.
We work with a network of 8,500 mechanics and garages across the UK so we can find competitive MOT deals for you.
To find the best MOT service in your region;
- Enter your car registration number
- Give us a few details about your car and your requirements
- We’ll send you a great selection of quotes from mechanics and garages in your area
You can then compare the quotes and read reviews from previous customers to find the best body work deal in your area, before booking online.
