Car respraying specialists

Find a respray specialists to fix your car's paint job near you

Respraying

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What is a car respray?

A car respray is when a vehicle has the same colour as the rest of the car, or an entirely new colour, sprayed onto it. Car paint repair is generally done when certain panels need to be painted to match the rest of the car. Alternatively, a full car respray is done when the owner wants to change the colour of their car. The full respray process is a very long process and can take longer depending on the level of colour change and the style of paint that is used in the respray.

A car respray is especially useful for motorists who want to get a paint repair after an accident, or motor enthusiasts who want to restore a classic car to its former glory. The best method for car respraying is not to cut corners. This means stripping existing paint off the car, so you are left with exposed metal. It’s important to take care of any old paint, filler, dents, or rust from the car. This process is the most precise way to respray a car, but it is also the most expensive way.

How much does it cost to respray a car?

The cost of a single panel car respray can vary depending on your car make and model, the number of panels that need spraying and the type of paint you want. The average cost of a full car respray is on average between £600 and £1,000, based on WhoCanFixMyCar data.

Car makeAverage price
Alfa Romeo£1,259.97
Audi£956.18
BMW£969.31
Citroen£528.96
Fiat£913.61
Ford£950.95
Hyundai£551.30
Jaguar£768.19
JEEP£2,200
Kia£1,052.74
Land Rover£1,336.19
Lexus£801.92
Mazda£1,196.23
Mercedes£1,419.71
MINI£1,005.78
Mitsubishi£1,057.14
Nissan£754.46
Peugeot£695.29
Renault£422.86
SEAT£1,462.90
Subaru£1,737.78
Suzuki£635.88
Vauxhall£760.11
Volkswagen£697.59
Volvo£503.17

Find car paint repair specialists near you

We can help you find local car respraying garages that will provide quotes for either a full or partial respray. We work with over 15,000 garages and have a number of car respray body shop technicians on our website to provide you with competitive quotes.

  • Enter your car registration and postcode

  • Compare trusted car respray specialists nearby

  • Request an instant quote

  • Select any damaged zones on your current car, which helps to estimate paint repair costs better

  • Upload a photo of your car paint damage on your car, if possible

What is involved during a car respray?

A respray can be a messy job which is why using a body shop with a specifically designed area is the best way to ensure quality and safety. After cleaning the car, the mechanic will scrub your car with a special sanding sponge which will help the new paint stick.

All of the windows, tyres and trimmings will then be covered as it is important not to get any paint on these parts. Different garages have different spaces for respraying a car; some will have specialised machinery and rooms whereas others will carry out the respray in a specified spray space.

The mechanics themselves may spray your car manually as opposed to using machines if they are not a specialist body shop.

  • Paint repair

    The average cost of a full paint repair booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £976.82.

    A paint repair comes under the category of bodywork. The cost will depend on the extent and size of the damage.

    Can include
    • Scratch removal
    • Respraying
    • Panel replacement
    • Paint chip repair
  • SMART & scratch repair

    The average cost of a SMART or scratch repair booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £350.99. SMART stands for Small Medium Area Repair Technology and involves repairs to localised patches of modest car body damage like scratches. They are easy fixes that can be done quickly or by a mobile mechanic.

    Can include
    • Paint repairs
    • Scuff repairs
    • Paint chip repair
    • Dent removal
    • Wheel flaw repairs
  • Car body repair

    The average cost of a car body repair booked on WhoCanFixMyCar is £453.41. Car body repairs include the fixing or repairing of the external body of the car, including dents, panel replacement, respraying and more.

    Can include
    • Dent and scratch removal
    • Alloy wheel refurbishment
    • Panel replacement
    • Paint respraying
    • Chassis realignment

Which car paint repair service do you need?

Single panel respray

The car will be prepared prior to the technician spraying a single panel. Windows and lights may be covered to stop the paint going on them.

Next, the process involves removing paint from the panel, choosing the correct paint, stripping the car down, priming, sanding down, applying a top coat and lacquer, buffing, then polishing to give it a showroom standard. The cost of a single panel respray costs between £363 to £669.

Full car respray

A full respray is a complex and time-consuming job. A full respray will give the vehicle a more consistent finish and is the best option when restoring vintage cars, or if the motorist wants a different colour for their car. The whole car will need to be prepared for the respray. The cost of a full car respray is £997 on average.

How to respray a car

Want to respray your car by yourself? Below are the steps you need to take to respray your own car properly if you have got the resources to do this.

Materials for car spray

You need to gather all of the supplies required to respray your car which includes; 5-10 cans of paint cans (depending on the size of your car), masking tape, lots of newspaper, a paint drip cloth, a sanding sponge, 3-4 cans of flat grey spray primer and rust killer spray. All of these supplies can be bought online.

Where to respray a car

It is essential that you carry out the respray on your car in a well ventilated area however this cannot simply be somewhere outside. If there is a high amount of sun exposure to the paint then it will ruin the work you have done, similarly, if it rains the pain will run and cause streaking on your car. Many people who decide to respray their own cars do so in a garage. If you are considering doing the same thing it is vital that you cover the entire area including the floors and walls. The paint will get everywhere so cover everything!

Cleaning before a car respray

Your car needs to be completely clean and dry for the new layer of paint to stick to the exterior properly. You should take your car to a car wash or carry out a through clean yourself with hot soapy water. This may be better than a car wash as the drive back home may result in your car picking up dirt on the journey.

Preparing a car before a respray

This is where you make use of your sanding sponge. Wet the sponge and scrub the entire area which will be resprayed. This will help the new layer of paint stick to the car.

Dry the car before respray

As soon as you have finished scrubbing the car with the wet sanding sponge, its time to dry the car. once more this is a vital part of getting the car ready for a respray. If the weather is suitable and dry, leave the car out to dry further.

Remove rust before a respray

If there are any rusted areas on the car then you need to ensure that they are as sanded down as much as possible as this will help the new paint cover the damage. You also need to ensure that all of the dirt is removed from the rusted areas as this will prevent the new paint from sticking to the car. Using spray on rust killer is a good way of helping the paint stick properly. Ensure any rusted area are covered by rust killer.

Cover the windows before a respray

As soon as the car is bone dry, it’s time to cover all of the fittings such as the windows, wheels and handles with masking tape, newspaper and sheets.

Respraying a car

Now you can begin respraying your car. Start by using the primer on the rusted areas as this will also help with covering the damage effectively.

Cover everything during a car respray

As soon as all of the damaged area are covered in primer, you can begin respraying the car. It is important to focus on one area of the car at a time. Such as all of the car doors individually, then the bumpers and so on. It is important to provide a light and even coat the first time around. Once this is complete you can begin with the second and third coat.

However, there is a huge amount of care and attention required to perform an expert job which is why we would recommend having a body shop or mechanic carry out the car respray.

Reasons to consider repainting your car

  • Your car has been involved in an accident which has damaged the paintwork

  • You fancy a change of colour for your car

  • Restoring a vintage car

  • You notice exposed metal on your car which might begin to rust

Is a car paint repair necessary?

If your car’s paintwork has become chipped, pale or you can see exposed metal then this is a clear signal that paintwork restoration is necessary.

Exposed metal will rust very fast, leading to even more expensive repairs. Having these panels resprayed will prevent any rust forming, conserving your car's bodywork.

What is the difference between a respray and a full car respray?

A respray is when a vehicle has the same colour, or an entirely new colour, sprayed on it. A car respray is generally done when certain panels need to be painted the same colour as the rest of the car.

On the other hand, a full car respray is done when the owner wants to change the colour of their car. The full respray process is a very long process and can take longer depending on the level of colour change and the style of paint that is used in the respray.

When do I need to fix paint damage on a car?

If your car has a peeling clear coat, dull paintwork, or you are looking to modify the colour of your car, a partial or full respray is worth considering.

If your car is already in great condition and you want to change its colour, another option to achieve this is a car vinyl wrap, which costs less money and can be removed at any stage to restore the car back to its original finish.

How is a single panel respray done?

Certain panels may be able to be separated from the vehicle, which makes having them resprayed far simpler. Though several panels, such as the roof or rear quarter, are usually connected to the frame of the vehicle, so these would be resprayed in place and masking applied to the panels which are not to be painted.

The process involves sanding off the panels, removing dents or scratches, a primer and base coat applied, then respraying the panel. The panel will be replaced if it was removed.

How is a full car respray done?

A full car respray involves removing exterior panels to help with the process of removing the old paint. This can include the doors, bonnet and bumper. The panels will be sanded and all the old paintwork is removed to leave a clear surface for the primer.

Dents or damage to any panels is also fixed before the respraying stage. Once primer has been applied, the base coat will be sprayed, then a layer of clear coat to protect the paintwork. Finally, any removed parts will be reassembled.

Are car resprays covered by insurance?

If you have a comprehensive insurance policy, then you will most likely be covered for paint jobs on your car in qualifying events. These events include accidents, collisions, and acts of vandalism that damage the exterior paint of your vehicle.

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