Price Guide

How Much Does a Car Body Repair Really Cost?

Compare prices for 12 services across 342 UK locations. Data-driven pricing updated for .

12 services priced 342 cities covered Updated

National pricing

Car Body Repair Prices

National average prices. Select a city below for local pricing.

All prices include materials and labour unless stated otherwise. Prices verified 2026

Bumper Repair

Low

£100

Average

£200

High

£350

2-4 hours

More details

Repairing scuffs, scratches, cracks or minor dents on a plastic bumper using SMART repair techniques. Includes sanding, filling, priming and colour-matched painting. Much cheaper than a full bumper replacement and usually completed the same day.

~75% labour, ~25% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity and size of the damage
  • Whether the bumper has parking sensors or cameras
  • Paint type and colour matching complexity
  • Mobile repair vs body shop

Bumper Replacement

Low

£300

Average

£550

High

£1,000

1-2 days

More details

Removing a damaged bumper and fitting a new one, including painting to match the car's colour. Price includes the bumper, paint and labour. Prestige cars and bumpers with integrated sensors, cameras or grilles cost significantly more.

~41% labour, ~59% materials

What affects the price

  • Vehicle make and model (OEM parts vary hugely in price)
  • Whether OEM or aftermarket bumper is used
  • Number of sensors, cameras and parking aids to refit
  • Paint colour and whether metallic or pearlescent

Scratch Repair

Low

£80

Average

£180

High

£350

1-3 hours

More details

Repairing paint scratches using SMART repair techniques. Light surface scratches that haven't penetrated the clear coat can often be polished out. Deeper scratches through to the primer or metal need sanding, filling and repainting. Price is per panel.

~83% labour, ~17% materials

What affects the price

  • Depth of the scratch (clear coat only vs through to metal)
  • Length of the scratch and number of panels affected
  • Paint type (solid, metallic, pearlescent, matte)
  • Mobile repair vs body shop visit

Dent Removal (PDR)

Low

£60

Average

£120

High

£250

30-90 minutes

More details

Paintless dent removal (PDR) uses specialist tools to push dents out from behind the panel without affecting the paintwork. Works best on small to medium dents where the paint is intact. A much cheaper and quicker alternative to traditional body repair.

What affects the price

  • Size and depth of the dent
  • Location and accessibility of the dent
  • Whether the paint is damaged (PDR only works on intact paint)
  • Number of dents (multiple dents may get a package price)

Full Respray

Low

£1,500

Average

£3,000

High

£5,000

5-10 days

More details

Completely respraying the entire car in the same or a different colour. Includes stripping or sanding existing paint, priming, multiple coats of colour and clear coat, and reassembly. A colour change requires painting door shuts and engine bay edges which adds cost.

~73% labour, ~27% materials

What affects the price

  • Vehicle size (small hatchback vs large SUV)
  • Same colour vs colour change (colour change costs more)
  • Quality of paint and number of coats
  • Whether panel preparation and dent repair is needed first

Panel Respray

Low

£200

Average

£350

High

£600

1-2 days

More details

Respraying a single panel (door, wing, bonnet, roof or bumper) to repair damage or refresh faded paint. Includes preparation, priming, colour coat and clear coat, blended into adjacent panels for a seamless finish. Larger panels cost more.

~73% labour, ~27% materials

What affects the price

  • Size of the panel (wing vs bonnet vs roof)
  • Paint type (metallic and pearlescent need extra blending)
  • Amount of preparation work needed
  • Whether blending into adjacent panels is required

Windscreen Replacement

Low

£200

Average

£350

High

£700

1-2 hours plus curing time

More details

Removing a damaged windscreen and fitting a new one. Modern windscreens with rain sensors, heated elements, heads-up display coating or ADAS cameras cost significantly more. After fitting, the adhesive needs curing time before driving. Often covered by comprehensive car insurance with no effect on no-claims.

~7% labour, ~93% materials

What affects the price

  • Vehicle make, model and year
  • Whether the windscreen has rain sensors or heating elements
  • ADAS camera recalibration after fitting (adds £50-£150)
  • Whether covered by insurance (often just an excess to pay)

Windscreen Chip Repair

Low

£30

Average

£50

High

£80

20-30 minutes

More details

Injecting resin into a stone chip to prevent it spreading into a crack. Only possible if the chip is smaller than a 5p coin, not in the driver's direct line of vision, and not near the edge of the windscreen. Much cheaper than a full replacement and often free on insurance.

~80% labour, ~20% materials

What affects the price

  • Size and location of the chip
  • Often free under comprehensive insurance
  • Chips in the driver's critical viewing area may need replacement instead
  • Multiple chips may be repaired in one visit

Alloy Wheel Refurbishment (Per Wheel)

Low

£50

Average

£80

High

£130

1-2 hours per wheel

More details

Repairing kerb damage, scratches and corrosion on an alloy wheel. Includes stripping, sanding, filling, priming, painting and lacquering. Diamond-cut alloy wheels require specialist lathe work and cost more. Price is per wheel; most people refurbish a set of four.

~65% labour, ~35% materials

What affects the price

  • Standard painted vs diamond-cut finish (diamond-cut costs more)
  • Wheel size (larger wheels cost more)
  • Severity of kerb damage or corrosion
  • Whether the wheel needs straightening (buckle repair)

Paint Protection Film (PPF)

Low

£350

Average

£1,000

High

£3,000

1-3 days

More details

Applying a clear self-healing polyurethane film to protect paintwork from stone chips, scratches and road debris. Full front-end kits (bonnet, bumper, wings, mirrors) are most common. Full body coverage is available at a premium. The film is virtually invisible and lasts 5-10 years.

~15% labour, ~85% materials

What affects the price

  • Coverage area (bumper only vs full front end vs full body)
  • Film brand and quality (XPEL, SunTek, 3M etc.)
  • Vehicle size and complexity of curves
  • Whether paint correction is done first

Ceramic Coating

Low

£300

Average

£600

High

£1,200

1-2 days

More details

Applying a professional-grade ceramic coating to the paintwork for long-lasting protection and gloss. Includes decontamination wash, paint correction (machine polishing) and coating application. Creates a hydrophobic surface that repels water and dirt. Professional coatings last 2-5 years.

~79% labour, ~21% materials

What affects the price

  • Level of paint correction needed before coating
  • Coating brand and durability (1-year vs 3-year vs 5-year)
  • Vehicle size
  • Whether additional surfaces are coated (wheels, glass, trim)

Accident Damage Repair

Low

£500

Average

£2,000

High

£5,000

3-14 days

More details

Repairing bodywork damage from a road traffic accident, including panel replacement, structural repair, painting and realignment. Costs vary enormously depending on the severity. Insurance-managed repairs often cost more due to approved repairer rates. If repair costs exceed the car's value, it may be written off.

~45% labour, ~55% materials

What affects the price

  • Severity and extent of damage
  • Whether structural (chassis) repair is needed
  • Number of panels affected
  • Whether the repair is insurance-managed or private

Popular locations

Car Body Repair Costs by City

London

£125–£435

Birmingham

£95–£325

Leeds

£95–£340

Glasgow

£105–£365

Sheffield

£100–£345

Manchester

£100–£340

Bradford

£90–£305

Edinburgh

£115–£400

Liverpool

£100–£345

Bristol

£110–£375

Coventry

£95–£335

Leicester

£85–£300

Local pricing

Find Car Body Repair Costs in Your City

Browse all 342 cities for local car body repair pricing.

Barking and Dagenham Barnet Bexley London
Brighton Milton Keynes Reading Southampton
Bournemouth Bristol Gloucester Plymouth
Colchester Luton Norwich Peterborough
Birmingham Coventry Stoke-on-Trent Wolverhampton
Derby Leicester Northampton Nottingham
Bradford Leeds Sheffield York
Bolton Liverpool Manchester Warrington
County Durham Middlesbrough Newcastle upon Tyne Sunderland
Blaenau Gwent Bridgend Cardiff Swansea
Aberdeen Dundee Edinburgh Glasgow
Belfast

Regional comparison

Bumper Repair by City

Average cost of bumper repair across key UK cities.

London
+24% £250
Manchester
-2% £195
Birmingham
-7% £185
Glasgow
+5% £210
Bristol
+7% £215
Leeds
-3% £195
Cardiff
-2% £195
Belfast
-13% £175

Overview

What Does a Car Body Repair Do?

A car body repair provides professional services covering bumper repairs, dent removal, resprays, windscreen work, alloy wheel refurbishment and paint protection. They cover a range of services from straightforward options to more complex, bespoke work. Choosing the right body shop ensures you get quality results and a professional experience.

You should hire a car body repair whenever you need specialist expertise or professional-grade results. The right body shop brings experience, proper equipment, and industry knowledge that makes a real difference to the outcome.

Pricing for car body repair services depends on the complexity of what you need, the options chosen, and where you live in the UK. Simpler services sit at the lower end of the scale, while more involved or premium options will be significantly more expensive. The prices on this page give you a realistic range for each type of service so you know what to expect before getting quotes.

When hiring a car body repair, always get at least three quotes from different mechanics. Read recent reviews and ask for references. Always check certifications and itemised estimates. A reputable body shop will be happy to provide a detailed breakdown of costs and explain exactly what is included in their quote.

Related services

Related Services

Services often needed alongside a car body repair.

Car Mechanic UK price guide £54.85–£54.85 Man & Van UK price guide £30–£55 Removals UK price guide £250–£600 Driving Lessons UK price guide £28–£40 Skip Hire UK price guide £80–£200 Handyman UK price guide £40–£120 Locksmith UK price guide £60–£150 Cleaning UK price guide £25–£45

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about car body repair costs in the UK.

Is it worth fixing a small dent or scratch?
Paintless dent removal and smart repairs can fix minor damage for a fraction of the cost of a full panel respray, and usually take just a few hours. Repairing small damage promptly also prevents rust and protects your car resale value.
What is the difference between a smart repair and a full respray?
A smart repair (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology) targets just the damaged area, blending the new paint into the existing finish. A full panel respray strips and repaints the entire panel. Smart repairs are faster, cheaper and suitable for small chips, scratches and scuffs.
Will a body repair affect my insurance?
If you claim on your insurance, it may affect your no-claims bonus and future premiums. For minor damage below your excess, it is often cheaper to pay for the repair yourself. If another driver is at fault, their insurer should cover the cost without affecting your premium.
How long does a car respray take?
A single panel respray typically takes 1-2 days including preparation, painting and drying. A full vehicle respray can take 1-2 weeks depending on the condition of the bodywork and the quality of finish required.
Is it worth claiming on insurance for bodywork repairs?
For minor cosmetic damage, it is usually cheaper to pay privately. A typical bumper scuff repair costs £100 to £200, while making a claim could increase your premiums by £50 to £100 per year for up to five years. Compare the repair cost against your excess and the long-term premium increase before deciding.
What is paintless dent removal (PDR)?
PDR is a technique where specialist tools are used to massage dents out from behind the panel without disturbing the paintwork. It works best on small to medium dents where the paint is not cracked or chipped. PDR is typically 50-70% cheaper than traditional dent repair and can be done in under an hour by a mobile technician.
How long does car body repair take?
Timescales vary widely depending on the damage. A mobile scratch or dent repair takes 1 to 3 hours. A bumper repair or single panel respray takes 1 to 2 days. Major accident repairs involving multiple panels, structural work and parts ordering can take 1 to 3 weeks. Insurance-managed repairs sometimes take longer due to approval processes.
Can scratches be buffed out or do they need respraying?
If the scratch is only in the clear coat (you cannot see bare metal or primer), it can often be machine-polished out for £50 to £100. If the scratch has gone through to the primer or metal, it needs sanding, filling and repainting. A simple test is to run your fingernail across it — if it catches, the scratch is too deep to polish out.
Will a body repair affect my car's value?
A professional repair done well should not significantly affect your car's value, and leaving damage unrepaired is usually worse. However, poorly done repairs with visible colour mismatch or orange peel in the paint can reduce value. If you plan to sell the car, a quality repair from a reputable body shop is a worthwhile investment.
What is a SMART repair?
SMART stands for Small to Medium Area Repair Technology. It is a cost-effective method of repairing localised damage such as scratches, scuffs, small dents and stone chips without repainting the entire panel. SMART repairs are quicker, cheaper and can often be carried out at your home or workplace by a mobile technician. A typical SMART repair costs £80 to £250 depending on the damage.
How much does a car body repair cost in the UK?
The most common car body repair job, bumper repair, costs between £100 and £350 nationally, with an average of £200. Prices vary depending on the scope of work, materials used, and your location within the UK.
What affects car body repair prices?
The main factors are the complexity and scope of what you need, the options and products chosen, and your location. London and the South East are typically 15-35% more expensive than northern regions. Getting multiple quotes is the best way to ensure a fair price.
How do I find a reliable car body repair?
Get at least three quotes from different mechanics, check recent reviews and references, and ask for a detailed written quote that breaks down all costs before committing. Always check certifications and itemised estimates.
Do car body repair prices vary by location?
Yes, significantly. London is the most expensive area, with prices typically 20-35% above the national average. The South East is also above average. Northern England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland tend to be 5-15% below the national average. Our city pages show exact local pricing for 342 UK locations.
Do the prices shown include materials?
The prices on this page include all typical costs. However, when getting real quotes, always confirm what is and isn't included. Some mechanics break out costs separately, while others give an all-in price. Ask for a detailed breakdown before agreeing to any work.
When is the best time to hire a car body repair?
Demand for car body repair services tends to peak in autumn and winter, which can mean longer wait times and higher prices. If your job isn't urgent, booking during spring or summer may get you a better rate and faster availability. Emergency work will always cost more regardless of the time of year.