“Living in the lap of luxury isn’t bad, except that you never know when luxury is going to stand up “
One of the best quotes from Mr. Orson Welles (the actor from the movie Citizen Kane) implies that our lives are filled with luxurious things we buy, and we enjoy them for a while. But when it comes to refurbishment or repair, the costs will kick you in the ass. This applies to car painting as well.
It is easy to choose a car with a little basic information, but it is not easy to maintain it in the condition that we bought it. But don’t freak out about the cost of repainting, because I have a better solution.
I have owned a car (VW Polo) myself, and over the years I have noticed some chips on the bodywork. Whenever I see these little chips and scratches, it makes me think that the car has lost its awesome effect. Of course, repainting turns an old-looking car into a new one. So how much does it cost on average to paint a car? I’m sure most people who already own a car have asked themselves the same question when they have seen the scratches ion their car.
Before you start reading, please determine whether you want a complete repaint or even a change of color. After all, the price for a full repaint or color change can be up to several hundred or thousand dollars, so a lot depends on the owner’s goal.
Before I begin to give you the figures, I suggest that you ask yourself the basic questions that I have outlined below.
- Does my car need a full paint job, or do a few parts of the car need to be painted?
- How much does it cost to paint a car in auto shops?
- How do I choose the best shop within my budget?
- How much does it cost to paint a car if you do it yourself?
- How much does it cost for a color change?
Those who are professional painters in real life, or if you have ever tried to paint a car, then this process could be completed in your home garage with basic equipment such as quality paint, masking tapes, sandpaper, and paint rollers. And of course, this equipment might cost a lot of money if you decide to use high-quality paint.
However, if you decide to entrust your car to professional car paint shops, you will find many car paint shops in your immediate vicinity. The best garages offer many options, but be aware that the better garages also come with a high price-tag.
Furthermore, if your goal is to change the color of the car, then the price will be up to 25-30% higher than the cost of a simple repaint. So choosing the right service is the best way to save a lot of money out of your pocket.
You may wonder, but why do I have to pay several hundred dollars for a simple paint job?
Because, my friend, the price you pay for the work will be the quality you get at the end of the day. The price depends on the type and quality of the paint, the quality of the service provider, and the number of coatings for your car.
How Do I Find The Exact Price For My Car?
It would be difficult to answer this question precisely in concrete figures. It can vary depending on paint costs, service providers, and vehicle types. So to clear the fog (price confusion), we have done some research on some of the best and cheapest car painters, which I have listed as a table. I hope this will help you choose the better service for your car in the future.
So to find out the exact price for the complete painting, I have listed the prices below in 3 categories regarding service quality.
Types of paint jobs:
- High-end job – Best Quality and High Price
- Mid-range Job – Good Quality and Affordable Price
- Low-End Job – Low quality and Cheap Price
I believe you would have guessed little from the category name itself; however I have given my explanation for each type here,
|
High End | Midrange | Low-End |
| Superior appearance | Factory-style appearance | Vague appearance |
| Removes all trim | Removes most of trim | Tapes trim |
| High-end finish | High-end finish | low-end finish |
| Excellent durability | Excellent durability | Less durability |
| High attention to detail | Good attention to detail |
Less attention to detail |
Qualities Of Painting Jobs
The detailed figures above are all average estimates! They do not take into account the type or size of the car.
Below you will find the price range depending on the type of job you choose for your car, and the make of car itself:
| Type of Car | Low-End Paint Job | Mid-range Paint Job | High-End paint Job |
| Small Car: VW Polo, Ford Fiesta, BMW Mini, Vauxhall corsa, Renault Clio. | 250$ – 600$ | 1000$ – 5000$ | 4500$ – 10000$ |
| Medium Car: VW, Audi A3, BMW 3 Series, Vauxhall Astra, Renault Megane. | 250$ – 600$ | 1000$ – 5000$ | 4500$ – 10000$ |
| Large Car: VW Passat, Audi A4, BMW 5 Series, Ford Mondeo, Renault Scenic and other Small SUVs. | 500$ – 800$ | 1000$ – 5000$ | 4500$ – 10000$ |
| XL Car: VW Phaeton, BMW 8 Series, Ferrari, Audi A8, Land Rover Discovery, Aston Martin, Bentley, Mercedes S Class, Rolls Royce Audi R8, Lamborghini, Noble, etc. | 1000$ | 1000$ – 5000$ | 4500$ – 10000$ |
When you were thinking about buying a car, you went through the basic information about the type of engine, fuel storage capacity, and speed per kilometer, etc. But the most important thing people look for in a car is its appearance because looks are the only thing that catches the eye and the mind of people. Therefore, the art of choosing the right paint with the best quality coating is necessary.
Typical Cost Of The Type And Quality Of Paint
Of importance is the question of how much it costs to paint a car black. Or white. Enamel, lacquer, urethane; basecoat or topcoat; these are the currently available types of lacquer with the variety in their price range and quality. Depending on the quality, a gallon of paint can cost between $17 and $700 per gallon. This changes based on paint quality, gloss, and durability. So, considering the color and quality of a paint job is the most important factor in choosing your plan from high-end to low-end paint jobs.
Repairing The Panels: Surface Preparation Process
Here the process of repainting is improvised. According to the experts in this industry, “surface preparation is one of the critical tasks in the repainting process”, so the time spent on removing or repairing the scales, fading, oxidation, or cracks on the car panels is reflected in the high-quality work achieved after painting. So it’s pointless to ask about the cost of painting each part, like how much it costs to paint the hood or the bumper because labor costs are the one thing that swallows up your money.
Before the painting process, the body parts must be treated with attention to detail and well sanded, primed, or sealed. If something is missed at this point, there will be problems such as bubbles or uneven painting. So surface preparation takes up a considerable part of the labor costs and time.
Cost On Masking off The Non-Painted Areas
When using the spray gun, it is not possible to paint the car without spraying some areas of the car that you don’t want to be painted as well. By covering or masking the areas such as the door handle, glass, headlights, rear lights, and trim, they are protected from the spray gun. The actual cost of masking these areas comes to almost $500 – $1000.
There is also another possibility: to protect the body parts by trimming. This means that the parts that need to be protected before painting must be completely removed.
To protect the paint from contamination from the external environment, the entire booth is covered with polyethylene.
Cost Involved In Quality Labor
A high-quality paint job requires a skilled painter. A highly qualified painter will charge $2000-$3000 for the labor costs of a high-end paint job. A low-skilled painter might charge you between $400 and $700. It goes without saying that the higher the price you pay, the better quality finish you will get.
How Can I Reduce These Costs?
Offers & discounts: Car paint shops regularly offer discounts ranging from $50-250. If you are good at paying attention to things like notice boards or billboards, you can save a lot of money by taking advantage of these offers. If you are familiar with the Internet, you can also register in car forums that will send you an email with offers from several car repair shops in your area.
Do it yourself: If you are a person who can plan well and handle tools well, you can reduce costs by making some basic modifications before you go to the garage. For example, you can sand the car and mask the areas you don’t want to be painted. If you need more information, just go to automd.com or autobodypaint.com or other car forums. You can save on average between $30 and $100 this way.
I agree that it will take some precious time, but you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to do these small processes and pieces of preparation.
Finally, Are There Any Additional Costs That Will Occur?
Even after completion of the repainting or color change of your car, some additional modification costs are to be expected. If you are a car enthusiast and like to make changes, it is better to do so while the repainting job is being done. So if you want to add a sports logo or extra pinstripes, this will only cost a little more.
When it comes to spending a few hundred or thousand dollars on the car, try to get some background information about the store where you want to leave your cool car. Do some research yourself; are they trustworthy enough for the job you wanted? On some websites, you will find previous customer satisfaction comments that will help you get to know the quality of their service. You can also use your social media connection or forums to get more information about the business.
If you know more than others, you are a better financial expert for the painting of a car, but also in everyday life.
