Estimating how much a car repaint will cost you can be an uphill task—not to mention stressful—if you don’t know what to consider. Naturally, you’ll want to find the lowest prices possible.
Even after racking your brain, there’s still no guarantee that the repaint will be as good as you want it to be. So, how do you figure things out?
You can expect to spend around $1,500-$3,500 for a car repainting job—less if you only want a few panels painted instead of the whole vehicle. Take note that your choice of paint colour and the quality you require will also affect your final bill.
In this guide, we’ll dive into what affects the cost of repainting your vehicle and a handful of other considerations to keep in mind before you spend money on making your car look brand-new.
How Much Does Car Repainting Cost?
It’s safe to say that, in Australia, you’ll pay anywhere within the range of $1,500 to $3,500 for the repaint of an entire car.
That’s so because besides the paint and other materials, you’ll also be paying for the labour and professional skillset that go into giving your vehicle a brand-new paint job.
Suppose your vehicle’s frame is damaged and requires additional work, e.g., dent repair and metal sheet pulling. In that case, you can expect the repainting to cost more due to the extra work required.
Also, it would help if you kept in mind that the average prices may slightly differ depending on where you are in the country. So expect some variance between a car repaint in Brisbane and a car repaint in Perth.
What Affects the Cost of Repainting a Car?
As mentioned, car repaint cost depends on several factors, including where you choose to get it done, and whether other detailing work is required.
Here are 4 significant factors that will increase or decrease the final cost of repainting your car:
Whole Car or Only a Few Panels
The cost to repaint your car depends on how much of it you want to be painted—that’s a no-brainer.
In other words, do you want the whole car repainted, or are you just painting specific panels like a door or two?
The wider car surface there is to repaint, the more it'll cost, and it’s not hard to figure out why. Repainting a whole car uses more paint and takes more time to do.
Vehicle Dimensions
In the same logic, your vehicle's size will affect how much you pay to get it repainted. There’s a bigger area to paint and work on.
This also applies to individual panels. A door on a big SUV is much larger than one on a compact car and therefore costs more to repaint.
Paint Types
Automotive paints come in practically all colours, shades and hues, and in various finishes/effects (e.g., metallic, matte, glossy—you name it) and types, all affecting the cost.
For example, most cars come standard with a solid paint type. However, it’ll cost more if you prefer automotive paint with a pearlescent or metallic finish.
Quality Level
Lastly, the quality you expect from your new paint job will affect your total bill. More specifically, we're talking here about the quality of materials and the repainting process.
While you can save significantly on a low-quality job, a more expensive high-quality car repainting will have a much longer lifespan.
Things to Consider Before Getting Your Car Repainted
Costs matter a lot to people and their budgets. Still, you shouldn’t let that be the only factor you consider when getting your car repainted.
Here are 5 more things to think about before you get a car repainting job:
#1 DIY vs Professional
Do you want to do it yourself or outsource it to a professional? This decision will significantly impact how much you’ll spend or save.
Sure, you can save a lot of money doing it yourself, but do you have the time and skill to do it? Do you honestly believe you can complete the job within the timeframe you set for yourself?
Yes? Good!
Generally, however, going the DIY route would be an excellent idea if you’re only repainting a panel or two. But for a whole-car repaint? It’s always best to let the professionals handle it.
#2 Service Provider's Quality
Let’s say you’ve decided to hire a professional to repaint your car. In that case, you must consider the quality of their work. Some car painters are better than others, so it’s worth doing your homework to look past their marketing hype and see the results they produce.
You can do that quickly by checking online reviews from previous customers or visiting them and checking on finished products that are currently on-site.
#3 Specific Colors
Great variety also comes great price disparity, and that’s so true about colour choices.
Suppose you plan on repainting your car with the same colour, it will make things much easier and cheaper. You only need to provide the painter with your car's actual paint code so they can replicate the colour.
However, if you want to change your car to another colour, you’ll have to find the corresponding paint code elsewhere.
You’ll even need to do some paperwork after changing the colour of your vehicle, depending on the state where you got your Rego. You may also need to notify your insurer about the change.
#4 Timeframe
Repainting your car takes time—it’s not the kind of auto repair that someone can complete in an afternoon.
Instead, you can expect the process to take up to a week. That might seem like a long time, but when repainting your car, you don’t want to rush it.
So, plan and schedule alternate transportation for the week when you have a car repainting done.
#5 Notify Authorities
As mentioned, know about your local transport rules and regulations about repainting your car to a different colour. Notify your local authorities to update the vehicle’s registration details to include the car’s new colour.
For example, VicRoads requires that you notify them of any colour changes. Thankfully, you can do that on the phone, and it doesn’t involve a vehicle inspection.
Each state and territory will have their own rules and procedures on the matter, so make time to comply with these necessary steps.
Most people who want to get their car repainted will Google ‘car repaint near me’ and hope for the best. There’s another way to do that—you can find the best auto service providers in your area through CarpartAU’s Online Directory.
By Ray Hasbollah