How Much Does a Car Paint Job Cost?

While people have different motives for getting their car painted – to repair damage, to prevent rust, or simply to make the car look better – one of the first things they consider is the cost involved in doing so.  The cost of painting a car can vary greatly depending on the amount of painting needed (the whole car or just certain parts), whether it is a new color or just a fresh coat of the same color, the quality of the paint, the number of coats, and whether or not the job is custom and involves specialty painting or not.

How much is it?

• MAACO is a national auto body and paint chain that claims “We can charge less because we do more auto paint jobs than anyone else.”  Local Maaco dealers will charge between $200 and $500 per paint job.  This depends on the type and color of the car as well as whether it is an all-over paint job or a spot paint job.  The higher quality of paint and whether or not you want a protective clear-coat will also affect the price.
• Independently owned auto body shops will usually charge between $800-$2000 for painting your car.  This price will vary according to the same things.
• If you want a custom paint job with some type of design, specialty auto body shops will charge about $3000 or as high as $8000.  This will vary depending on the amount of detail in the painting and whether or not there are any other details to be painted such as in the engine or inside the car.

What is going to be included?

• Most auto body shops follow basically the same procedures for painting a car.  First the car will be sanded down to create a nice smooth surface.  Then, after it is cleaned, a base coat or primer will be applied.  After that the car will need to be taped very thoroughly to prevent paint getting on things it is not supposed to.  Then the car will be painted by hand with a sprayer.
• If you desire, a clear coat will be applied over the paint for protection.

What are the extra costs?

• If there is any damage to the car, such as dents, most places will charge extra to repair these before painting.
• Extra layers of paint or protective clear coats will cost extra.
• Higher quality paints are going to cost more than the standard ones that most shops use.  As mentioned above, customized jobs that may include special logos or designs can cost extra as well.
• Cars that need minor touch-ups such as a ding or dent can add to the bill.

Tips to know:

• Be sure to ask in regards to a warranty.  Depending on the company, the warranty can last for a few years.  This is going to protect your car from chipping, peeling, etc.
• When choosing a company to paint your car, ask for referrals, or consider looking at before and after pictures.  This will give you a good idea on what they can do in terms of their work.
• Read reviews online to see if anyone has any complaints.  Check search engines such as Google or even look through other sites such as Yelp.  Check wit the local Better Business Bureau as well to see what kind of grade the company has received.

How can I save money?

• It is possible to paint your car yourself instead of having it professionally painted.  Services such as learnautopainting and easypaintyourcar can walk you through the process.

How to compare prices:

• If there is a Maaco in your area, it will probably give you the lowest price.  This isn’t always the case though as you’re going to want to check with at least three companies before making a decision.
• Check with your insurance to see if auto painting is covered in your policy, especially if the damage is the result of an accident.  Sometimes the insurance company will tell you which auto body shop to go to.

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