HOW TO HIRE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a car body repairer in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A car bodywork repair in Ireland costs €200–€1,500 per panel, typically around €500. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a car body repairer in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers car body repairer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — rust Repair — rust repair is crucial for maintaining a vehicle's integrity.
- How does extent of the damage change the price?A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does type of repair needed change the price?The state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does materials used change the price?The quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Paint Restoration — paint restoration is a common service that involves buffing and polishing the car's exterior to restore its shine — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a car body repairer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO MECHANICS IN IRELAND — anyone may repair a car. The statutory thing is the NCT, which is carried out by the national testing service and not by a garage, so a garage cannot issue one. SIMI membership is a trade association rather than a licence, and it gives you a complaints route.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Motor trade insurance covering your car while it is in their custody, which is separate from their public liability; A written estimate before work starts, and a call before any extra work; Whether parts are new, reconditioned or used, named on the invoice; The guarantee on parts and on labour, separately, in writing; Whether diagnosis is charged separately and whether it is credited against the repair; For a pre-purchase inspection, that the inspector is independent of the seller.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 13.5%, the reduced rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers car body repairer work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — rust Repair — rust repair is crucial for maintaining a vehicle's integrity.
A good answer: A bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: The quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Paint Restoration — paint restoration is a common service that involves buffing and polishing the car's exterior to restore its shine — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a car body repairer job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability and motor trade cover for vehicles in their custody — panel Replacement — in cases of severe damage, panel replacement is often necessary.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the car body repairer starts, and an itemised invoice after — dents and Scratches — car bodywork repair typically includes fixing dents and scratches on the vehicle's surface.
Getting the quote right
- Extent of the damage — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary.
- Type of repair needed — the state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed.
- Materials used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given.
- Complexity of the work involved — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: extent of the damage — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary
- They will not talk about it: type of repair needed — the state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed
- They will not talk about it: materials used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given
- A price for the car body repairer before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the car body repairer has begun
What a car body repairer costs: €200–€1,500 per panel
The figures are for the job, per panel, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Dent repair and Scratch repair each carry their own band. Car Bodywork Repair price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Car body repairers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstExtent of the damage — a bigger job is harder to fit into a gap in the diary — that is what the car body repairer is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneType of repair needed — the state of the existing work sets how much prep is needed — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfMaterials used — the quantity needed is worked out before the quote is given — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherComplexity of the work involved — unusual work is quoted higher because it cannot be estimated from habit — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the car body repairer is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, access to the vehicle — parking restrictions in town add to what you are charged.
- Dents and Scratches
- Car bodywork repair typically includes fixing dents and scratches on the vehicle's surface.
- Panel Replacement
- In cases of severe damage, panel replacement is often necessary.
- Paint Restoration
- Paint restoration is a common service that involves buffing and polishing the car's exterior to restore its shine.
- Rust Repair
- Rust repair is crucial for maintaining a vehicle's integrity.
- Dent Repair
- Involves removing dents from the bodywork without the need for repainting, often using techniques like paintless dent repair.
- Collision Repair
- Covers extensive repairs following an accident, including structural realignment and replacement of various body parts.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a car body repairer: questions people ask
The cost of car bodywork repair can vary based on the extent of the damage, the type of repair needed, and the materials used. For instance, a simple dent repair will generally be less expensive than a full panel replacement.
The duration of a car bodywork repair can range from a few hours for minor repairs to several days for extensive damage. Factors such as the type of repair and the availability of parts can affect the timeline.
For complex bodywork repairs, especially those involving structural integrity or advanced technologies, it is advisable to consult a qualified specialist. General mechanics may lack the specific skills needed for intricate repairs.
Same-day service for car bodywork repairs is often available for minor issues, such as small dents or scratches. However, more extensive repairs may require scheduling due to the time needed for parts and labour.
Yes, many repair shops offer the option to book multiple related jobs at once, such as dent repair and paint restoration. This can often result in cost savings and a more efficient service.
Damage that is typically out of scope for bodywork repair includes extensive structural damage, engine issues, or any mechanical repairs. These types of issues require different types of services outside of bodywork.
MORE GUIDES
More hiring guides in vehicles & transport
Car body repairers near you
Sources — checked October 2026
- CCPC — your rights when you buy a service
- Consumer Rights Act 2022
- Courts Service — small claims
- Revenue — MOTOR VEHICLES - REPAIRS (Certain repair and related services) — Reduced rate
- Revenue — current VAT rates (effective 1 January 2026)
- Revenue — VAT thresholds: €42,500 for a person supplying services only