PRICE GUIDE · VEHICLES & TRANSPORT · 2026–2027
Car Bodywork Repair cost in the UK
£150–£1,800 per panel. Typically £400.
Bodywork repair runs £150–£1,800 per panel in the UK, with about £400 a typical bill for one panel. Small scratches and dents that can be smart-repaired cost least; filling and respraying a panel costs more, and a brand-new panel painted and fitted costs the most.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
HOW MUCH IT COSTS
How much does car bodywork repair cost in the UK?
| Low end | £150 | a small smart repair to one panel |
|---|---|---|
| Typical | £400 | what most people pay |
| High end | £1,800 | a new panel painted and fitted on a premium car |
Locufy guide prices for 2026–2027. Updated 2026. A national range, not a quote — enter your town above for real prices from the garages, mobile mechanics and valeters near you.
What moves the price
- Depth of the damage — a scuff in the lacquer polishes out, while damage to bare metal needs filling, primer and paint on the panel
- Repair or replace — a badly creased panel can cost more to straighten than to swap for a new or used one
- Paint colour and finish — metallic, pearl and three-coat paints take longer to match and blend
- Panel material — aluminium and plastic bumpers need different repair methods from steel bodywork
- Blending — paint is often blended into the next panel so the colour matches, which adds to the bill
- Bodyshop or mobile — a mobile repairer suits small areas, while major panel work needs a booth
Vehicle maintenance prices in the UK are up 38% over five years (ONS Consumer Price Inflation, Maintenance and repairs, to 2026 August). Five years ago a typical car bodywork repair would have cost about £330 — an estimate from today's guide price and that index, not a recorded price. Source: ONS MM23 D7ED →
WHAT YOU GET
What a car bodywork repair booking includes
Takes: Two to four hours for a smart repair; one to three days for a panel respray or replacement. Not included: Chassis straightening, mechanical repairs after a crash and a full-car respray are priced separately — see the related guides below.
WHAT PEOPLE BOOK
Common car bodywork repair jobs
KNOW THE PRICE? NOW SEE THE REAL ONES
Car Bodywork Repair near you, with prices shown
The garages, mobile mechanics and valeters that cover your area, nearest first, each with their price and one score from every review. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
How to pay less
- Ask whether a smart repair can fix the panel locally instead of respraying all of it
- Get the bodywork quote itemised so you can compare repair against replacing the panel
- Have several small bodywork repairs done on one visit, as a combined price is often lower
Before you book
- Decide whether to claim on your insurance, as the excess may be close to the repair price
- Find your paint code on the car's plate so the bodyshop can match the colour exactly
- Ask how long the paint warranty lasts and whether it covers peeling and colour fade
- Rust or sharp edges on a panel can fail the MOT, so do not leave that kind of damage too long
Car Bodywork Repair cost: questions people ask
£150–£1,800, with about £400 typical for one panel. A small smart repair costs the least; a new panel painted and fitted on a premium car costs the most.
A smart repair takes a few hours, often at your home. A panel respray or replacement usually means leaving the car for one to three days.
It can. Sharp edges that could injure someone and serious corrosion near structural areas are MOT failures, though cosmetic dents alone are not.
For a single panel, paying yourself can make sense once the excess and the effect on your no-claims discount are counted. For bigger damage, a claim is usually worth it.
Straightening the chassis, mechanical repairs after a collision and a full-car respray are priced separately.
They are Locufy guide prices for the UK, taken from published UK body repair cost guides. They show a national range rather than a quote; the depth of damage and the paint decide your own price.
MORE GUIDES