Ballpark Estimate: $1,000 to $8,000
You can go to great lengths to take care of your car, but the occasional scratches and defects on the body are inevitable. When the effects of sun, wind and rain do a real number on your car’s finish and the problems are strictly cosmetic, a good paint job can be the key to making the body look pristine again.
Keeping up the look of your car is an important part of the maintenance. If a few minor scratches are all you are worried about, a light paint touch-up may be all you need. But if you have many deeper scratches, a big paint job may be in order. Better yet, when you invest in car painting, you can change the look of your vehicle completely. You can also add extra designs and touches that can make your car distinctive.
Paint Options
Are you ready to select some paint for your car? There are several finishes from which to select. Acrylic lacquer paint is the least expensive of the auto paints and is easy to apply. On the down side, it also chips easily and will need to be redone often, so it’s only a good idea if you need a short-term solution. Enamel acrylic auto paints can be very durable but they are also more difficult to apply than other options. Urethane-based acrylic auto paint offers the best of both enamels and lacquer, since it’s easy to apply and also durable. Water-based auto paint is the most expensive option and is available in a very limited palette, but it can be a good choice for an existing paint job that you want to freshen or to use to provide customized details.
Finding a Shop
If you want to have your car painted, you’ll need to find the right shop for the job. You can do a search online or look in your yellow pages. Your local newspaper may also have ads for local auto body shops that offer car-painting services. Some of the types of companies located in multiple regions throughout the country include Maaco and Sprayglo . You can also use one of the numerous directories online that make it easy to search for local auto body shops and other vendors in your neighborhood. For instance, you can try Hello Network, Local.com, Yahoo.com, Car Forums, and also DuPont . With anyone you’re considering, you should always ask for references up front and also check with the Better Business Bureau to be sure that no complaints have been filed.
Get a Warranty
The best way to protect yourself before you commit to any shop is to find out what type of warranty they offer. Cheap paint jobs may be peeling within a year, while a high quality paint job can last for several years. Ideally, you’ll want a warranty for up to as much as five years if you’re investing in a good paint job.
Key Cost Factors
What you can expect to spend on a car paint job will depend on the type of auto body or detailing shop you use and the level of experience of the body shop. Other variables that can affect the cost include the type of paint you want and whether the existing paint on the car will be completely stripped and the body sanded for a perfect finish, or if the existing paint will just be covered up. If you’re investing in a high-quality paint job, you can expect to have multiple layers of paint, which will provide you with a deeper shine and will also be long lasting. In addition, adding a transparent topcoat can be a good way to protect the car’s finish. Such details will require extra labor and a higher price tag than a standard paint job, but you probably won’t be sorry when you see the final results.
Other factors that affect car painting costs include how big your car is, and if it’s a racing car or a classic that requires extra detailing. If your car has any big dings or dents, an auto body shop will need to get them out, which will increase the overall cost. You’ll also want to consider the labor of prepping the car, as well as in the execution of the painting itself. While less expensive auto body shops usually tape up mirrors and windows, a custom auto painter will often take apart the car to remove the pieces to avoid them getting any paint splatters.
Weighing Your Options
When deciding whether to splurge on a first-class paint job, you’ll need to weigh the value of the car and the mileage. If you have an expensive car and expect to keep it for quite a while, it can be well worth paying for a good durable paint job. Some of the cheapest paint jobs may save you money up front but the paint could peel off quickly, leaving you wishing you had invested more initially.
What It Costs
Once you determine all of the paint variables such as the color, quality and level of detailing you desire, it’s time to get a price on painting your car. Here are some of the price points you may find:
If you want something quick and easy, you can find a super cheap auto paint job at one of your local chains for a cost of about $250. But many experts caution that this won’t last long enough to make it worth your money.
- A good paint job usually starts at $1,000 and can go up to about $10,000, depending on the size and type of your car and what you commission to be done.
- A very high-end custom paint job on a race car or classic car can cost much, much more. In fact, it can cost as much as $50,000 to $75,000 to paint a very valuable car. This is an extreme price situation, though.
The cost for car painting starts at $250 and can go up to a cost of $75,000, but most people spend between $1,000 and $10,000 for a good car paint job.
A DIY Option
If you want your car to have a fresh coat of paint but you don’t have the budget to turn to the experts for help, you might consider doing the project yourself. You can save the expense of labor to paint your own car, but keep in mind that you’ll still need to invest in some key supplies, including paint, a spray gun, a sander or sandpaper and something to protect your windows and chrome. You’ll also need to dedicate the time and energy needed to get the job done.