What To Know About Getting A Car Painted

Tony Mers • January 8, 2020

When the exterior of your car is looking rough or faded, getting it painted by either yourself or an auto paint shop can help it look shiny and brand new again. According to a recent survey, approximately 77% of cars needed either maintenance or repairs. Knowing the facts regarding what the painting process entails can help you figure out if it's worth it and if you should do it yourself or hire a professional. Here’s what you need to consider when using a paint shop for painting a car.

How Long Does It Take?

Painting a car can typically take between three days to a week. The process isn’t as simple as slapping a new coat of paint over the old one. The car must be prepped and old layers of paint must be removed first. Everything inside the car also has to be removed in order to avoid damage from the painting process. This includes the seats, console, and dash.

Increases Car Value

A new paint job can increase the car’s resale value. This can make the investment worthwhile if the car is under ten years old. You can trade it in at a higher value or ask for a higher price from a buyer. However, it may not be worth it for older cars older because of the expense for the paint job.

Painting Prices

The prices of painting a car vary depending on a few factors. How much prep work is required, the quality of the paint, and the total number of panels and parts to be painted greatly affect the total cost. When requesting an estimate, have the auto body shop include all surface prep measures in writing. This will assure you that any damages will be minimized and repaired as much as possible before repainting occurs. Your insurance policy may cover repainting if the car was involved in an accident.

A single coat synthetic paint job can cost anywhere between $300 to $900. The highest quality paint jobs can cost between $2,400 and $7,500. You can expect to pay typically around $2,000 for most full paint jobs on average.

Painting a car takes time and hard work, but it can provide benefits for your car that outweigh the cost. When considering auto body repair services, research them carefully online and ask for recommendations before making a choice. Understand all the costs involved before agreeing to the work. This will help you make the right decision in getting your car looking shiny and new again.

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Why Ignoring Small Dents Can Lead to Bigger Problems

January 30, 2026

It is an awful feeling when you walk out to your car after a long day and see a small dent on your passenger door. While it may appear to be just a cosmetic issue, you should still get it fixed, because ignoring small dents can lead to bigger problems for your vehicle. Don’t let small dents on your car go untreated; let's talk about why you need to tackle these issues ASAP. Rust Loves Chicago Winters We all know the drill here in the Windy City. We have beautiful summers, sure, but we also pay the price with brutal winters. And what comes with winter? Salt. Tons of it. Your car’s paint job acts as a suit of armor protecting the metal body underneath. Even a minor dent often comes with microscopic cracks in the paint—sometimes too small to see with the naked eye. Once that seal is broken, moisture and road salt sneak in. They settle against the bare metal and start a chemical party you definitely don’t want to host. Oxidation begins immediately. By the time you notice bubbling paint or that tell-tale orange stain a few months later, the rust has already been eating away at your door panel from the inside out. Resale Value Takes a Nosedive For many people, maintaining their car is a valuable part of purchasing a new vehicle. When that day comes, curb appeal is everything. Used car buyers (and dealership appraisers) will judge your car by its exterior appearance. If they see a vehicle riddled with door dings, bumper scrapes, and ignored scratches, they see a car that wasn't cared for. They assume that if you didn't care enough to fix the outside, you probably didn't care about the rest of it either. It lowers the perceived value instantly. Maintaining your car’s body and its paint is an investment in your future trade-in value. Paint Damage Spreads Like a Virus When a dent or scrape compromises the integrity of the paint, the surrounding paint loses its grip. High-pressure car washes, wind, and temperature fluctuations cause the paint to flake away from the initial injury site. A scratch the size of a quarter can grow into a patch the size of a softball over a couple of seasons. It’s Easier (and Cheaper) Than You Think Here is the good news: fixing these things early is surprisingly affordable. Modern body shop technology is amazing. For many small dings where the paint isn't cracked, we can use techniques that massage the metal back into place without spraying a drop of paint. River North Collision Repair offers paintless dent repair in Chicago to fix minor dents. Regardless of what nicked your door, we can help remove the dents and maintain a seamless look for your vehicle. Don’t Wait for Problems Don't let minor dents turn into a big nightmare. Save your future self the headache (and the cash). Swing by River North Collision Repair for your quick and easy repairs. Because driving a car you’re proud of? That’s a feeling you can’t put a price on.