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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