Car paint repair costs depend on a number of factors, including how deep and where the damage is, and whether you carry out a DIY repair, or enlist the services of a professional. Get an idea of scratch repair costs in 2025, with our guide.
If you own a car long enough, chances are you’ll eventually pick up a scratch or two.
Sometimes you have a good idea how it happened: an encounter with a shopping trolley perhaps, or someone parked beside you being clumsy when opening their door.
Other times it’s a bit of a ‘whodunnit’ situation: a scratch, dent or abrasion simply appears overnight. If you're really unfortunate you might discover the kind of deep keyline favoured by the casual vandal, or perhaps even an offensive word.
And then there are the fine scratches caused by driving through dust and grit in the air. Those who live near sandy beaches succumb to this kind of body damage more often than motorists who live inland.
Why should you get scratches fixed?
To keep your car looking good
Many of us take pride in the appearance of our vehicles. Repairing scratches promptly demonstrates that we care about our car, which can be especially important if we use it for work or business - as well as for social occasions. Like it or not, many first impressions are based on vehicle appearance and presentation.
To defend against rust
Scratches in your car’s paintwork can, depending on their depth, provide an entry point for corrosion. Given the UK’s often-damp climate, it's important to stay on top of such damage.
Additionally, even light scratches can lead to paint peeling or chipping, potentially resulting in deeper marks that allow rust to develop.
To maintain the resale value
When the time comes to sell your car, you’ll want it looking as good as possible in order to fetch a decent price. This includes staying on top of cosmetic scratches and dinks, as well as more serious corrosion. It’s usually evident if a car has been well looked after or not, so ensure you’re in the former category if you want to protect the resale value. A well-maintained vehicle will also sell faster.
Car Bodywork Repair Costs: DIY & Pro
As you might expect, it’s a lot cheaper to effect a Do-It-Yourself repair than employ a professional. However, a professional repair may be necessary for deeper scratches, and will likely be of a higher quality.
Here’s a rough guide to car bodywork repair costs in relation to scratches:
DIY Scratch Repair (£10 - £50)
- Scratch removal kits (T-Cut, Autoglym, or Turtle Wax) – £10-£30
- Touch-up paint (for minor scratches) – £10-£20
- Polishing compound – £10-£20
Top tip: You can find paint pens listed on websites like Amazon by entering the applicable colour code/name followed by “paint pen”. Your colour code may be printed on a sticker on the door jamb, or stamped in the engine bay. It may also be found in your user manual.
Smart Repair Costs (Small to Medium Scratches) – £80-£300
SMART (Small to Medium Area Repair Technology) repairs are done by mobile technicians or garages. The repairs are often carried out quickly, but the results are usually excellent.
- Light scratches (buffing & polishing) – £80-£150
- Deeper scratches (paintwork repair) – £150-£300
The above options are suitable for scratches that have gone through the clear coat but not deep into the metal. Smart repair costs are usually similar whether you use the services of a garage or a mobile technician.
Full Panel Respray (Deep Scratches) – £200-£600
- If the scratch is deep and has gone through the paint to the metal, a full panel respray might be needed.
- Small panels (e.g., doors, wings, bumpers) – £200-£400
- Larger panels (bonnet, roof, full side) – £400-£600+
As mentioned, rust is almost inevitable with scratches that have gone deep into the metal, and should be repaired promptly.
Top tip: You may be able to find a replacement door or panel at a scrap yard - especially if you own a popular model painted in a common colour. This could well be cheaper than the above options, but will require a bit more effort.
Bumper Scratches Repair Cost – £100-£1300+
- Light scratches: £100 to £300
- Heavy scratches with damage to integrated devices: Up to £1,300 or more
Repairing a scratched bumper can be more complicated - and therefore more costly - than fixing a scratch on a car’s body. This is because bumpers are often made of plastic, damage which requires specialist materials, supplies and tools to address.
Sorting a repair can get even more complex if there’s damage to any integrated cameras, sensors or other devices. According to The Times, one car rental firm charged a customer £1,265 for bumper damage.
However, minor bumper scratches repair costs might range from £100 to £300.
Stone Chip Repair Costs – £7-£400
- Single chip repair (professional): £30 - £45
- More extensive repairs (professional): £200 - £400
- DIY kit: £7 - £15
Once again, do-it-yourself options are available, helping to keep stone chip repair costs down. However, if the damage is extensive, or has occurred on or near critical areas of your vehicle, you may be better off getting the advice of a professional. Any window chips should be fixed as soon as possible; even small chips can get larger over time.
Is it worth claiming on my car insurance?
With average excesses of around £300, any damage to your paintwork would have to be extensive for an insurance claim to be worth it. Most scratches can be fixed for less than the average excess. Besides this, making a claim could negatively impact any No claims Bonus you’ve built up. With this in mind, it’s often better to deal with car scratch repair costs without involving your insurer.
I’m busy: What’s the quickest way to fix a scratch?
If you’ve got a busy schedule and don’t have time to hunt down a reputable body repair garage, then a mobile repair technician could be a good option. They can come to your place of work, your home address, or anywhere else convenient to you.
This isn’t necessarily more expensive than using a garage, but do be aware that their services are often charged differently. For instance, a mobile technician will likely charge an hourly rate, plus any supplies (e.g. paint), and may levy a callout charge. Garages, meanwhile, tend to charge a set fee for a particular job.
