Painting the bodywork of the vehicle is a superb way to rejuvenate your car•s original look or perhaps make your car feel brand-new with a different color. On average, a new splash of paint can range in price between a couple hundred to thousands of dollars.
But the high cost could be worth it. Getting a fresh coat is really a long process that involves special tools and skills, so it•s a job that•s that is better left to a professional. Before you start contacting local auto shops for quotes, understand the extent of the work which may be involved and how much you can expect to pay.
Factors affecting cost
As with many vehicle add-ons, there are lots of factors that influence the entire price of painting your car. Here are the main ones to be aware of.
- Size: The type and size of vehicle you drive will greatly change up the cost to color it. Painting the body of a large SUV will definitely cost more than painting what smaller coupe.
- Paint color: Not all paint is created equal; the color and excellence of the paint will range in cost. Painting your car a basic color such as white or black is going to be cheaper than a less common color.
- Paint finish: Paint finish refers to the amount of shine the paint has. Based on your look, prices vary for matte, gloss or semigloss finishes.
- Caliber of repair shop: Through research you may encounter highly affordable paint jobs, but beware: Price and quality of labor work together when it comes to getting your car painted.
Should you get professional car painting or DIY?
When deciding between professional or DIY painting, consider your purpose for painting • would you like a quick cosmetic fix before selling the automobile, or are you focusing on a restoration passion project? A DIY paint fix may add some value to a dinged-up car, but it won•t ultimately improve it.
While it•s possible to paint your personal vehicle, it involves patience, skill and a selection of paints and tools you may need to purchase specifically for the job. The end result of your own paint job may not supply the high-quality vehicle facelift you are looking for. Do-it-yourself paint tasks are best suited for older vehicles or all-terrain vehicles that frequently pick up knocks and scratches.
For people looking to restore a family vehicle or collector•s car to the original condition, it•s often a better idea to use the services of an auto repair shop where professionals apply as much as 24 even coats of paint for a high-gloss, durable finish.
Professional auto painting costs
Many body shops offer several amounts of service to focus on customers with various budgets and requirements.
The main types of paint service are:
- Basic: The most inexpensive paint job involves as few coats as possible, using synthetic enamel paint. For that basic job, the painters are unlikely to color areas that aren't normally visible, like the inside of the hood. Basic costs range from $300 to $900.
- Standard: The price of a standard paint job usually includes sanding your body and removing rust before painting to get a beautiful finish. Standard costs vary from $1,000 to $4,500.
- Showroom quality: This process involves sanding the bodywork down to the bare metal, removing all of the rust and dents and then applying as much as 24 coats of high-quality paint. The work might take up to a month, and also the showroom-quality costs might be up to $20,000 in some cases.
DIY auto painting costs
For older vehicles, the cost of a professional paint job may be excessive. In these cases, you may wish to try painting the vehicle yourself. The required materials are accessible from hardware and automotive stores for as low as $200. Your main additional fees are in effort and time.
The required materials and tools include:
- Gloss paint.
- Primer.
- Foam brushes.
- Paint trays.
- Masking tape.
- Sandpaper.
- Mineral spirits for cleaning.
One of the biggest concerns with a DIY project is getting a place to paint the vehicle. Many professional painting and the body shops have climate-controlled booths made to limit the quantity of dust and dirt that might touch the paint and ruin the finish. For any DIY project, the best choice would be to paint the automobile in a clean, well-ventilated garage.
Tips for painting your personal car
There are some steps to consider when painting your personal car.
- Work downward. Start by painting the high spots like the roof, the top hood and also the tops from the doors before working the right path on the vehicle.
- Use consistent pressure. You will have to use consistent pressure while applying paint with your foam brush.
- Don•t use an excessive amount of paint. Adding too much paint at the same time could create drips and runs within the finish. Strive for even coats, bearing in mind that you•ll need to make multiple passes.
- Be patient. You will probably wish to add several coats of paint to attain a clean finish, however, you must allow a minimum of 6 hours among each coat.
If these steps seem daunting however, you have a small budget, think about a basic paint job made by a professional.
Considering quality vs. price before painting your car
Everybody uses a cost-effective service, so when you're contacting body shops to obtain quotes for your auto-painting project, it•s tempting to choose the cheapest price offer.
However, you get what you purchase. Lowball quotes might be for any low-quality splash of paint or inferior materials. Instead of removing trim, the painters may simply mask it off, plus they may not paint areas that aren•t visible. Cheap paint jobs may also have poor taping techniques that will lead to overspray fitted or rubber fixtures. The quote may not include certain services that the auto painters charge being an additional rate, meaning they may choose to paint over problems like rust or dents rather than taking the steps to deal with those issues first.
Before investing in a service, ask the painters what steps and details their price covers. See if sanding and preparing the bodywork is part of the cost, and ask to look at previous examples of their work to make certain that you're pleased with the quality.