A small cosmetic repair can start below £100, while painted dents, multi-panel scratches and accident damage can run into hundreds or thousands. The useful question is not “what does bodywork cost?” but “what repair method does this exact damage need?”
The short answer
- Small local repairs may begin below £100, but paint, panel count and hidden damage can move a job into four figures.
- The repair method—polishing, SMART repair, PDR, refinishing or replacement—matters more than the damage label.
- Compare written scopes, VAT, parts, blending, calibration, turnaround and warranty rather than headline totals alone.
Typical UK body repair price ranges
Published UK guides broadly place light scratch or local SMART repairs around £75–£250, paintless dent work from roughly £90, painted dent repairs into the low hundreds, bumper repairs around £100–£500 and full-panel refinishing around £300–£700. Wider marketplace data shows how vehicle, location and damage complexity can push real quotes beyond those bands.
Use a range as a budget check, not a promise. A photograph cannot always reveal broken clips, distorted mountings, corrosion, sensor damage or the need to blend paint into an adjacent panel.
What changes a body repair estimate
Repairers price the method and time, not merely the label “scratch” or “dent”. Size, depth, panel material, access, bodyline creases, paint finish, number of panels, removable trim, cameras and parking sensors all matter. Pearl and specialist finishes can require extra colour matching and blending.
Quick checklist
- Measure the damaged area
- Photograph it in daylight from several angles
- State whether paint is broken
- List any warning messages or damaged sensors
How to compare body repair prices
Send every repairer the same photographs and vehicle details. Ask whether each estimate covers SMART repair, paintless dent removal, a full-panel respray or replacement. Compare paint blending, parts, VAT, collection, courtesy transport, turnaround and warranty before choosing.
SMART repair, PDR or a bodyshop repair?
SMART repair is a broad term for small-to-medium localised work using targeted materials and equipment. Paintless dent repair reshapes metal without repainting when the finish is intact. Conventional repair may involve stripping trim, reshaping or replacing a panel, filling, priming, colour coating, clear coating and blending.
A suitable method depends on the panel, damage position, paint condition and the finish you expect. Ask the repairer to name the method rather than assuming every “mobile repair” or “bodyshop repair” includes the same process.
What photographs and details should you send?
Start with the registration, make, model, year and postcode. Add one image showing the whole side or end of the vehicle, one showing the complete panel, and close-ups from different angles. Use daylight where possible and include an object for scale without covering the damage.
Mention whether the vehicle drives normally, paint is broken, metal is exposed, panel gaps have changed, doors or the boot catch properly, and any warning lights or sensor messages are present. Collision damage affecting lights, wheels, steering, restraints or structure needs an in-person safety assessment.
Questions drivers ask
Can a bodyshop give a final quote from photographs?
Sometimes, for clearly visible cosmetic work. Hidden clips, mountings, corrosion, structural damage or sensor faults may only be confirmed after inspection or dismantling, so ask which parts of the figure are provisional.
Will a body repair be visible afterwards?
That depends on damage, access, colour match, blending and workmanship. Ask what finish the repairer expects, whether adjacent panels will be blended and what warranty applies to paint and workmanship.
Should I contact my insurer before paying privately?
Check your policy terms and consider the repair value, excess and circumstances. AutoToolsUK cannot decide whether an incident must be reported; ask your insurer when unsure.
Official sources and further reading
Related repair costs guides
Turn the guide into a useful next step
Estimate the cost, compare relevant local providers or request written garage quotes for the same job.