How much does it cost to respray a car?

Consumer Editor

5 minute read|30th Jul 2026

Cars can be personalised – and one of the best ways to do that is to respray it.

In this car maintenance guide, we look at the average costs and how a mechanic will carry out the process of respraying a vehicle.

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How much does it cost to respray a car?

According to the latest data from whocanfixmycar, the average cost to respray an entire vehicle can range from £600 to £1,000+.

However, this total can range due to many factors including make, model, age, condition and type of respray carried out on the vehicle.

Here are the average costs:

Manufacturer	Respray price
Alfa Romeo	£1,086
Audi	£984
BMW	£1,254
Citroen	£1,490
Fiat	£1,074
Ford	£1,042
Hyundai	£1,768
Jaguar	£2,023
JEEP	£6,363
Land Rover	£2,678
Lexus	£1,332
Mazda	£1,886
Mercedes	£1,155
MINI	£1,097
Nissan	£1,660
Peugeot	£893
Renault	£718
SEAT	£783
Subaru	£2,675
Suzuki	£1,310
Vauxhall	£1,010
Volkswagen	£1,376

^{Source: whocanfixmycar, July 2026 (figures rounded to nearest number)}

Single panel respray cost

If you are looking to pay for a single panel on your vehicle, then whocanfixmycar states that you can expect to pay between £363 and £669.

^{Source: whocanfixmycar, July 2026}

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Cheaper than AA Price Promise or we'll beat it by 20%^{^}
We get to most breakdowns in 60 mins or less
Our patrols fix 4/5 breakdowns

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^*T&Cs apply. ^†At least 10% of new customers pay this for single-vehicle Roadside (Basic). ^{^}Find the same cover cheaper with the AA within 7 days & we'll beat it by 20%.

What is a car respray?

A car respray is the process of applying a fresh coat of paint to a vehicle using spray techniques, usually to restore its appearance, change its colour, or repair damage.

Although the process of repainting a vehicle to restore or change its appearance, can cosmetic or to fix an issue before selling, it is important to understand what is involved.

The mechanic will sand down old paint, repairing imperfections, applying primer, and spraying new paint layers followed by a clear protective coat.

Resprays can be full, covering the entire car, or partial, focusing on specific panels like doors or bumpers.

People choose resprays to fix scratches, dents, faded paint, or simply to refresh the look.

What are the benefits?

Benefits of having a car resprayed include improved aesthetics, protection against rust and weather damage, and potentially higher resale value.

Costs vary depending on car size, paint type, and labour, with professional work ensuring a smooth, durable finish compared to DIY attempts, which often risk uneven coverage and reduced value.

How to respray a car

When it comes to a mechanic carrying out a car respray, these are the steps they need to take:

Preparation

They will assess the bodywork for any signs of damage, dents, rust, or issues with the current paintwork.

Following this, they will remove any parts to then overspray. They will then clean and degrease the areas.

Sanding is crucial step to smooth the surface and remove any other imperfections.

It is also at this stage where and dents will be filled in and repaired.

Painting

The mechanic will then need to cover all the windows, tyres, and areas that the paint shouldn’t end up.

Next step is the apply the primer to seal the surface. This also helps improve the bonding of the paint to the bodywork.

Once a base coat in the chosen colour is applied, several other thin layers are needed.

Following this, a clear coat is added for protection and durability.

Car respray

Before the car can be driven away, the paint must be allowed to dry. This curing process often includes using heating lamps and controlled conditions.

The vehicle will need a polish and to have parts reassembled.

A final inspection is needed and then the car can be taken back out on the roads.