COST GUIDES
Car dent and paint repair in the UK: Cost breakdown 2026
Updated 03/26
Minor cosmetic damage is pretty much inevitable when you own a car. If your car’s paintwork does get damaged, a repair from a trusted tradesperson will improve the appearance of your car and its value, as well as preventing further problems such as rust. In this guide, we’ll look at the average dent and paint repair cost.
Fast Facts
Repairing dents and paint scratches on your car can cost between £60 and £450
Surface scratches can cost as little as £60 to repair
SMART repairs are the cheapest way to fix dents and paint
Dents, dings, scuffs, scrapes and scratches can happen almost anywhere, whether it's thanks to other drivers, severe weather, or a runaway supermarket trolley.
In this guide, we’ll look at the average dent and paint repair cost - from minor dings and paintwork touch-ups to major dents.
How much does car dent and paint repair cost in the UK?
| Repair cost per panel | Low cost | High cost | Average cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear-coat scratches | £60 | £96 | £78 |
| Paintwork scratches, marks and scuffs | £120 | £180 | £150 |
| Deep paint scratches | £180 | £240 | £210 |
| Car dents | £220 | £450 | £335 |
| Paintless dent removal | £90 | £150 | £120 |
| Last updated: March 2026 Our costs are ballpark averages - get a local tradesperson to quote now | |||
The average cost of dent repair and paint fixes is between £60 and £450.
A simple clear-coat scratch costs around £78 to repair.
Deep scratches cost significantly more to fix - around £335.
The cost of repairing your car’s paintwork all depends on the size and depth of the damage. The location of the problem on the panel will also be a factor, as will your car’s make and model.
Remember that the more complicated the damage, the more it is likely to cost to fix.
Find a car dent repair specialist near you
How much does car scratch repair cost?
For minor cosmetic damage to your car, you may pay around £60 to £96 for repair work. This is the case for issues such as surface level scratches and scrapes.
The total price will depend on the severity of the scratch on your car and the type of paint needed.
How much do SMART repairs cost?
SMART repair costs start from as little as £50.
SMART - Small to Medium Area Repair Technology - is a relatively new technology that means a localised area of the car can be fixed without needing to repaint the whole panel. It's a quicker, easier, and cheaper way of repairing a small scratch or dent.
How much does paintless dent removal cost?
The average paintless dent removal cost is between £90 and £150.
Advances in car bodywork repair technology mean that damage to paintwork and panels can now be repaired using SMART technology. Some technicians may use Paintless Dent Removal (PDR) to target small areas without needing to repaint the entire panel.
What's included in a car dent and paint repair quote?
A quote for dent and paint repair usually covers:
Initial assessment
Preparing and priming the area
Painting, including paint-matching if needed
Finishing
Always discuss with your chosen repairperson first, so that you both understand what's covered in the price and what you may need to pay extra for.
Try our job estimate calculator
Got a dent or scratch that needs fixing? Use our job estimate calculator tool to find out how much it may cost for your vehicle.
Just enter a few details, and we'll give you an estimate of how much you can expect to pay, based on our data.
Job Estimate Calculator
What affects the cost of car dent and paint repairs?
Damage severity - The main factor driving the cost of your dent or paint repair will be how deep and widespread the damage is.
Damage complexity - A small, simple dent from a light bump will cost less to fix than more complex damage - which could include defined creases, unusually shaped dents, or deep scratches.
Area of the car - Some areas, such as the centre of door panels, can be fixed more easily and quickly - and therefore more cheaply - than other areas, such as the roof.
Type of paint or finish - The more unique your paint job, the more it can cost to get it fixed, especially if colour-matching the paint is an added challenge.
Repair method - For dents, SMART repairs are much cheaper than paintless dent removal, which in turn is cheaper than a full body work repair.
Location - Vehicle repairs and labour costs in London are often more expensive than in smaller towns, for example.
Find a car body repair service near me
Spotted a scratch, dent or chip in the body of your car? Don’t worry. If you're not sure where to start, help is at hand. Here, we’ll explore everything to do with car body repair near you – from who to hire for the job, to how much you’re likely to pay.
How can I save money on car dent and paint repair?
The best way to save money on car dent and paint repairs is of course to get a DIY repair kit. However, that isn't always recommended - a trusted tradesperson with the right skills can fix your car to a much higher quality with better results compared to most DIY methods.
One way you can save is by choosing a SMART repair or paintless dent removal, if it's an option for your dent. These methods cost less than a traditional body shop repair.
Of course, we also recommend shopping around and getting multiple quotes from local tradespeople so you can find the best deal for you.
FAQs
It depends on the location, size and severity of the damage, but it shouldn’t take more than two to five hours to get a dent out of your car’s bodywork.
If you have cosmetic car insurance, the cost of dent removal and paintwork touch-ups should be included. This may be a separate policy or an add-on to your existing car insurance policy. This will cover you to fix superficial damage such as dents and scratches without affecting your no-claims bonus.
If in doubt, contact your insurance company before booking your vehicle in for repair.
Yes, there are ways to repair minor dents to your car at home - but this isn't always recommended, and you could risk violating your insurance. Hiring a garage or tradesperson ensures a high-quality result with less risk of damaging your car!
Yes, there are ways to fix minor scratches to your car, but again this isn't always recommended - especially if there's paint involved. Hiring a garage, body shop, or tradesperson to repair car scratches is more likely to give you a seamless result.
A new car panel can cost over £1,000. So it's almost always cheaper to repair a dented one, particularly if the damage is only minor.
If the damage is more complex, repairing is still usually cheaper than getting a full replacement - though this can of course depend on the nature of the damage, and which panel needs a fix.
Absolutely. Even if you're not bothered by how it looks, a scratch to your car's panel can lead to worse problems later on, such as rust - which is much more costly to fix.
Yes, sometimes WD-40 is all you need to make a scratched car look new again. However, it's not suitable for all scratches - bear in mind it will dissolve the top layer of paint, which can cause more damage.
See the tradespeople we've checked for your job