Choosing a Car Painter in Coventry

What to ask a car painter before you book

Choosing a car painter comes down to a few plain questions: who will paint the car, how the colour will be matched, what the preparation involves, what the estimate covers and what happens if something is not right afterwards.

Who will actually paint the car?

In some bodyshops the person you speak to is not the person who sprays the car. It is worth asking who does the painting and what experience they have.

At Coventry Body Shop, all our paintwork is sprayed in our spray booth by the director, a former Aston Martin technician and painter, who is our only painter.

How will the colour be matched?

The paint code on the car identifies its factory colour, but one code can come in slightly different shades, and paint can fade over the years, so a mix made from the code alone can sit a shade away from the car as it is now. Ask how the painter checks the match against the car itself.

We match colour with the manufacturer's paint code, specialist colour mixing and a spectrophotometer. On a panel repaint the new colour is blended into the surrounding paint where it needs it, so the join is harder to see.

How will the panels be prepared?

Preparation can affect how long new paint lasts. Ask what will be done before the colour goes on. Typical steps include cleaning and degreasing, sanding the damaged area, straightening dents that can be repaired, filling low spots where needed and priming bare metal or filler. Plastic parts such as bumpers often need a primer made for plastic.

It is also fair to ask what will not be done. We do not cut or weld metal panels, for example, so damage that needs metal cut out or welded in is outside what we do. A bent panel that can be repaired is straightened, and a bolt-on panel can be replaced if it is beyond repair.

What will the estimate include?

A clear estimate can list the panels, the preparation, the paint and the finishing, so you can see what you are paying for. Ask whether the price is fixed or a starting price, and when you will know the final figure.

Our prices are from prices, and the final price is confirmed after inspection. You get a written, itemised estimate before any work starts, and we do not take a deposit. A small inspection is free, and a deeper inspection can be agreed if more needs checking.

What guarantee comes with the work?

Ask what the guarantee covers and how long it runs. Our workmanship is guaranteed for 6 months from the day you collect the car.

How long will it take?

Ask for a realistic timescale, and whether it depends on parts or how busy the workshop is. Small jobs can sometimes be done the same day, depending on how busy we are, but allow 1 to 2 days. A full respray usually takes 3 to 7 days.

Can they deal with my insurer?

If the repair goes through your insurance, ask your insurer first what using a bodyshop you choose means for the cost, and what paperwork they need.

We are not on any insurer's approved list, though we have repaired cars for customers claiming on their insurance. If you want us to, we can provide photographs of the damage and a written, itemised estimate, and deal with the insurer about the repair. We do not decide fault or act as your insurer, solicitor or claims manager. Our insurance and accident repair support page sets out what we can help with.

How to check the finished paintwork

When you collect the car, look at the repair in daylight and from more than one angle. A colour difference that is hard to see under some lights can show in daylight. Run your eye along the panel for runs, dust marks or an orange-peel texture that does not match the paint around it. Check the glass, rubber seals and trim for overspray, and look at the edges where masking was.

Repairs we carry out

Light marks in the lacquer can sometimes be taken out with scratch removal & machine polish, and stone chips can be filled with a paint touch-up. A SMART repair suits minor scuffs and scratches confined to one small area of a panel. Where damage spreads across much of a panel, single panel paint may give a more even finish. A dented panel that needs repainting can be handled as a panel dent repair & respray.

Paint that has failed across the car may call for a full body respray, from £1,495 plus VAT (£1,794 including VAT). A change of colour is quoted after inspection. If the colour of the car changes, the DVLA has to be told so the V5C details stay correct, and tell your insurer too.

Next steps

To arrange an inspection at our workshop in Wyken, Coventry, or to ask about a paint repair, call or WhatsApp +44 7903 105777, send photographs with the Send enquiry button, or use our contact form.