Everything You Need to Know About Car Resprays

Understanding the Car Respray Process

A respray is done in stages, and a fault left at an early stage tends to show in the finish.

It begins with an assessment of the car as it is, looking for dents, scratches and rust that must be repaired before any paint goes on, because they would show through the new finish. If the damage is only in one small area, a SMART repair may be enough on its own, without a respray.

Then the panels are sanded. Failed paint is taken off, while paint that is still sound is only keyed so the new coat can grip, which is why you can sometimes paint over existing paint. How much sanding a car needs depends on the panel material and the state of the old paint.

Primer then gives the colour an even base, and many primers also help protect bare metal against corrosion. We follow the paint maker's methods for each product we use.

Choosing the Right Paint System

A paint system is one maker's range of primer, colour and lacquer, made to be used together. It affects how the finish looks and how long it lasts, so ask a bodyshop which system it uses.

For the colour, we mix the paint to the manufacturer's paint code and check it with a spectrophotometer to get the new paint as close as possible to the panels around it. That matters even more on a partial respray, where new paint sits right next to the original.

All paintwork is sprayed in our spray booth to help keep dust and dirt out of the wet paint. Each coat is given the drying time the paint maker sets before the next goes on.

The Art of Blending and Finishing

Blending fades the new paint into the existing paintwork so the join is hard to see. Our director, a former Aston Martin technician and painter, does all the painting at our workshop.

A clear lacquer then goes over the colour coat to give the gloss and help protect the colour from UV light.

The lacquer needs time to harden before the car goes back on the road, and it keeps curing after that, so ask how long to wait before washing or waxing it.

Understanding Car Respray Costs in the UK

The cost of a respray depends on the size of the car, how much repair it needs first and the paint chosen. Our full body respray starts from £1,495 plus VAT (£1,794 including VAT); the final price is set after an inspection. A full respray takes 3 to 7 days, depending on the work.

Sound paint keeps moisture away from the metal underneath, which helps against rust, and a tidy finish can make a car easier to sell.

On a tighter budget, a paint touch-up or scratch removal can deal with minor marks without a full respray.

Insurance and Accident Repair Considerations

If the respray follows an accident, your insurer may cover it as part of the accident repair, depending on your policy. Check what your policy covers and ask for a written estimate that lists each part of the work.

We have repaired cars for customers claiming on their insurance. We provide a written, itemised estimate and photographs to support your claim, and can deal with your insurer if you want us to.

If the respray changes the colour, tell the DVLA so your V5C log book can be updated, as GOV.UK lists colour among the changes you must report.

Maintaining Your Vehicle's New Finish

Once the new paint has cured, regular washing and waxing help protect it from the weather, and paint protection film adds a physical layer against stone chips.

Avoid harsh chemicals and abrasive cleaning tools, which can damage the paint; gentle, pH-balanced cleaners and microfibre cloths are safer.

If the paint has faded or failed across the whole car, see our full body respray service.

Quality Control and Longevity Considerations

How long a respray lasts depends on the preparation and products as well as later care, so ask the bodyshop how the work is checked as it goes.

We use a paint depth gauge, which measures paint thickness and can point to earlier repairs or thin paint that the eye cannot see.

Respray work is covered by our 6-month workmanship guarantee from collection.

Why Choose Our Bodyshop for Your Car Respray?

At our Coventry workshop, every respray starts with a written, itemised estimate, and our workmanship is guaranteed for 6 months from collection.

Besides full resprays, we handle smaller jobs such as bumper repair and panel dent repair and respray.

Contact us to arrange an inspection. A small inspection is free.