It’s possible that your preferences have changed, your paint has chipped, or you need to update your car. Painting your car can be a costly endeavor for any number of reasons. So, how much does it cost to paint a car?
Car paint costs between $300 and $2,000 for the most basic of paint jobs, depending on the many factors listed below.
Keep reading.
How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Car?
Keep in mind when hiring paint services that the price range for painting a car is anywhere from $300 to $2000+ for the most basic of paint jobs, and if you want high-quality, you’ll be paying well into the thousands.
If You Do It Yourself?
Depending on the kind of paint you use and how many supplies you need to buy in advance, painting a car yourself can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000.
For instance, if you don’t already have a paint sprayer, you’ll need to buy one. Check out our picks for the top paint sprayers available.
You can paint your car yourself, but you can’t remember what materials you’ll need. Here’s a quick refresh:
Paint Sprayer
Cars can be painted beautifully using HVLP paint sprayers, which are now more affordable than ever on websites like Amazon.
Paint Masker/masking Tape/film
Your best painting ally is the paint masker because it conceals imperfect surfaces so you can get to painting right away.
Drop Cloths
Use drop cloths to cover the floor and any other vehicles you may have parked next to the one you are painting.
Remember not to spray paint too close to anything that could get overspray on it, like your spouse’s car.
If You Hire a Professional Company?
An experienced service advisor from North Carolina says the average cost for a fully auto paint job with minimal bodywork costs anywhere from $2-4k, and we can back up those numbers as being relevant.
And sure, you could go and get the cheapest paint job on the market, but it’s probably not going to last you for the years to come as a higher quality paint job will.
Each professional painter will likely bid you slightly(or drastically) different prices for the paint job you are looking to get, so that’s why you should get multiple bids from painting contractors to make sure you aren’t being ripped off.
Factors That Affect Cost
The overall cost of painting your car depends on a variety of factors, just like with the majority of vehicle upgrades. The most important ones to be aware of are listed below.
Overall Quality
Naturally, the desired paint job’s quality will have a significant, sometimes immediate impact on the asking price. For instance, if you hire a professional painter, you can be sure that both the paint and the painters will be of the highest caliber. The project should have an absolutely stunning appearance when it is finished. On the other hand, if you use a cheap paint service, you can anticipate cheap results.
Vehicle Size
The size of your vehicle will also affect the cost of a paint job. For instance, a compact coupe would cost far less to paint than a full-size truck or SUV. The latter vehicles are much larger, so there’s more surface area that needs painting.
To put it simply, the paint job will cost more to paint the larger the vehicle. Period.
Chosen Color and Paint Quality
Paint color does not function in the same way as clothing, even though a white shirt and a yellow shirt might have the same price tag in a department store. Color affects the price, and standard colors like black, gray, and white are much cheaper than specialized colors. Additionally, if you select one of the uncommon colors used by high-end automakers, be prepared to pay more.
The paint quality will determine the cost of the overall paint job, as well. Paint with longer durability and higher quality costs more than generic paint. However, you’ll likely never have to repaint your car again, so it’s usually well worth the cost.
For example, one coat of synthetic enamel paint might cost between $300-$700 for an average-sized sedan. On the flip side, multiple coats of high-quality paint can run several thousands dollars or more. You’ll also have to consider any additional paint art or stylistic touches you may want. In need of some racing stripes? You will frequently have to pay a few hundred dollars more.
Overall, the cost will increase with project complexity and paint quality.
Any Needed Repairs
A new paint job on your car will probably cost you more than it normally would if it has several surface flaws, like deep scratches. Some painting companies will offer to fix any flaws, but even those that don’t might charge more because they’ll have to paint over or around the problem.
Some businesses may even refuse to paint a car that has a lot of surface damage because painting these areas without protection can lead to long-term damage.
Finishes
Keep in mind the finishes! Many car painting services will offer to wax or seal your car’s paint job at the conclusion of the project. You won’t spend too much money on a regular wax finish, but it will likely increase the final cost by another $100 to $200. Expect to pay even more if you request that the auto body shop use a ceramic coating or other, more specialized finishes.
Although they might be a bit pricey, those additional coatings or specialized materials can greatly increase the durability of your car’s paint job. It’s not a bad idea to get a coating or finish if you have the cash to spare and want to avoid having to repaint your car in the near future.
Should You Get a Professional Car Paint Job Or DIY?
Consider your painting goals before choosing between professional or do-it-yourself painting. Are you painting the car for a quick cosmetic fix before selling it, or are you working on a restoration hobby project? A damaged car’s value may increase slightly after a do-it-yourself paint repair, but this won’t actually make the car better.
While it is possible to paint your own vehicle, doing so requires perseverance, skill, and a variety of tools that you may need to buy especially for the task. You might not get the high-quality vehicle facelift you want from your own paint job. Older cars or all-terrain vehicles that are subject to frequent bumps and scratches are the best candidates for do-it-yourself paint jobs.
It’s typically a better idea to use an auto repair shop where experts can apply up to 24 even coats of paint for a high-gloss, long-lasting finish if you want to restore a family car or collector’s car to its original condition.
How Can You Save Money When Painting a Car?
Here are the details:
Sell Extra Paint on the Web/purchase Old Paint from a Leftover Project
Depending on the quality of your project, you are either want to buy double the paint to ensure you have enough OR purchase paint from someone else’s leftover project to stay on a tight budget.
In either case, trading with other DIYers ultimately results in cost savings for both parties.
Use the Internet to Find the Best Option
The internet is your best friend when getting auto bodywork, touch-up paint, a new paint job, or basically anything else when auto painting.
Simply pulling out your cell phone and conducting a quick search will allow you to find various businesses, read cost helper guides, and more.
Go check out our painting supplies and tools page for some great recommendations on what to buy.
Ceramic Coating/Clear Bra?
Because it shields the paint from fading and scratching, applying a ceramic coating right after painting is a fantastic way to save money in the long run.
Customers who buy ceramic coating are the most conscientious about their cars, and ceramic-coated paint essentially never needs to be detailed.
Please don’t be afraid to ask us any questions. Your car should look fantastic, we hope!
Tips for Painting Your Own Car
When painting your own car, there are a few things to keep in mind.
- Work downward.Start by painting the high spots like the roof, the top of the hood and the tops of the doors before working your way down the vehicle.
- Consistently apply pressure.While using your foam brush to apply paint, you must apply consistent pressure.
- Never apply too much paint.A finish that has had too much paint added at once may have drips and runs. Aim for uniform coats while keeping in mind that you’ll need to make several passes.
- Be patient.To get a clean finish, you’ll probably need to apply several coats of paint, but you must wait at least six hours between each coat.
If you’re on a tight budget and these steps seem overwhelming, think about hiring a pro to do some simple painting.
Consider Quality Vs. Price before Painting Your Car
Everybody wants a cost-effective service, so when you are contacting body shops to get quotes for your auto-painting project, it’s tempting to go for the lowest price offer.
But you get what you pay for. Quotes that are too low may be for subpar materials or a poor paint job. The painters could choose to simply mask off the trim rather than removing it, and they could choose not to paint any areas that are not visible.
Cheap paint jobs might also use shoddy taping methods, which will cause overspray to land on your windows or rubber fixtures. The quote might not include particular services that the auto painters charge an extra fee for, so they might decide to paint over issues like rust or dents rather than taking the necessary steps to address those problems first.
Before committing to a service, ask the painters what steps and details their price covers. Ask to see previous examples of their work to ensure that you are satisfied with the caliber, and find out if sanding and preparing the bodywork are included in the price.
FAQs
Is It Worth It to Paint Your Car?
It’s an investment in many ways to have your car repainted. You will increase the residual or resale value of the car in addition to giving yourself a like-new finish. You can trade in an older vehicle for more money if you invest in repainting it.
What is the Cheapest Color to Paint a Car?
Standard colors like black, gray, and white are significantly less expensive than specialty colors when it comes to price, which is influenced by color. Furthermore, you should expect to pay more if you choose rare colors used by premium automakers. The cost of the entire paint job will also be determined by the paint quality.
Do Cars Lose Value If Painted?
In many cases, repainting a classic car will not affect its resale value and, in some cases, it will even improve it. However, the color that the car is painted will have a significant impact on its value. There are some colors that are more coveted than others when it comes to the majority of classic cars.
How Long Does a Car Paint Job Take?
A complete vehicle paint job will take between 40 and 80 hours, depending on the size of your vehicle and the bodywork that is needed.
The Bottom Line: How Much Does It Cost to Paint a Car?
In conclusion, the cost to paint a car can range from $300 to more than $2,000 for the simplest of paint jobs.
It’s important to keep in mind that a variety of factors, such as the paint color you choose, the finish, and the quality of the paint, will ultimately affect the price you are charged when having your car painted. The cost will also depend on the size of your car.
Despite your temptation to choose the cheapest option, keep in mind that the paint job’s final appearance might suffer. You may end up with paint that doesn’t last as long or key details may be ignored or overlooked. Before making a choice, take the time to carefully review everything that is offered.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment. KV Auto tries to give you the best car industry information. Thank you for reading.
