A car respray can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a damaged panel to several thousand for a full repaint, and published guides do not agree with each other. The price depends on how much of the car is painted, how much preparation and bodywork the old paint needs, the size of the vehicle and the finish you choose. If you are fixing a car up, preparing to sell, or weighing up a repaint on a car you plan to keep, this guide shows what published sources say, with the source and date for each figure, and lists what to ask a painter before you agree. Car Buyers Assist does not do respray work; this is a neutral guide to help you budget and ask better questions. It is general information, not a quote.
Short answer: how much does a car respray cost?
Published examples fall into three broad groups: a single panel, a partial respray of several panels, and a full respray. Even within a group, the sources differ widely, from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand for partial work, and from low thousands to well over ten thousand for a full repaint. We have not calculated a single national average, because the sources measure different jobs, finishes and levels of preparation. Treat the ranges below as a guide for budgeting, then get written quotes for your car.
Published price examples
| Source | Job | Range as published | Date shown |
|---|---|---|---|
| AutoGuru (booking marketplace) | Panel respray | $200 to $500 per panel | No date shown for the prices; accessed 30 October 2026 |
| AutoGuru | Full respray | $2,000 to $7,000, every external surface | As above |
| Yellow Pages Australia | Bumper, door, roof | Bumper $150 to $300; door $100 to $500; roof $200 to $1,000 | Published 19 January 2025; marked updated May 2026 |
| Yellow Pages Australia | Standard full respray; custom finish | $1,500 to $4,000 (it says larger or luxury vehicles can exceed $5,000); custom finish $3,000 to $10,000 or more | As above |
| Touch Up Guys (smart repair business) | Smart repairs | Minor scratch $150 to $350; small dent with paint damage $200 to $400; panel blend and respray $400 to $800; corner bumper scuff $350 to $550 (labelled indicative, quoted from photos) | Published 19 December 2025; updated 8 July 2026 |
| Touch Up Guys | Full respray | $3,000 to $15,000 or more | As above |
| MRP Automotive Refinishing (refinisher) | Single panel; bumper; bonnet or roof | Single panel $300 to $1,000; bumper $350 to $950; bonnet or roof $450 to $1,200 | 3 August 2026 |
| MRP Automotive Refinishing | Partial respray (several panels, blended) | $1,000 to $3,500 | As above |
| MRP Automotive Refinishing | Full respray: budget end; quality with proper preparation; colour change or show finish | $3,500 to $6,000; $6,000 to $12,000; $12,000 to $30,000 or more | As above |
These are guides from a marketplace, a directory and businesses that sell this kind of work, not independent surveys and not quotes. AutoGuru does not say how its ranges were derived, and Yellow Pages says its figures are estimates from when it was written. The sources also describe different jobs, so a figure in one row is not directly comparable to a figure in another.
What changes the price
| Factor | What the sources say |
|---|---|
| How much is painted | A single panel, a blended partial respray and a full respray are priced separately in every source above. Smart repair businesses price small scratches, dents and scuffs separately again. |
| Preparation and bodywork | MRP says the main difference between budget and quality full resprays is the preparation, and that the condition of existing paint and bodywork affects the price more than anything else. Yellow Pages says the amount of sanding, bodywork and priming affects cost. |
| Vehicle size | MRP says larger vehicles, such as dual-cab utes and large SUVs, have more surface area to paint than a hatchback. None of the sources we reviewed gives a separate dollar figure by vehicle size. |
| Paint type and finish | AutoGuru names solid, metallic, pearl and matte finishes and says premium finishes such as metallic or pearlescent can raise the cost, without giving amounts. MRP prices a colour change or show-standard finish in its own, higher band, noting that such jobs can include door jambs and engine bay areas. |
Panel repair, partial respray or full respray?
If the damage is limited to one or two panels, a panel repair or a blended partial respray is usually the cheaper route, but matching the existing paint is part of what you are paying for, so ask how the painter will blend the new paint into the old. A full respray makes more sense when the paint is failing across the whole car or you are changing colour. If you are selling, ask yourself whether the work is likely to change the sale price by as much as it costs. We could not find a reliable published figure for how much a respray adds to resale value, so treat any claim about that with caution, and compare it with a trade-in or private-sale valuation first (see our guide to trade-in vs private sale).
Questions to ask before you agree
- Is the quote for a single panel, a blended partial respray or a full respray, and which panels are included?
- How much preparation and bodywork is included, and what happens if more rust or damage is found once the old paint is off?
- What paint type and finish will be used, and does the price include a clear coat?
- Are door jambs, boot and engine bay painted, or only the visible outer surfaces?
- What warranty applies to the paint, and what does it cover?
- Can I have the quote in writing, with the start date and the expected finish date?
- Can I see examples of similar jobs, and how will you match the colour?
Getting quotes and protecting yourself
Get at least two or three written quotes for the same job, so the figures are comparable, and keep the invoice and any warranty paperwork if you plan to sell. If work does not meet the standard you agreed, see our guide to faulty car rights in Australia for where to escalate. A respray is also something a buyer or inspector may look for on a used car, because it can hide earlier damage or rust; our used car inspection guide explains what to check.
Selling or buying: where respray costs fit
If you are selling privately, see our guide to how to sell a car privately and the tips for selling your car quickly. If you are buying and spot mismatched paint, use it as a prompt for questions about the car’s history, and see the buy a car guide for the wider process. Other running-cost guides use the same approach as this one: car service cost, brake pad replacement cost, wheel alignment cost, car battery replacement cost and windscreen replacement cost.
FAQ
How much does it cost to respray one panel?
Published examples range from about $100 for a door at the low end (Yellow Pages) to $1,000 for a single panel at the high end (MRP). The difference comes from the panel, the finish and how much preparation is needed, so get a quote for your car.
How much does a full respray cost?
The sources above show full respray ranges starting in the low thousands and reaching well over $10,000 for quality or colour-change work. MRP says the difference between its budget and quality tiers is mainly the preparation.
Does the size of the car change the price?
It can, because a larger vehicle has more surface area to paint. MRP names dual-cab utes and large SUVs as examples, but none of the sources we reviewed gives a separate price by vehicle size.
Is it worth respraying a car before selling it?
It depends on the cost, the condition of the car and your buyer. We could not find a reliable published figure for how much a respray adds to the sale price, so compare the quote with a valuation before you decide.
Why are published respray prices so different?
The sources describe different jobs, finishes and levels of preparation, and were published at different times. That is why we show each figure with its source rather than one average.
Does Car Buyers Assist do resprays?
No. This is an independent cost guide. Please get quotes from painters and panel shops near you.
This article is general information only and does not constitute financial, mechanical, insurance or legal advice. Prices are published examples from the sources named and are not quotes; actual costs depend on your vehicle, its condition and the workshop. Always get a written quote before work begins.
Sources: AutoGuru, vehicle respray (no date shown for prices; page copyright 2026); Yellow Pages Australia, how much does it cost to paint a car (published 19 January 2025; updated May 2026); Touch Up Guys, cost of respraying a car and cheaper options (published 19 December 2025; updated 8 July 2026); MRP Automotive Refinishing, how much does a car respray cost in Australia (3 August 2026). All accessed 30 October 2026.