Car Repair Cost Guides

Front Bumper Replacement Cost

What a new front bumper cover really costs, installed and painted.

Typical: $900–$2,000

Rear Bumper Replacement Cost

Rear bumper cover replacement, painted and installed — with sensor costs explained.

Typical: $800–$1,800

Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) Cost

Per-dent PDR pricing and when paintless repair is the right call.

Typical: $75–$600+

Traditional Dent Repair Cost

Body filler, sanding, and repaint — honest per-panel pricing.

Typical: $300–$800 / panel

Paint Scratch and Chip Repair Cost

From touch-up pens to full resprays — what each scratch depth really costs.

Typical: $79–$900+

Fender Replacement Cost

New fender, painted and blended — when replacement beats repair.

Typical: $790–$1,500

Headlight Assembly Replacement Cost

Why one headlight costs $200 and another costs $1,500 — it comes down to trim.

Typical: $150–$1,800+ / side

Side Mirror Replacement Cost

From basic power mirrors to camera-equipped units — real installed prices.

Typical: $200–$600

Windshield Replacement Cost

Standard vs. ADAS windshields — and why calibration changed the price.

Typical: $250–$1,000+

Hail Damage Repair Cost

How per-dent PDR pricing turns into a four-figure bill — and when insurance pays.

Typical: $1,500–$5,000+

Hood Replacement Cost

Steel vs. aluminum hoods — what a new hood really costs, painted and fitted.

Typical: $700–$1,800

Car Door Replacement Cost

Door shell, internals, paint, and alignment — the real cost of a new door.

Typical: $800–$2,500

Trunk & Tailgate Replacement Cost

Trunk lids and power tailgates — painted, wired, and working.

Typical: $700–$2,200

Bumper Repair vs. Replacement

When a $400 plastic repair is enough — and when replacement is the honest answer.

Repair: $300–$600

OEM vs. Aftermarket vs. Used Parts

When to pay for OEM, when aftermarket is fine, and where used parts make sense.

Save: 20–40% on panels

Insurance Claim or Pay Out of Pocket?

The deductible math, premium reality, and when filing actually makes sense.

Rule: repair < 1.5× deductible → pay cash

How Long Does Body Shop Repair Take?

Realistic timelines by repair type — and what actually causes delays.

Typical: 2–5 days

ADAS Recalibration Cost

When bumper, windshield, or mirror work requires recalibration — and what it costs.

Typical: $200–$600

Why Shops Blend Paint (Cost)

What blending is, when it’s required, and why cheap quotes skip it.

Typical: $300–$700

Signs Your Body Shop Is Overcharging

The 7 red flags of an inflated estimate — from vague labor lines to double-charged paint.

Review: $19.99

Is My Repair Estimate Too High?

Sanity-check any quote in 10 minutes: labor hours, parts prices, and paint materials.

Review: $19.99

How to Get a Car Repair Estimate Online

The 3-step process: photos, details, $19.99 — reviewed by a certified tech in ~24 hours.

Flat: $19.99

How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Keyed Car?

Keyed paint repair from a $150 buff-out to a full panel repaint — the fingernail test tells you which.

Typical: $150–$800 / panel

Bumper Scuff Repair Cost

Light scuffs buff out for $150 — deep ones need paint. When repair beats replacement.

Typical: $150–$600

Windshield Rock Chip Repair Cost

Chip repair runs $60–$120 and is often free through insurance — if you act before it cracks.

Typical: $60–$120

Car Frame Damage Repair Cost

Frame straightening costs $600–$3,000+ — and severe damage often totals the car.

Typical: $600–$3,000+

Car Rust Repair Cost

Surface rust: $150–$400. Rot-through: $1,000+. Why cutting it out beats covering it up.

Typical: $150–$1,500+

Diminished Value Claims Explained

Your repaired car is worth less — here's how to claim the difference, typically $500–$5,000+.

Typical claim: $500–$5,000+

When Is a Car Considered Totaled?

The 70–80% rule, state total-loss thresholds, and how to fight a low valuation.

Rule: repairs ≥ 70–80% of value

Paint Correction Cost

Swirl mark removal and machine polishing — what each stage fixes and what it costs.

Typical: $200–$900

Who Pays for a Rental During Repairs?

At-fault insurance, rental reimbursement coverage, or your wallet — how it actually works.

Typical: $30–$50 / day covered

Quarter Panel Repair & Replacement Cost

Welded, structural, labor-heavy: why quarter panels cost $600–$3,500+ to fix.

Typical: $600–$3,500+

Tesla Body Repair Cost

Why Tesla body work costs more: aluminum bodies, approved shops, and camera recalibration.

Typical: $500–$5,000+

Door Ding Repair Cost

Parking-lot dings priced by size and location — and when PDR is the answer.

Typical: $75–$300 / ding

Aluminum Body Panel Repair Cost

F-150s and more run aluminum now — here's the 20–40% premium explained.

Typical: $200–$2,500

Deer Collision Repair Cost

What a deer hit really costs, what's usually damaged, and how insurance handles it.

Typical: $2,500–$6,000

Rear-End Collision Repair Cost

From bumper covers to unibody damage — what rear impacts cost and what to check.

Typical: $800–$6,000+

Clear Coat Peeling Repair Cost

Why there's no cheap permanent fix, and what a proper respray costs per panel.

Typical: $500–$1,200 / panel

Curb Rash Wheel Repair Cost

Per-wheel cosmetic repair vs. replacement — including machined-face finishes.

Typical: $75–$200 / wheel

Maaco Paint Job Cost

The three Maaco tiers and what you actually get — prep is everything.

Typical: $300–$1,500

Body Shop Labor Rates Per Hour

What shops charge per labor hour, how hours are counted, and how to read the math.

Typical: $75–$150 / hour

Should You Fix Dents Before Selling Your Car?

The ROI math: when $200 of dent repair returns $1,000 on your sale price.

ROI: often 2–5x

Buying a Used Car? Spot Prior Accidents & Hidden Damage

A body tech's 30-minute walkaround: paint red flags, structural deal-breakers, flood signs, and the price-drop script.

Buyer's guide

What to Do After a Car Accident

9 steps in order: safety, police report, photo discipline, and when to get an independent estimate.

Start here

Someone Dented My Car — What Do I Do?

Note vs. hit-and-run, camera hunt, PDR vs. respray, and the deductible math before you file.

Typical: $150–$700

Car Scratched in a Parking Lot

The fingernail depth test decides it: $20 DIY polish or a pro respray before rust sets in.

Typical: $20–$600