Professional Auto Body Shop Cost And Labor Rate
We take in consideration several factors that affect the body shop cost, from body and paint work to a fair labor rate.
Here are a few things we look at before arriving at your body shop cost estimate, because ultimately, each car collision and project is different and each client’s specifications are unique.
- Year, make, and model of the vehicle (new, classic, muscle, custom etc.)
- Replace part(s) (used, new, brand name or aftermarket)
- Paint quality (standard, premium)
- Rust damage repair
- Repair part(s)
- Body damage and work
- Paint work
- Structural work
- Custom body work
- Electrical and/or mechanical work
- Completion date
In order for us to better serve you we recommend that you bring in your car to our shop so we may correctly assess the work required. If you have a restoration or custom project, please keep in mind that nobody can exactly predict the total expenses and labor required to make your dream a reality. Realistically speaking, add about 60% to your best estimate. For more information click here. Restorations usually start at 17K and have about a 2 year waitlist. ***CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE***
Our labor rate range is $75-$125 an hour.
Surprised at the professional body shop cost?
We recommend all our potential clients read the following excerpt:
Talking with a professional auto painter about body shop costs
“Automobile owners with little or no knowledge of the auto body repair and paint business are frequently surprised at the cost of a quality paint job. They have no idea of the amount of work involved during preparation stages before painting, nor of the cost of materials such as primers, sealers, reducers, hardeners, and paint. Uniformed car owners have a difficult time understanding why some companies can paint cars for as little as $99.95, while other shops might charge around $5,000 or more for a top-notch, complete paint job. Of course, there is no real ceiling for the price of a paint job, as the labor involved will vary greatly, depending on what you need to have done.
You Get What You Pay For
Should you decide to have a professional paint your car, remember that you get what you pay for. Outfits that specialize in cheap paint jobs cannot afford to spend a lot of time preparing or masking cars. Their business relies on volume. The more cars they paint, the more money they make. Therefore, sanding and masking work is normally minimal.
Close inspection of vehicles that have been repainted by inexpensive paint shops generally reveals overspray on fender wells, leaf springs, emblems, badges, window trim, spare tires under pickup truck beds, and the life, due to minimal masking. Rough surface spots may receive a quick pass or two with sandpaper, but extra time cannot be allotted for definitive sanding and feathering needs. These shops are not going to remove the bed from your pickup truck to paint the back of the cab either.
Now, should you want a much more thorough paint job than the one just described, and most people do, these shops can provide better quality service. This will, of course, cost you more, with the price of ‘extras’ quickly approaching that of a more thorough, lower volume shop. Inexpensive paint shops are forced to use bulk supplied. Color choices are usually limited to the colors on hand in 55-gallon barrels…
Quality Shops vs. High-Volume Shops
Auto paint shops that specialize in overall quality and customer satisfaction are vastly different from high-volume shops. You will have to pay more for their service, but your car or truck will be meticulously prepared and then painted with a high-quality, durable, and long-lasting paint product. All exterior accessories will be removed, including the bumpers and grille. Masking will be complete and the work required after spray painting will be accomplished professionally.
Sanding
Skeptics may still not completely understand the enormous differences between paint jobs that cost only a few hundred dollars and those that command thousands. Simply put, professional paint technicians spend hours and hours sanding surfaces to perfection. Then they apply required coats of primer-surfacer to fill in tiny sand scratches and other minute blemishes. Those surfaces are also sanded to perfection.
Prep Work
The amount of prep work performed is what raises the price of automotive paint job. This prep work is what distinguishes the final quality and longevity of the paint job as well…
Sealer/Primer
Once the surface has been meticulously smoothed, coats of sealer are sprayed on to protect undercoats from absorbing potent solvents included in paint. Sufficient drying time must be allotted. Professionals often use high-intensity heat lamps to speed this process. These lamps use a tremendous amount of electricity, which must be figured into estimates as part of the overhead costs.
Color Coat/Clear Coat
After that phase has been completed, color coats are applied and then cured with assistance from heat lamps. Depending upon the type of paint system used, clear coats then might be sprayed over the entire vehicle. Normally, three coats are enough. When the clear has dried, painters carefully inspect car bodies for imperfections. Then 1,200 to 2,000-grit sandpaper is used to smooth blemishes, as needed, and additional coast of clear may be applied.
Buffing
Satisfied that their job has turned out correctly, painters buff entire vehicle bodies with fine polish and a soft buffed pad. After all of that has been done, parts still have to be replaced. Again, this takes time, as gaskets and seals must be perfectly positioned to function as intended. Care must be taken so that parts are not bumped against newly painted finishes to cause nicks or scratches.
Detailing
As if that were not enough, each vehicle is then detailed to perfection. I doubt many customers would pay their paint bill if glass, wheels, tires, weather stripping, and other parts of the car were dirty and covered with sanding dust when they arrived to pick it up from the shop. Most quality body shop owners insist that their customers’ cars be detailed before delivery. Their customers enjoy a freshly painted car, and can relish the fact that it has been cleaned to perfection. The car stands out, looks crisp, and is a pleasure to drive.
When shopping for a professional auto painter, be sure to ask if your car will be detailed before delivery. Ask if all exterior accessories will be removed for painting, and whether or not overspray to fender wells and suspension assemblies will be removed or painted over. Be certain that maximum attention will be given to masking, and that quality paint products will be used throughout the job.
Bottom Line: Quality Body Shop Cost
Finding a professional auto paint shop with a reputable track record should not be too difficult. Word of mouth recommendations are generally reliable. If a friend or neighbor has recently had a car painted, ask how he or she feels about the quality of service…”
Dennis W. Parks & David H. Jacobs, Jr.
How To Paint Your Car
I wish I had thought to take a “before” picture, because “after” you can’t tell that anything was wrong. My front bumper scraped a wall in an underground parking lot. My fault, obviously, but it looked really bad. I looked for a place that would fix it, but not cost an insane amount of money. West Coast Body & Paint had the best Yelp reviews (that also appeared to be real) so I decided to get an estimate. I met with Jaider and he talked about all of my options and the prices, and told me that he didn’t think the most expensive would be necessary, which was removing the bumper, fixing the damage and repainting the whole thing. He said he could fix just the part that was damaged and match the color of the rest of the bumper and the car. The car is 4 years old, so the finish is not new…. Well, I picked up the car yesterday and WOW! You can’t tell that anything ever happened. It looks perfect. The price was exactly what he estimated (no added costs) and he explained exactly what they did and showed me where the new paint stops and the old paint starts… No one I’ve shown it to can see it. It looks perfect. I would definitely go back there and recommend them to anyone.
–Richard P., Van Nuys, CA, 7/20/2016
Thank you for taking the time to read this page.
As of January 2022 we have some good news and some bad news…
The BAD NEWS is we have moved out of our location and are in search of a new home for the West Coast Body and Paint shop.
The GOOD NEWS is that we have a West Coast Body and Paint mobile paint repair service unit that will come to you! The mobile paint unit provides auto services for minor body and paint repairs.
Our estimates are free. Once we receive your images we will provide you with an initial estimate. The estimate is a ballpark figure, and after we assess your vehicle’s damage in person, we will review the estimate with you. If you agree to the final estimate, we will begin repairing your car. Fill out the form below or contact us through WhatsAp to request a quote.
***FILL OUT TO REQUEST A QOTE FROM OUR MOBILE PAINT REPAIR UNIT***
Are you looking for an honest body shop in Van Nuys, CA?
Come by West Coast Body and Paint, our trusted collision repair shop anytime, we are open or contact us if you need to come in off hours. Give us a call at 818.785.2639, text 818.793.7728, or drop us a line at wcbodyandpaint@gmail.com to schedule an appointment for a free estimate. We serve the San Fernando Valley and the Los Angeles area.