Are you thinking about revamping your car but are worried about how much does it cost to paint a car? If yes, then do not worry. All you need is the proper guidance, and you can get yourself a fun car enhanced with that much-awaited makeover.
It is common for people to decide to enhance their SUVs, sleeper cars, EVs, off-roaders, and sports cars. Some go for gesture enhancements, while some like to change the outlook.
You can paint your car the same color as earlier to give it a brand-new feel or go for a completely different shade. But before you finalize what you need, you need to ask yourself how much does it cost to paint a car a different color or the same as before.
Painting an automobile takes a lot of time and money. You need to consider many things before making the final decision. Thus, today we bring you this guide in which you will learn beyond how much does it cost to paint a car.
Explore this step-by-step guide and transform your ride from a beaten old wheeler to an eye-popping piece of machinery.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Car?
If you are choosing to repaint your car, the main reason is to rejuvenate it, give it a new look, and experiment with something new. The cost of painting majorly depends on the condition of your vehicle & where you get the work done.
The numbers for how much does it cost to paint a car yourself are entirely different from if you take a professional’s assistance. Doing the car painting task yourself will be much cheaper than having a professional do it. And it holds true for luxury and affordable cars.
On average, in the USA, a paint job might cost you from $350 to $10,000. So, if you ever find yourself or any other person asking how much does it cost to paint a car a new color or how much does it cost to repaint a car, the answer is it will cost at least a few hundred dollars.
Unless you have to be somewhere extravagant to show off your ride, you do not need to spend a hefty sum like $10,000 on a paint job. A lot of factors decide the cost of your paint job. So before you google car paint jobs near me prices, it is best to learn about those factors in detail.
5 Crucial Factors Affecting The Cost Of Paint A Car
Before you go online and search for car painting near me or where can I get my car painted, you need to learn the chronology of the pricing. Like many other crucial things in your life, you get what you pay for when painting your car in a new color.
Professionals are the masters of their jobs. A professional paint job is the best choice, but the quality of their work depends on the amount you pay. In addition, questions like how much does it cost for a car paint job also get affected by the area of your ride you want to rejuvenate.
The numbers for how much does it cost to paint a whole car differ from the numbers for how much does it cost to paint hood of car or door of the vehicle.
If you want to paint only a particular part of your ride but focus on the price for the entire ride, your price estimates to upgrade your car paint can go wrong. Below, we have listed some of the crucial factors that highly affect the painting cost for your ride.
1. Vehicle Size
The foremost factor that will answer your question of how much does it cost to paint a car matte black, or any color for that matter, is the size of your car. The bigger the size of your vehicle, the more product, time, and labor will be required to work on it.
Thus, if you own a sedan or a pickup, it will be more costly to have a paint job done on it than a smaller or compact car.
2. Repairs (If Any)
Automobile painting is like giving it a new life. It takes a lot of money, so you must ensure you are spending all your hard-earned money for a ride in great shape. Thus, before you search for how much does it cost to paint a car in California, have your vehicle tested by a mechanic to check if it needs fixing.
Check if your car shakes on acceleration or if it has any dents, degraded brake pads, lousy oil filters, and more. If you encounter any issue, have it fixed by an expert before going with the paint job.
If you hand over your vehicle with so many issues to get it painted, you will get a new-like ride. The final bill will have the additional charges of damage repairs on the surface, like dents & scratches.
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3. Paint Color
If you are taking the help of a car paint job cost estimator to find out how much does it cost to paint a car, the type of color you wish to use on your ride is a significant factor to consider. Various colors are available to paint cars, and each one costs different.
If you choose regular colors like white, gray, or black, they will cost you the least as they are the cheapest. However, if you want an exclusive color, especially one used by a premium brand, you will have to pay more.
4. Finishes
Color type is not the only thing adding to your bill. The type of finish you want at the end of the paint job also contributes to that final cost. Most car painting services offer to wax or seal your car’s paint job at the end of the job.
A regular car wax finish will protect the new car paint job. However, your final bill will add another $100 to $200. Other than this, you will have to pay even more if you want the car paint service to use a ceramic coating or more specialized finishes.
The specialized finishes might be expensive, but they sure boost the longevity of the paint job on your car. However, you should only go for the premium ones if you have money to spare. You can later buy the best car wax and polisher to enhance its paint job.
5. Quality Of Color
The final factor that will complete your answer for how much does it cost to paint a car is the quality of color you want on your ride. A single-coat paint job will be the cheapest, starting from $300, whereas a high-quality paint job comes with bodywork like damage repair and can cost up to $4000.
This cost is the same whether you own new car 2023 or upcoming cars 2022. But if you have a bigger budget, you can go for the multi-coat high-quality car painting, which can cost you up to $10,000 and even more, depending on your requirements.
Thus, if you ever think about how much would it cost to paint a car door, hood, or the entire body, crosscheck these factors to be sure.
5 Things To Know Before You Decide To Paint A Car
Now that you are familiar with the crucial factors that will affect the cost of painting a car, you should learn about various things you must consider before painting a car.
At least once in a while, every car owner has thought about changing the car’s paint, but only a few go through with it. The reason is the time and cost you must invest in the task. Car painting is not about choosing the shade.
Whether you are having professionals do the job for you or thinking of doing the car painting project yourself, you need to know a few more things.
A. Time-Consuming
One of the most important things you, as a car owner, must remember is that car painting is time-consuming. Whether you are contemplating how much does it cost to get a car painted black, red, or any other color, the time you need to invest is enormous.
Also, it does not matter if you will take the assistance of a professional or do it on your own. It will take an awful amount of time to be done perfectly.
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The old paint needs to be scraped off. This is done because doing car painting on existing color will be a waste. It will look drastic, and all your efforts and money will be in vain.
Apart from this, remember that painting cars all by yourself will take more time than professional painting.
B. Automobile Painting Prices May Vary
There is no fixed value for how much does it cost to paint a car. The car painting price may vary from professional to professional and location to location. Different repair shops have different prices for various tasks and labor. So it is better to request an estimate for car painting.
Also, the estimates of how much does it cost to paint a car in Florida differ significantly from how much does it cost to paint a car in Texas and so on. Thus, where you are getting your car paint done, and the state you reside in contribute significantly to the final price of the car painting process.
Thus, the smart way is to get estimates for the average car painting in your state. After that, request quotes from different shops, compare the rates, and then go for the one you think is reasonable.
C. Paint Job Is Not A Universal Fixer
Another thing to know before you ask how much does it cost to paint your car is that having a new paint job on your car will not fix all its flaws.
If you opt out from fixing minor damages, like,
- Scratches
- Gouges
- Dents
- Pits
- Rust spots
- Holes
You will end up with a dreadful paint job. The new paint cannot hide the dents & scratches, and they will eventually be seen by the people, making your vehicle look cheap & degrading.
Thus, to make sure the car painting goes well with a perfect finish, you need to have your professional fix all the mentioned issues first.
D. Affects The Car Value
One of the most crucial things that most car owners do not know is that deciding on car painting affects the value of your car. Or you can say a paint job affects the resale value of your car.
It is a well-known fact that people consider looks more critical when purchasing an item. Thus, if your car has good paint with a perfect finish, it will automatically have more value than its older self.
E. You Need To Do Some Paperwork
Before jumping on how much does it cost to paint a car door or the entire car, you must know that car painting will require you to take care of some paperwork.
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If you go with car painting and change the color of your ride, you will have to make the changes related to the color on your vehicle’s registration, insurance cards, and other related documents. Do not forget to do it as it might cause you problems shortly.
Easy Tips To Take Care Of The New Paint Of Car
After you finish your car painting, you need to take care of it better than you did before. A freshly painted car is just like a new one that needs good care to get at least the average cost of your investment.
It may not be brand new, but I am sure you don’t want all the money you spent on the paint job to go to waste. So, if you want your new car paint to last long, follow the tips below.
– Look Over The Paint Job
Whether you are painting your good gas mileage car all by yourself or having professional help, you must access the paint job.
If you have taken the help of a body shop, scrutinize the car for the work and check if anything is missing or wrong. Access the overall quality of the car paint job, and do not leave until you are satisfied.
– No Washing
It takes time for the paint to set and cure properly. So, you should avoid car washes for at least a month to have the car painting settled adequately. You must be careful if you want to save money after your latest paint job. Also, we advise using car covers to keep it safe, especially if you park outside.
– Proper Parking
If you want to make sure you don’t have to think about how much does it cost to paint a car often, you must be careful where you park it.
Try your best to find indoor parking as it protects your ride from the sun, dust, and any unwanted damage. Avoid parking where bird droppings and tree sap can ruin your freshly painted car.
– Avoid Unnecessary Ride
A newly painted car is fragile. So, avoid using your car frequently for at least a month after the car painting, especially for off-roading.
Use it when it is essential only. The reason is that the new paint is not appropriately set and takes time. Thus, if you drive too much, it can damage the paint of the car.
How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Car Yourself?
If you are skilled and sure you are up for car painting, you can go for it. However, if the reason behind your choice to do the labor yourself is how much does it cost to paint a car yourself, then let me explain.
Doing a painting on cars is a tough job. The work requires labor, time, and good skills. You will be working with chemicals as well. So make sure you are capable of doing it. Do not compromise your ride and your safety just to save some bucks.
But if you still choose to go with the work, here are some precautionary measures you must follow to do a good job and stay safe.
– Work in a well-ventilated area
The paint fumes are not good despite their pleasant smell. Thus, you want to make sure you do not inhale it.
– Use proper protective gear
Cover your body and use eye protection. A respirator, safety glasses, nitrile gloves, and coveralls with a hood are mandatory.
– Spray paints are ideal
They are easy to use, and you can even get a matte-finished look without much hassle. You can invest in an electric paint sprayer for effortless car painting.
– No open flames nearby
Ensure there are no open flames nearby. Also, it is better if no other chemicals that could react with the paint are used nearby.
Conclusion
Painting your car to give it a new and refreshed look is a good idea. But before you start dwelling on how much does it cost to paint a car, you should learn about car painting in detail. There are many crucial aspects that a car owner must know before he finalizes the process of car painting.
This article has broken down every factor and aspect related to a car painting job that will ensure you do not overpay and get the best work at an acceptable price.
