Car bodywork and spray repair: how it works and how long it takes

By RPM Autocare, Newton Abbot · Published 26 October 2026

If your car has a scuffed bumper, a car-park dent or accident damage, it can be hard to know what the repair actually involves or how long you will be without the car. This guide walks through the stages of a typical bodywork and paint repair, the things that affect timing and how to get a proper quote. At RPM Autocare, bodywork is Mark's side of the business, and he repairs, preps and paints in our own spray booth at Milber Trading Estate in Newton Abbot.

Step 1: assessing the damage

Everything starts with understanding what is damaged. Surface scuffs, scratches and stone chips are one thing. Dents, creases and cracked bumpers are another. Underneath, there may be damage you cannot see, such as a bent bracket or a panel gap that has changed.

The quickest way to start is to send Mark a few photos for a quote. For anything larger, a look in person is better. A free quote is available, and no job is too big or small. If you would like a rough guide first, our bodywork estimator gives a quick idea. A firm quote follows once Mark has seen photos or the car.

Step 2: repair or replace?

Depending on the damage, a panel may be repaired, or replaced and painted. Small dents can often be worked out and the surface prepared for paint. Heavily creased or torn panels may be better replaced. If there is rust, the panel may need new metal let in; see our guide to welding repairs for how that works.

Step 3: preparation

Preparation is where a lot of the quality comes from. The area is cleaned, sanded and masked. Filler is used where needed to level the surface, then the area is primed. A paint job is only as good as the surface under it, which is why rushed prep tends to show up later as marks, edges or peeling.

Step 4: colour matching

Paint is matched to your car's colour code and blended into the neighbouring panels where needed, so the repair does not stand out. Metallic and pearl paints take a bit more work than solid colours, because the finish changes with the angle and the way the paint is applied.

Step 5: spraying in the booth

Painting in a proper spray booth keeps dust and dirt off the fresh paint, and the lighting shows up flaws before the car goes back to you. It is also why we can take on anything from a wing mirror cover to a van panel. Mark sprays panels, bumpers, hard tops, roofs and full resprays, in solid, metallic or pearl colours.

The paint goes on in stages: base colour, then lacquer for gloss and protection.

Step 6: curing and finishing

The paint needs time to cure properly before the car is handled. After that, the panel is checked in the light, polished if needed and refitted. Any trim, lights or fittings that were removed are put back, and the finished work is checked against the rest of the car.

So how long does it take?

We would like to give you a neat number, but it would not be honest. How long a repair takes depends on:

• How much damage there is and whether panels need repair, replacement or welding.
• What is in the booth. Bodywork start dates depend on what is already booked in.
• Paint type and curing time. Metallic and pearl finishes can take longer.
• Parts. If a panel or bumper has to be ordered, you wait for it to arrive.
• How many panels are being painted and blended.

Small cosmetic repairs are naturally quicker than accident damage. The best way to get a realistic date is to send Mark a few photos, and he will give you a start date based on what is in the booth.

Insurance claim or private repair?

That is up to you. For smaller jobs, some people prefer to get a private quote first and compare it with their excess. Send Mark photos and he will give you a price, then you can decide.

Staying mobile and combining jobs

If the car needs mechanical work too, Russ can service or repair it while it is in for bodywork, which saves a second trip. For bodywork, ask Mark about our Fiat 500 courtesy car when you book; it is subject to availability.

What to ask any bodyshop

• Will you give me a clear quote after seeing photos or the car?
• Who actually does the repair and the painting?
• How do you match the colour, and will you blend into neighbouring panels?
• Is the work done in a spray booth?
• What happens if more damage turns up once the panel is off?
• Is the work covered by a warranty?

At RPM Autocare, all work is carried out with warranty on parts and labour. We are not VAT registered, so no VAT is added.

Get a quote

Our bodywork and paint page shows the types of work Mark does, including accident repairs, cosmetic repairs, bumper scuffs, panel resprays, hard tops and roofs, and alloy wheel painting. Send a few photos, or contact us to talk it through. You can also book in. We are happy to hear from customers in Newton Abbot, Kingsteignton, Torquay and across Torbay.

Related services: Bodywork & paint · Bodywork estimator · Welding · Courtesy car