The cost of dent repair in the UK depends on the type of repair needed, the size and location of the damage, and the vehicle. Most minor dent repairs — carried out using Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) — cost between £60 and £250. Larger or more complex repairs, or those involving paint damage, typically cost more.
This guide covers pricing for all common types of cosmetic car repair in the UK: paintless dent repair, bumper scuff repair, paint scratch repair, and alloy wheel repair. All prices are for mobile repairs carried out on-site at your home or workplace.
Paintless Dent Repair Cost
Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is the most affordable type of dent repair because it does not require repainting. A trained technician uses specialist tools to massage the dented panel back to its original shape from behind, preserving the factory paint finish.
PDR pricing guide for 2025:
- Small dent (up to 10mm) — £60 to £80
- Medium dent (10mm to 30mm) — £80 to £120
- Large dent (30mm to 60mm) — £120 to £180
- Complex dent (difficult location or large panel) — £150 to £250
- Hail damage (multiple dents) — priced per dent or as a full vehicle assessment
The main factors that affect PDR cost are the size and depth of the dent, its location on the vehicle (roof dents and body line dents are harder to access), and the make and model of the car. PDR cannot be used where the paint surface has been damaged — in those cases, SMART repair is required instead.
Bumper Scuff Repair Cost
Bumper scuffs and scratches are repaired using SMART repair — a colour-matched repainting process that blends the repaired area seamlessly with the surrounding bumper surface.
Bumper scuff repair pricing guide for 2025:
- Small scuff (up to 50mm) — £80 to £120
- Medium scuff (50mm to 150mm) — £120 to £180
- Large scuff or multiple areas — £150 to £250
Metallic and pearl paint colours require more precise blending and may cost slightly more than solid colours. Most bumper scuff repairs are completed in 1 to 3 hours on-site.
Paint Scratch Repair Cost
Paint scratch repair costs depend on the length and depth of the scratch, the number of scratches, and the vehicle's paint colour.
Paint scratch repair pricing guide for 2025:
- Single surface scratch (up to 100mm) — £80 to £120
- Deeper scratch or key mark — £100 to £160
- Multiple scratches in the same area — £120 to £200
Very deep scratches that have penetrated through to bare metal may require more extensive work. Stone chips are generally priced individually or as a group if they are small and localised.
Alloy Wheel Repair Cost
Mobile alloy wheel repair is carried out on-site using portable equipment. In most cases, wheels do not need to be removed from the vehicle.
Alloy wheel repair pricing guide for 2025:
- Light kerb scuff — £50 to £75 per wheel
- Moderate damage — £75 to £100 per wheel
- Significant damage or large wheel — £100 to £120 per wheel
Diamond-cut alloy wheels can sometimes be repaired on-site for surface scratches, but full diamond-cut refurbishment requires specialist off-vehicle equipment and is generally not available as a mobile service.
What Affects the Cost of Car Body Repair?
Several factors influence the final cost of any dent or smart repair:
- Size of the damage — larger areas require more time and materials.
- Location on the vehicle — panels that are difficult to access from behind (roofs, boot lids near body lines) take longer to repair.
- Paint type — metallic, pearl, and specialist colours require more precise colour matching.
- Vehicle make and model — some vehicles have panels that are harder to work with, or require more preparation.
- Number of repairs — having multiple repairs done in a single visit is more cost-effective than separate visits.
Mobile Repair vs Bodyshop — What's the Difference in Cost?
Mobile SMART repair is consistently less expensive than traditional bodyshop repair for minor cosmetic damage. A bodyshop typically charges £300 to £600 or more for repairs that a mobile specialist can carry out for £80 to £200, because bodyshops have higher overheads, often respray entire panels rather than blending, and may keep vehicles for several days.
For minor dents, scratches, bumper scuffs, and alloy wheel damage — the type of damage most car owners deal with — mobile repair is the more practical and cost-effective option in the majority of cases.
How to Get a Quote for Dent Repair
The quickest way to get an accurate quote for dent or smart repair is to message Dentscout on WhatsApp with a photo of the damage and your location. We review the damage and come back to you with a quote — usually within the hour. There is no obligation to proceed.