How to get a car scratch, dent or bumper repair estimate

Why photos are usually enough

Most cosmetic damage, such as scratches, scuffs, small dents and bumper marks, can be judged well from good photos. What we need to see is how deep the damage goes, how big the area is and how many panels are affected. Those three things drive most of the price, and a clear set of pictures shows all of them.

Online price guides, including ours, give ranges rather than a single figure because every car and every mark is different. An estimate from your own photos turns that range into a figure for your car.

The photos to take

1. 01Wash or wipe the area first, as dirt can hide how deep a scratch goes.
2. 02Take one photo from a few steps back so the whole panel and its neighbours are in shot.
3. 03Take one or two close ups straight on to the damage.
4. 04Take one at an angle, with light across the panel, which shows dents and creases that flat photos miss.
5. 05If the damage is near a sensor, light, trim or badge, include that in a photo too.

Details to send with the photos

• Your vehicle make and model.
• Your location, so we can confirm you are within easy reach of the workshop.
• Whether you are paying privately or claiming through insurance.
• Anything you cannot see in the photos, such as a bumper that feels loose or a door that does not shut properly.

What an estimate tells you

A good estimate explains what we plan to do as well as the figure: whether a scratch can be polished or needs paint, whether a dent can be pushed out without painting, whether a bumper can be repaired or is better replaced, and whether neighbouring panels need blending to hide the repair. It also gives you a realistic turnaround. Small cosmetic and SMART repairs are often completed the same day or the next day.

For accident damage we assess the car fully and record the work in a digital Audatex estimate, which is the basis of the repair whether you claim through an insurer or pay privately.

When we need to see the car

Photos cannot always show hidden damage. After a knock that has pushed a bumper in, cracked mountings or affected more than one panel, we will ask you to bring the car to our workshop at Wheatsheaf Yard, Providence Lane, Harlington, UB3 5EF for a free, no-obligation inspection. That way the price you get reflects what is behind the panel as well as what is on it.

Estimates for insurance and private repairs

We carry out both insurance and private repairs. If you are not sure whether to claim, we can estimate both ways so you can weigh the cost against your excess. You also have the right to choose your own repairer, so you are free to get an estimate from us even if your insurer has suggested somewhere else.