Expert: Gary - 6/17/2008

Question
10 inch vertical scratch on rear hatch & Bumper (white showing), 4 inch (more superficial) horizontal scratch on driver door.  What ought that cost to repair? Dealer wants to charge $2200 (includes 1 week car rental).  Thanks so much.

Answer
Hi Steve,

That figure, even though it sounds high, is probably a very close estimate to fix your vehicle correctly. The price may be due to the color of your vehicle. Not all colors cost the same. I have seen reds cost as much as $250.00 per quart. Just the material alone for this repair could cost as much as $800 to $1000. Plus the ship may have to blend the color on the adjacent panel which racks up even more cost of materials and labor just to get the color correct.

However, if you want to be certain that you're not getting taken you might go to a local bodyshop with a good reputation that is not owned by a dealership for a second estimate. I hope this helps out.