“How much will this cost?” is usually the first question anyone asks after finding a dent, a scrape, or worse on their car — and it’s also the hardest one to answer with a single number. Auto body repair pricing depends on the type of damage, the make and model of the car, whether parts need to be ordered, and which shop you choose. What follows are realistic ranges based on current industry pricing data, so you at least know what ballpark you’re in before you call around.

Bumper repair and replacement

A simple scuff or scratch that only needs refinishing typically runs $300–$600. Bumpers with dents or actual deformation, but that can still be repaired rather than replaced, usually land in the $400–$1,000 range. Once a bumper needs full replacement — common when the damage is deep, the mounting brackets are broken, or sensors are involved — expect $1,200–$2,500, and more if the bumper houses parking sensors or camera systems that need recalibration afterward.

Dent repair

For shallow dents where the paint hasn’t cracked, paintless dent repair (PDR) is usually both the cheapest and fastest option, typically $100–$250. Once the paint is damaged or the dent has a sharp crease, traditional body work — filler, sanding, and repainting — is needed instead, which runs closer to $400–$800 for a single small area.

Paint work

A single-panel repaint (a fender, a door) generally costs $500–$1,200, largely driven by labor and how much blending into adjacent panels is needed to match color. Paint and materials alone typically account for 10–35% of that total, with the rest being labor.

Frame and structural repair

This is where costs climb fast, because it involves specialized equipment, welding, and strict manufacturer procedures rather than cosmetic work. Front-end collisions with frame involvement typically run $8,000–$20,000; rear-end damage requiring quarter panel work is usually $6,000–$15,000; side-impact damage involving structural pillars can reach $8,000–$18,000. If your car is driveable and this sounds alarming, that’s normal — this is also exactly the kind of repair where getting more than one estimate matters most.

Why the same repair costs different amounts at different shops

Labor rates in the Los Angeles area commonly run $90–$125 per hour, but that varies by shop and neighborhood. Newer vehicles with ADAS (driver-assist) sensors often add $200–$600 per system for recalibration after any repair near a sensor, which is easy to miss when comparing quotes that don’t itemize it. Aluminum body panels, ultra-high-strength steel, and waterborne paint systems — all common on newer cars — also push costs up versus an older, simpler vehicle.

The most useful thing you can do before committing to a shop is get an itemized, written estimate — not just a total number — so you can actually compare what’s included. Browse the directory by collision repair, dent repair, bumper repair, or auto paint shops near you and ask for a written estimate before agreeing to anything.