Where Can You Get Your Car Painted? At These 8 Places (Local to Most)

Where to Get a Car Painted

There are several national auto shop chains, car dealerships, and local shops that offer paint services with a variety of packages. Before you decide on which shop to use, you can research the shop’s history by looking up reviews on different sites such as Yelp, Google, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which has shop ratings and any customer complaints.

Auto Shop Chains

The auto shops listed below typically have locations across the U.S. and can paint virtually any make and model.

Earl Scheib

• Cost: Begins at about $100, plus a required Car Prep Package that costs about $200 to $300. Other package prices are about $400 for Silver, $600 for Platinum, and $1,000 for Diamond (plus Car Prep Package).
• Warranty: Varies based on the package selected — one year (Silver), three years (Platinum), or six years (Diamond).
• Packages available:
  • Silver Package: Includes two coats of acrylic polyurethane paint in Earl Scheib colors only.
  • Platinum Package: Includes three coats of paint, in most factory colors, and an integrated clear coat.
  • Diamond Package: Adds a base clear coat, Protech protection plan, and a UV protection plan.
• Locations: Nationwide; however, no shop locator tool is available. You can find locations by searching online with your city or zip code.

Econo Auto Painting & Body Works

• Cost: Not specified; an estimate is required for exact pricing
• Warranty: Varies based on the package selected — one year (Enamel Deluxe), two years (Polycrystalline Finish), three years (Poly-Supreme), or four years (Ful-thane Urethane).
• Packages available:
  • Enamel Deluxe Package: Includes hand sanding, masking to protect windows and chrome, and enamel paint.
  • Polycrystalline Finish Package: Includes hand sanding, dual-action machine sanding, masking to protect windows and chrome, and catalyzed automotive enamel.
  • Poly-Supreme Package: Includes hand and dual-action machine sanding, masking of windows and chrome, and painted with catalyzed enamel and an integrated clear coat finish.
  • Ful-thane Urethane Package: Includes the same process as the Poly-Supreme and adds a full coat sealer and a DuPont/Axalta urethane paint.
• Locations: Southeastern U.S. — find an Econo shop

MAACO

• Cost: Begins at about $300. An estimate is required for exact pricing.
• Warranty: Varies based on the package selected — one year (Basic), three years (Preferred), or five years (Premium).
• Packages available:
  • Basic Package: Includes single-stage enamel paint and color match.
  • Preferred Package: Includes single-stage paint with urethane, which resists chipping.
  • Premium Package: Includes a two-stage paint service.
  • Platinum Package: Adds a light chip/crack repair, prime and sand after the first prep, a urethane sealer, and a five-year warranty against fading and peeling.
• Locations: Nationwide — find a MAACO shop

Service King

• Cost: An estimate is required for pricing. Also, Service King will not paint unless the vehicle also has body damage that is repaired at Service King.
• Warranty: Lifetime on workmanship but not material.
• Packages Available: None
• Locations: Nationwide — find a Service King shop

Car Dealerships

Dealerships are another option for auto body painting, especially if your car is the same make the dealership sells. They are sure to have the proper specs to ensure the highest quality job. Any dealership will paint basically any make and model, too. For example, if you own a Lexus, your local Ford or Nissan dealership will paint your car. The list below includes most of the parent companies (i.e., the companies that produce other makes, such as Ford, which produces both Ford and Lincoln).

Ford

• Cost: An estimate is required for pricing.
• Warranty: Varies by dealership; not covered by Ford because dealerships are independently owned and operated. Be sure to ask the dealership about a warranty on labor and/or material. Our article has the details on Ford’s paint warranty for new and used vehicles.
• Packages available: Vary by location.
• Locations: Nationwide — find a Ford dealership

General Motors (GM)

• Cost: An estimate is required for pricing.
• Warranty: Varies by dealership; not covered by GM because dealerships are independently owned and operated. Be sure to ask the dealership about a warranty on labor and/or material.
• Packages available: Vary by location.
• Locations: Nationwide — find a GM dealership

Nissan

• Cost: An estimate is required for pricing.
• Warranty: Varies by dealership; not covered by Nissan because dealerships are independently owned and operated. Be sure to ask the dealership about a warranty on labor and/or material.
• Packages available: Vary by location.
• Locations: Nationwide — find a Nissan dealership

Toyota

• Cost: An estimate is required for pricing.
• Warranty: Varies by dealership; not covered by Toyota because dealerships are independently owned and operated. Be sure to ask the dealership about a warranty on labor and/or material.
• Packages available: Vary by location.
• Locations: Nationwide — find a Toyota dealership

Local Auto Paint Shops

No matter where you live, there is likely a privately operated body shop near you that can do the work. You can find these shops by searching online, or through word of mouth.

Most small shops use the same methods for calculating the cost of painting services as national retailers and dealerships. Therefore, you will likely pay the same set rate that other large companies are charging for a similar job.

However, using an independent may end up saving you time and money because the technicians are typically paid by the hour and don’t have quotas to contend with. This translates into a more carefully completed job with similar warranties that retailers and dealerships offer (most warranties are supplied through paint manufacturers).

Cost of Car Painting

The cost of painting your car will depend on the make, model, and condition of your car, as well as which package you choose. Reputable body shops will not paint your car without ensuring that the paint will bond and no defects will show through the paint. For example, Earl Scheib will only paint your car if you purchase the Car Preparation Package. MAACO includes the cost of basic preparation in its starting price.

If your car needs more than some basic prep, you should expect to pay more. For example, if your vehicle has rust on sections of the fenders, before any painting can be done, the shop will need to remove the rust and treat the surface to prevent the rust from returning. If the rust has eaten through the fender, you will need a new one, which increases the cost.

The most significant factor in the cost of painting your car is which package you choose. Basic enamel and acrylic paint packages start at around $200 to $400, while higher quality paint packages will cost about $1,000 to $5,000, and specialty paint and finish packages can cost up to $20,000.

In Summary

When it comes to painting your car, there are plenty of options at national chain auto shops like MAACO or Earl Scheib, dealerships like Ford or GM, and local shops. Keep in mind that your costs will depend upon the type of car you have and its condition. Make sure to get a detailed estimate so you know exactly what the service includes and check the BBB site for the shop’s rating and customer reviews.

For more on auto body painting and wrapping, check out our articles on paint jobs vs. vinyl wraps (cost comparison) and cheap car painting options to consider.