Nothing is more annoying than discovering a car dent. Not only is a getting panel beating inconvenient, it's also an almost-certainly expensive. If you're insured, then you will need to decide whether or not you you claim given the excess costs and affects on your car insurance premiums. The next step involves finding a reliable, skilled and trusted panel beater in Wellington who can fix the damage as quickly as possible.

To help you and put you in the strongest position, we've handpicked a list of reliable, affordable and trusted panel beaters in Wellington to save you time and money. Our guide to how much panel beating jobs cost helps pre-empt what you can expect to pay.

Some minor dents and dings can be solved with a DIY approach, but you'll need to be careful. We guide you through what you can do if you're happy to sort out the problem yourself first. 

Our Wellington panel beaters guide covers:​​

• How much does panel beating and smash repairs cost? 
• When should I claim on my insurance?
• 8 Trusted Wellington Panel Beaters
• DIY damage repairs

What you pay will depend on many different factors, so no repair is like another. The factors that affect your quote include:

1. Parts required - if the damage means you'll need a new door or panel, then it'll be more expensive than merely repairing some superficial paint damage. 
2. The time taken to do the work (panel beaters and painters labour) - time is usually charged on a 10-minute basis, so the greater the extent of the damage, the more time spent. A minor scratch will be faster to repair than severe paint damage. 
3. Your car's make, age and model - European parts can often be more expensive than Japanese or Korean, and if your car is old, finding a replacement door can be tricky.
4. The type of paint required - does the panel beater need a specialist car paint? If so, there will be an extra cost. 
5. Whether or not you're insured, and the excess - needless to say, if you're uninsured, you'll have to stump up the entire bill yourself. If you are insured, your excess will usually be anywhere between $250 and $750. If if the damage wasn't your fault, claiming from your insurer will likely affect your car insurance premium when you renew. 
6. If complications arise - it may look like a regular job, but if during the repairs your panel beater finds rust or other damage, the job cost may increase. 

Generally, all things being equal, the cheapest type of cars to fix will be a Toyota Corolla or Mazda Demio, and the most expensive will be a French or German make.  

Nothing is straightforward - it's normal for panel damage repair to look worse than it is when it comes to getting a quote, but conversely, sometimes minor damage can end up costing more than you expect if specialist paint or hands are needed.

​If you have comprehensive insurance, your policy will likely cover any panel beating costs. But it doesn't always make financial sense to claim on your policy. Depending on the type of insurance, a claim today can increase your policy cost when it comes time to renew or switch car insurers. 

To help explain things more clearly, we identify five common accident scenarios and estimate the cost of panel beating repairs. We aim to help you decide whether it makes sense to claim with your car insurance company or pay for it yourself. 

For more details about car insurance excesses and quotes in general, visit our car insurance comparison guide.

If you're happy to try a DIY approach, minor damage can be tackled with common household tools without the risk of making it worse. 

Small shallow dents (up to 5-8 cm in diameter) – if a flying stone has hit you or had someone back into you ever so slightly, hold a toilet plunger over the centre and apply pressure. When you release tension, the dent should be pulled out, and the panel will fall back into shape. It won't work on corner dents, but if your dent is on the bonnet, roof, boot or door, you may be in luck. This video explains more about what you should and shouldn't do, and the limitations of DIY.

Warning – unless you have the experience, correct tools and confidence, DIY panel beating could make the situation worse. If in doubt, don't proceed. If you see that the dent has ripples or a crease, it's likely only a panel beater is going to be able to help. This may be frustrating due to the small size of the damage, but panel beating is a highly skilled profession for a reason.