Bodywork, dents & scratches
Dent, bumper and scratch repairs in Portsmouth
The everyday knocks: a car park dent, a scraped or split bumper, a panel that’s past repairing, or paint someone has keyed.
- Quotes from photosSend a few from your phone
- Repair before replaceWe’ll say honestly if it’s worth doing
- Paint matchedBlended into the panels around it
- Mon–Fri, 8am–5pmClosed weekends
What’s involved
in dent, bumper and scratch repairs
Small damage, put right properly.
Most bodywork starts small: a dent from a car park, a bumper corner caught on a post, or a scratch down one side. Left alone, cracked paint lets rust start, so it’s usually worth sorting sooner.
We look at the size and position of the damage and whether the paint has cracked, then repair the panel and refinish it where it needs it.
Not sure what it needs? Send a few photos with your registration and we’ll come back to you with a guide price. Some damage only shows once a panel comes off, so we confirm the price once we’ve seen the car.
- Approach
- Repair before replace
- Paint
- Matched and blended
- Quotes
- From your photos
01What we repair
What we repair
Not sure which it is? Tap Quote on the closest one; you can change it on the form.
- 01
Dents and creases
Dents from car parks, garage doors and stray trolleys.
What’s involved
- Paint checkWhether the paint has cracked.
- Repair & refinishThe panel repaired and painted where needed.
- 02
Bumper scuffs and splits
Scraped corners, splits and cracks. Many plastic bumpers can be repaired and painted rather than replaced.
What’s involved
- Repair & paintWhere the bumper can be saved.
- ReplacementWhere it’s too far gone.
- 03
Scratches
Scratches through the paint, from a bush on a narrow lane to a careless bike handlebar.
What’s involved
- Repair & refinishThe scratched area repaired and painted.
- BlendingNew paint blended so the repair doesn’t show.
- 04
Keyed and vandal damage
Keyed paintwork usually runs across more than one panel, so the new paint is blended into the panels around it.
What’s involved
- InsuranceCan go through your insurer.
- PhotosOne of the whole side, so we see every panel it crosses.
- 05
Panels past repairing
When a wing, door skin or other panel is beyond repair, we fit a replacement and paint it to match.
What’s involved
- ReplacementFitted where the panel can’t be repaired.
- RefinishPainted to match the rest of the car.
- 06
Rust on arches and sills
Bubbling paint on arches and sills is usually rust coming through from behind.
What’s involved
- Rust firstRusted metal dealt with before any paint goes on.
- RefinishPainted to match.
Paint and panel
How deep is the damage?
Car paint is built up in layers. How far the damage goes decides whether it’s a small repair or a repaint, which is why a close-up photo helps so much.
Pick the closest match
Only in the lacquer
The mark hasn’t gone past the clear top coat, so it may not need painting at all. Send a close-up and we’ll tell you honestly what it needs.
Send a photo of the scratchThrough to the colour
Once a scratch is through the lacquer into the colour, it needs a paint repair: prepared, primed, painted to match and blended into the panels around it.
Get a scratch repair quoteThe panel is pushed in
The metal is put right first so the panel sits flat, then it’s primed, painted to match and blended in.
Get a dent repair quoteNew colour on top
Old paint, filler and rust are dealt with first. Then the panel, or the whole car, is primed, painted and finished with fresh lacquer.
About resprays02How it works
From photos to a finished repair
- 1
Send photos
The whole side of the car, then close-ups of the damage.
- 2
We reply
We tell you what it needs and whether it’s worth doing.
- 3
We see the car
If the damage needs a closer look, we agree a time to see it here.
- 4
Repair and refinish
Once you’re happy with the work and the price, we book your car in.
03Our work
Bodywork in our workshop
04Good to know
Worth knowing first
Small dents are worth doing
A small dent is often quicker and cheaper to put right than people expect, and it stops the paint cracking and rust starting.
Scratches rarely stop at one panel
Keyed paint usually crosses several panels. A photo of the whole side shows us how far it runs.
Vandal damage and insurance
Keyed paint can go through your insurer. If it is, choose ‘Insurance claim’ on the form.
Questions we’re asked
Is it worth repairing a small dent?
A small dent is often quicker and cheaper to put right than people expect, and it stops the paint cracking and rust starting. Send a photo and we’ll tell you honestly whether it’s worth doing.
Can a cracked bumper be repaired?
Often, yes. It depends on where the crack is and how far it runs. Send a close-up and a photo of the whole bumper and we’ll advise.
My car has been keyed. What do you need to see?
A photo of the whole side of the car so we can see how many panels the scratch crosses, plus close-ups. If it’s going through insurance, choose ‘Insurance claim’ on the form.
Do I need to bring the car in for a quote?
Not to start with. Send a few clear photos and we’ll come back to you. Some damage hides behind the panel, so we may ask to see the car before we confirm the price.
Show us the damage
A few photos from your phone are enough to start. Pick the repair type on the form, or leave it as ‘Not sure’.