Does car insurance cover paint jobs?

Your car’s paint can get scratched or otherwise damaged in many different ways. Whether someone keys your car door, you have a minor fender bender, or a tree limb falls on your vehicle, the paintwork can get damaged. If it happens, you may wonder if your insurance will pay for a paint job. In many cases, it will. Read on to learn more. (For more information, read our “Is it worth claiming a scratch on your car insurance?“).

When does car insurance pay for paint jobs?

Auto insurance covers many things, including liability for accidents, property damage or loss, and medical expenses arising from an accident. Usually, the part of car insurance that takes care of property damage (comprehensive and collision coverage) will apply to painting expenses. However, any paint jobs resulting from normal wear and tear are usually not covered.

If a peril you are covered for in your comprehensive or collision insurance occurs and it results in damage to your vehicle’s paintwork, car insurance will cover the paint job. However, if another party causes an accident, they will be liable for the damages. In that case, their liability car insurance coverage should pay for your car’s paint job.

When you file a car insurance claim, the insurance company will send an adjuster to investigate. The first thing you’ll need to prove is that your vehicle’s paintwork was compromised by the covered event and not wear and tear. If the adjuster is satisfied that the paint damage was due to a covered event, the insurance company will offer you compensation, which you can accept or dispute.

Read more: Does car insurance cover non-accident repairs?

Does collision insurance pay for paint jobs?

Collision insurance provides coverage to your car if it gets into an accident or collides with another object.

For example, if you are driving and hit a guard rail or street light, your collision insurance covers the paint jobs required to fix the damage. Or say you hit a deep pothole, and your car flips over or hits another vehicle. Even in such a case, your collision insurance should pay for the paint job and any other damage.

Usually, your auto insurance company will reimburse you for the expenses you incur for repainting your vehicle. However, you are responsible for paying the car insurance deductible.

Does comprehensive insurance cover paint jobs?

Comprehensive car insurance applies to expenses resulting from anything other than a collision with another car or fixed object. For example, you may hit an animal while driving, your vehicle may get keyed, or a heavy rainstorm could cause a tree to fall and damage your vehicle.

If any of these covered hazards damage your car’s paintwork, your auto insurance company will likely pay for the paint job.

Does full coverage insurance pay for paint jobs?

Full coverage car insurance rates usually include collision, comprehensive, and liability insurance as part of the cost. Full coverage will likely cover vehicle paint jobs for other people if you are at fault or cover your own vehicle’s paint job if you were involved in a collision or other accident.

Will the insurance company pay to paint the whole car?

Even if your paint damage covers the whole vehicle, the insurance company will pay for it if it’s due to a covered loss. 

It is also worth noting that your insurance company may decide to total the car and pay you for the market value of the vehicle. That usually happens when the insurer determines that the costs of fixing your vehicle don’t make financial sense. For example, when your vehicle has severe damage and requires more than a paint job, or it’s worth less than the paint job costs, your insurance company may total it. You can ask your insurance company to total your car if you feel that the cost to repair it is too high.

Ultimately, it depends on the value of your vehicle and the total cost of painting the whole car. Finding auto paint jobs for cheap isn’t always an easy task, but the cost will depend on a lot of factors. A full paint job can cost a few hundred dollars or even $10,000 or more, depending on the paint job quality and vehicle make and model.

Auto Insurance Can Cover Paint Jobs

Car insurance companies don’t pay for the wear and tear that affects a vehicle’s paint. However, your auto insurance company may pay for a paint job if your car is involved in an accident or gets its paintwork damaged while parked. What type of insurance caters to the expense of the paint job depends on who is at fault and what kind of coverage you have.

Case Studies: Examples of Car Insurance Coverage for Paint Jobs

Case Study 1: Comprehensive Coverage

John owns a brand-new luxury car and has comprehensive coverage as part of his car insurance policy. One evening, while parked on the street, his car gets vandalized. The culprits spray paint all over the vehicle, causing significant damage to the paintwork. John files a claim with his insurance company, providing evidence of the vandalism.

Since comprehensive coverage typically covers damages from non-collision incidents, including vandalism, his insurance company approves the claim. They arrange for the car to be taken to a reputable auto body shop where a full paint job is performed to restore the car’s appearance. John is responsible for paying the deductible, but the insurance company covers the remaining cost of the paint job.

Read more: Does car insurance cover vandalism?

Case Study 2: Collision Coverage

Samantha is driving her car on a rainy day when she loses control and collides with a concrete barrier. The impact damages the front end of her vehicle, including the paint. She has collision coverage as part of her car insurance policy. Samantha files a claim with her insurance company, and an adjuster assesses the damage.

Since collision coverage applies to accidents involving collisions with objects, Samantha’s insurance company approves the claim. They provide her with the necessary funds to have the car repaired, including repainting the damaged areas. Samantha is responsible for paying her deductible, and the insurance company covers the remaining cost of the paint job.

Case Study 3: Liability Coverage

Emily is driving through a parking lot when another driver fails to yield and crashes into her car, causing significant damage to the side panels and paintwork. The other driver is at fault, and Emily files a claim with their insurance company. The liability coverage of the other driver’s insurance policy will be responsible for covering the damages.

The insurance company sends an adjuster to assess the extent of the damage, including the paint. Once the adjuster determines the appropriate amount for repairs, which includes repainting the affected areas, the insurance company covers the cost of the paint job. Emily does not have to pay a deductible in this case since she is not at fault.