Two cars of the same model can get quotes that differ by more than double. That is not always a scam — respray pricing is genuinely driven by how much work sits under the paint.
1. How many panels are being painted
A bonnet, a roof and a boot lid are large, flat, high-visibility panels. Doors, wings and bumpers take more masking and more edges. The count matters more than the total body size.
2. Preparation is most of the job
Paint is the fast part. Stripping trim, removing lights and handles, blocking panels flat, priming and sanding between coats is where the hours go. A quote that looks unusually cheap usually has preparation cut out of it — and that is what shows up later as peeling clear coat.
3. Rust changes everything
If rust is only surface, it can be treated. If it has gone through the metal, sections must be cut out and new steel fabricated and welded in. That is fabrication work, not painting work, and it is priced accordingly.
4. Which paint system is used
Solid colours, metallic finishes and multi-stage pearl paints use different materials and different levels of skill. Metallic and pearl finishes also make blending harder, because the flake has to lay evenly across the panel.
5. How the car is finished
After painting, the clear coat is usually flattened and machine polished to remove texture and dust nibs. That step is what separates a good respray from a great one.
What to ask for
Ask for a breakdown: which panels, what preparation, which paint system, how many days. Then ask what would change the price. A garage that can answer that is one you can plan around.