How much to repair a paint chip on car?

Question

How much is the general price for repairing a very very very tiny chip on my car? I just bought this car brand new about a month ago and scratched it a bit on the side view mirror. I am just very anal about this itty bitty chip because it is a brand new car! I don't want to get ripped off, so I would like to know what is the average cost for something so small, maybe even the smallest repair auto body job? I'm just hoping it won't cost me more than a $100!

Answer 1

The chip is the part of the paint that is missing, so you don't repair that. You repair the nick (sometimes called a ding). It's the damage you see on the car when a chip of paint is missing.

You can do it with touch-up paint. It's a small container of auto paint available at the auto dealership. The container is about the size of a bottle of nail polish. The cap to the container has a little paint brush in it just like the brush in a nail polish bottle. Just put a little dab on the car nick (or ding) and let it dry. Don't try to paint the nick like you would your nails. Just give the nick a little dab and let it dry. It doesn't look like a professional job if you look at it with a magnifying glass, but no one does that. It all blends in, and no one notices. The costs of the item is $10 or less. When you try to purchase the item, they'll ask you for the color code. It's on your car. Usually on a plate that lists other information about your car. The plate is usually located on the door edge or door pillar. If you can't find it, they'll come out and read it for you.

Paint jobs are usually a minimum of $200, no matter how infinitely small the ding is. That work makes the ding look like it never happened, but it's not worth it. Try the $10 approach. I've done it a number of times, and nobody notices all the dings I've fixed.

Addendum:
You're welcome gibbyguys--I have a 2004 Ranger right now and have touched up at least a half dozen dings on it over the past years. People seem to like to ding me for some reason. I received the touch-up paint free in the mail from Ford a short time after I bought the truck (new). It was a thank you gift for giving them my business.

Answer 2

something small (smaller than a fingernail) should be able to be buffed out for less than $100 but it depends on the type of mirror, type of scratch/chip and paint color.
You can get free estimates at any reputable body shop.

Answer 3

Hey Old Guy you know our stuff really well! I was wondering the same thing for my truck! Thanks for the advice.