Repainting your secondhand car comes with much more consideration than what the new color or the overall cost will be. A paint job is normally done at a body shop, and there is no specific time when special deals will be given unless such as an in house promotion or a customer appreciation offer. Repainting a car especially in a different color than what it originally was devalues it and for a secondhand car that is already devalued, the price point of the car further depreciates. If you are planning to sell your secondhand car do not repaint it; sell it as is, because it would only be disadvantageous to the seller to spend money on repainting that cannot be recouped.

Considerations before repainting a secondhand car

Cost
A secondhand car needing a few repairs may be a good deal up until the cost of those repairs are determined. One such cost is the repainting of the vehicle. Shop around for competitive prices at various body shops and ensure to view a sample of their work. Remember you get what you pay for so don’t expect the price for repainting the car to be too cheap.

Insurance and registration issues

When repainting a car in the color stated on the VIN (vehicle identification number) report, or a color in that family, there are no ramifications for insurance or registration as the VIN report does not have to be changed to reflect color changes made to the vehicle. If however, the owner decides to repaint in a color different from that stated on the VIN report, a formal change of registration to reflect the color changes should be made. Your insurance company must also be informed of the color change. This is important for issues of law enforcement, as an unreported color change could put the driver of the vehicle in serious trouble with the police if they are ever pulled over.

Where to do the repainting
Of course one could take on the repainting of their secondhand car; it would be much cheaper and the project would be fun. If there is no desire or time to take on this do-it-yourself project then any recommended body shop in your hometown will do. Select the body shop based on price point and the quality of work done there.

Value for money on your secondhand car repaint
A good paint job can have a secondhand car looking like new and a poor paint job can make the car look even older than it is. To ensure that the painter has done their job well, look out for tape lines, uneven paint and overspray. These are common
Problems with repainted cars.

The right time to repaint your secondhand car, unless you plan to sell it in the near future, is now. On average, secondhand cars will lose more value than new cars in a repaint, but if the purpose of the car is for personal use then it is worth it. Before deciding on color and where to do the repaint, be sure to check if any issues will exist with insurance or the government and ensure that the cost will be affordable to you.