Best Panel Beaters in Napier and Hastings
We assessed 21 panel beaters in Napier and Hastings and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 740 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 9 October 2026. How we rank →
Before you hire
Panel and paint work, whether a minor dent or a full collision repair, is hard to judge until months later when paint fails or rust appears. Ask whether the panelbeater uses genuine or aftermarket parts, what paint system they use, and what warranty they offer on the repair. If going through insurance, confirm they are an approved repairer.
Top 5 Panel Beaters in Napier and Hastings
The top 5 panel beaters in Napier and Hastings are #1 First Autoworks & RV, #2 A & M Panel Repairs, #3 Kawan Collision Repair, #4 Napier Collision Repair Centre, and #5 City Collision Repairs, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.
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1
First Autoworks & RV 2022LTD
★ 4.8 146 reviews +1 Top5 Score 162 +15★ 132 4★ 8 2★ 1 1★ 5First Autoworks & RV fits in motorhome, campervan, and work vehicle repairs at short notice, covering fridge faults, solar electrics, battery replacements, and mechanical servicing. Aiden and the team are named repeatedly for same-day or next-day turnarounds, clear pricing, and keeping customers informed when additional problems come up mid-job.
location_on 6 Taradale Road, Marewa, Napier
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2
A & M Panel Repairs 2004
★ 4.8 89 reviews +2 Top5 Score 158 +45★ 78 4★ 8 3★ 1 1★ 2A & M Panel Repairs gets vehicles back on the road after collisions, handling bumper damage, quarter panel repairs, and campervan crash work for both locals and travellers passing through Napier. Staff keep customers informed throughout the job, and returning the car cleaner than it arrived is a detail multiple customers have specifically called out.
location_on 11 Thames Street, Pandora, Napier
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3
Kawan Collision Repair
★ 4.7 94 reviews +1 Top5 Score 157 +55★ 79 4★ 10 3★ 2 2★ 2 1★ 1Kawan Collision Repair takes dents, collision damage, and insurance repairs through to a finish that multiple customers say leaves no trace of the original damage. They are AA-approved repairers who walk clients through each step of the process, and loan cars are available at low cost while work is underway.
location_on 110 Alexandra Crescent, Mayfair, Hastings
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4
Napier Collision Repair Centre
★ 4.6 104 reviews +3 Top5 Score 156 +45★ 78 4★ 17 3★ 2 2★ 4 1★ 3Napier Collision Repair Centre coordinates insurance claims directly with insurers, taking the paperwork burden off customers and keeping the process straightforward from first contact to collection. Loan cars are available for a flat $25 fee covering the entire repair duration, and returned vehicles are cleaned inside and out as a matter of course.
location_on 56 Thames Street, Pandora, Napier
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5
City Collision Repairs
★ 4.7 62 reviews +1 Top5 Score 150 +35★ 49 4★ 8 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 1City Collision Repairs completes panel and collision work ahead of quoted timeframes, with costs that come in exactly as estimated. Named staff including Chris and Darren handle everything from initial quoting through to final handover, and the team has solved complex repair problems, including specialist work on electric vehicles, that saved customers significant additional expense.
location_on 31 Leyland Street, Onekawa, Napier
Before you book a panel beater in Napier and Hastings
Drawn from 237 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does panel beating typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more
Minor dent and scratch repairs in New Zealand run from $150 to $500, while bumper repairs and moderate panel damage sit between $500 and $2,000. Structural or multi-panel work can exceed $5,000, and a full respray ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 or more depending on vehicle size and paint type.
Labour rates across NZ shops fall between $80 and $130 per hour, with regional centres like Napier and Hastings sitting toward the middle of that range. Insurance jobs work differently: your insurer assesses the damage and applies your excess, but you retain the right under NZ consumer law to dispute an assessment you believe undervalues the repair.
Does my insurer have to use their preferred panel beater, or can I choose my own? expand_more
Your insurer can recommend a preferred repairer but cannot legally compel you to use one, and several shops in the Napier and Hastings area are noted by reviewers as being approved repairers who handle insurer liaison directly on your behalf. If you choose a repairer outside the preferred network, your insurer may only pay up to their assessed value, leaving you to cover any shortfall.
Some policies also limit their repair warranty to work done through their approved network, so read your policy wording before you commit to a repairer. If you feel pressured or financially disadvantaged, the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) runs a free dispute resolution service and is the right body to contact.
Will my car be repaired with genuine parts, or non-genuine substitutes? expand_more
New Zealand insurance policies commonly allow the use of aftermarket or non-genuine parts, and this is legal unless your policy specifically requires genuine manufacturer parts, so checking the wording before any repair starts is a practical step. The Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) has handled complaints from consumers who were not told upfront that aftermarket parts would be used, which means asking for written confirmation of parts sourcing before you sign off is a reasonable request. If your policy does not guarantee genuine parts and you want them, you can request them in writing, but expect to pay the cost difference yourself, as insurers authorise aftermarket parts precisely because they reduce the repair bill.
What are the warning signs of a panel beater you shouldn't use? expand_more
- –Charging for assessments or inspections upfront before providing a clear, itemised written quote is a red flag, particularly if the quote then arrives weeks late or never at all.
- –Identifying a problem but failing to tell you at the outset that they cannot actually fix it, then billing for time spent regardless, signals a poor intake process.
- –Promising callbacks or updates and not delivering them repeatedly is a sign that communication will not improve once your car is in the workshop.
- –Returning a vehicle with the original fault unresolved, or resolving it at a cost far higher than a competitor later charges for the same job, suggests either a skills gap or a willingness to over-charge.
- –Dismissive or defensive responses when you raise concerns after the job, including refusal to reply to written complaints, indicates the business does not stand behind its work.
- –Rude or unhelpful behaviour from front-desk staff when you ask for a progress update is worth taking seriously, as it reflects how the business will handle any dispute.
What should you ask before approving panel beating work? expand_more
- –Ask whether they will liaise directly with your insurer and handle the claim paperwork, as several local shops do this as standard and it reduces your stress considerably.
- –Confirm in writing what parts will be used, genuine manufacturer parts or aftermarket, and who is responsible for the cost difference if you want OEM.
- –Ask how they handle hidden damage discovered once panels are removed, specifically whether they will contact you for approval before proceeding and whether a revised quote will be provided.
- –Get a realistic timeframe in writing and ask how they will communicate delays, given that poor follow-through on promised update calls is a recurring complaint in the region.
- –Ask whether colour matching is guaranteed and what their process is if the paint finish does not meet your expectations on collection.
- –Confirm what their remedy process is if you are not satisfied with the finished repair, including whether they offer a written workmanship warranty and for how long it applies.
Also recommended panel beaters in Napier and Hastings
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
KPM Automotive
↑ 1★ 4.7 52 reviews +2 Top5 Score 150 +55★ 44 4★ 6 1★ 2KPM Automotive draws repeat customers over years for WOF checks, general servicing, and mechanical repairs, with transparent pricing that multiple customers credit as genuinely fair rather than padded. Hayden and the team explain what needs doing and why, and the shop regularly accommodates short-notice bookings to get vehicles turned around the same day.
location_on 808 Hastings Street North, Hastings
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7
Hawke's Bay Collision Repair
↓ 1★ 4.5 66 reviews +1 Top5 Score 147 +15★ 51 4★ 8 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 4Hawke's Bay Collision Repair restores vehicles after collision damage, covering paint rectification, panel alignment, and fault repairs that other shops, including dealers, have missed. Andrew and the team give clear upfront quotes with no hidden costs, and cars come back cleaned inside and out on top of the repair work.
location_on 307 Eastbourne Street West, St Leonards, Hastings
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8
Endless Panel Repairs
★ 4.7 44 reviews +1 Top5 Score 144 +25★ 37 4★ 4 3★ 2 1★ 1Endless Panel Repairs delivers paint jobs, bumper replacements, and general panel work at prices multiple customers single out as among the best in the area. Shane is named repeatedly for being easy to communicate with and for making first-time visitors feel at ease from the moment they arrive.
location_on 701 Hastings Street North, Mayfair, Hastings
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9
Sun City Car Painters
★ 4.9 34 reviews +1 Top5 Score 144 +25★ 31 4★ 3Sun City Car Painters returns vehicles on time and on budget after panel repairs, with multiple customers noting the car comes back cleaned inside and out. Loan cars are provided as standard, and staff including Stef are named for keeping the experience straightforward from first call through to collection.
location_on 300 Jervois Street, Mayfair, Hastings
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10
Onekawa Collision Repair Centre
★ 4.4 49 reviews Top5 Score 1435★ 37 4★ 5 2★ 2 1★ 5Onekawa Collision Repair Centre covers insurance repairs, collision damage, and pre-sale repair work, with Brad and Pete named across multiple jobs for keeping customers informed on timelines and parts availability. Loan cars are provided for the duration of repairs, and the team has accommodated extra work added mid-job without fuss.
location_on 7 Ford Road, Onekawa, Napier
About this ranking
What the 10 panel beaters listed above hold, at the 9 October 2026 check.
We first assessed panel beaters in Napier and Hastings in July 2026 and have rechecked the ranking twice since. First Autoworks & RV has held first place at every check. The same five businesses have been in the top 5 at every check. Across the 14 locations we assess panel beaters in, the 140 businesses listed have a median rating of 4.8, and one-star reviews are 3.2% of their total.
What has changed since July 2026? expand_more
- Oct 2026
Scoring method updated. Onekawa Collision Repair Centre entered the list at #10.
- Jul 2026
First check. First Autoworks & RV #1.
Months where nothing changed at the top are not listed.
How are the top panel beaters in Napier and Hastings chosen? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for panel beaters in Napier and Hastings. Each one is scored on its public rating and review record. Businesses outside the area, or whose reviews describe a different line of work, are left out, and a business whose main Google category is a different trade is held back until a person has checked what it does. A business whose website no longer resolves and that has had no Google review for six months is treated as dormant and left off the page until either changes. Every category and city is rechecked on a rolling cycle, about every two to three months. A location with a subscribing business is rechecked every month, and the whole page updates with it. See how we rank for the full method.
What does a business subscription offer? expand_more
No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Claiming and verifying a listing is free. It adds a phone number to the card and a small trust bonus (+3 points) to its score, for confirming a real operator stands behind the listing. The owner also gets a dashboard showing how their score is made up. A paid subscription provides an enhanced card with more ways to reach the business, including a website link and a detailed profile page. It also refreshes this page monthly and adds ranking history and competitor analysis to the owner's dashboard. The subscription adds nothing to the score. Claim your listing or see what a subscription includes.
Why isn't my business listed? expand_more
We build this page from Google Maps results for panel beaters in Napier and Hastings. The usual reasons for missing out are a Google Business category that does not match, too few reviews to score near the top, or an address outside the area we cover. Sometimes we miss a business that should be here. Check where you rank first. If you are not there and think you should be, get in touch.