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Best Panel Beaters in Napier and Hastings

We assessed 21 panel beaters in Napier and Hastings and ranked the top 5 on their public review record: rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The 10 listed below hold 737 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 25 August 2026. How we rank →

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Before you hire

Panel repair quality is hard to judge until months later when paint fails or rust appears. Ask whether they use 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 First Autoworks, A & M Panel Repairs, Kawan Collision Repair, Napier Collision Repair Centre, and City Collision Repairs, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.

  • 1

    First Autoworks & RV 2022LTD

    ★ 4.8 145 reviews Top5 Score 161 +1
    5★ 131 4★ 8 2★ 1 1★ 5

    First Autoworks fits in urgent mechanical work, including coolant leaks, water pump replacements, and brake and suspension repairs, often diagnosing and completing jobs the same day or next morning. Aiden and the team communicate openly when additional problems surface mid-job, and pricing regularly comes in at or below what customers expected.

    Reviews most often describe: Urgent vehicle repairs needing same-day turnaround

    • ✓ Diagnoses and completes repairs within one to two days of booking
    • ✓ Communicates proactively when extra parts or problems are found mid-repair
    • ✓ Pricing frequently comes in cheaper than the customer anticipated

    location_on 6 Taradale Road, Marewa, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 2

    A & M Panel Repairs 2004

    ↑ 1
    ★ 4.8 87 reviews +2 Top5 Score 154 +1
    5★ 76 4★ 8 3★ 1 1★ 2

    A & 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.

    Reviews most often describe: Campervan and car crash repairs with attentive communication

    • ✓ Campervan repairs prioritised to minimise time out of your home
    • ✓ Courtesy cars provided while repair work is underway
    • ✓ Progress updates given throughout the repair process

    location_on 11 Thames Street, Pandora, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 3

    Kawan Collision Repair

    ↓ 1
    ★ 4.7 93 reviews +4 Top5 Score 153 -1
    5★ 78 4★ 10 3★ 2 2★ 2 1★ 1

    Kawan 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.

    Reviews most often describe: Insurance repairs handled end-to-end with clear guidance

    • ✓ Vehicles returned freshly washed or fully valeted after repair
    • ✓ Guides customers through every step of the insurance repair process
    • ✓ Loan cars available at low cost during repair period

    location_on 110 Alexandra Crescent, Mayfair, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 4

    Napier Collision Repair Centre

    ★ 4.6 101 reviews +1 Top5 Score 152 +1
    5★ 75 4★ 17 3★ 2 2★ 4 1★ 3

    Napier 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.

    Reviews most often describe: Insurance claims and accident repairs needing fast turnaround

    • ✓ Coordinates insurance claims directly so customers avoid the back-and-forth
    • ✓ Loan car available for a flat $25 fee for the full repair period
    • ✓ Car returned cleaned inside and out on top of the repair work

    location_on 56 Thames Street, Pandora, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 5

    City Collision Repairs

    ★ 4.7 61 reviews +1 Top5 Score 147 +1
    5★ 48 4★ 8 3★ 3 2★ 1 1★ 1

    City 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.

    Reviews most often describe: Repeat customers needing fast, accurate quotes and completion

    • ✓ Jobs completed earlier than the quoted finish date, multiple times
    • ✓ Quotes come out exactly on the price given at the start
    • ✓ Pick-up and drop-off arranged around the customer's schedule

    location_on 31 Leyland Street, Onekawa, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?

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.

Panel Beaters ranked 6 to 10 in Napier and Hastings

They scored below the top 5 on the same public review record.

  • 6

    Hawke's Bay Collision Repair

    ★ 4.6 65 reviews +1 Top5 Score 147 +2
    5★ 51 4★ 8 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 3

    Hawke'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.

    Reviews most often describe: Collision and paint repairs with personal, attentive service

    • ✓ Paint match and panel gaps checked to factory standard or better
    • ✓ Repairs completed within the timeframes quoted at the start
    • ✓ Car returned cleaned inside and out after every repair job

    location_on 307 Eastbourne Street West, St Leonards, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 7

    KPM Automotive

    ↑ 2
    ★ 4.7 50 reviews +3 Top5 Score 145 +3
    5★ 43 4★ 5 1★ 2

    KPM Automotive draws long-term customers who bring their cars back repeatedly, with at least one reviewer noting they have been going since their first ever vehicle. Hayden and the team are called out by name for honest pricing, clear communication, and turning jobs around fast enough to drop off before work and collect the same day.

    Reviews most often describe: Trusted regular workshop for ongoing vehicle care

    • ✓ Pricing consistently described as fair and not over-charging customers
    • ✓ Named staff like Hayden and Sarah keep customers informed throughout
    • ✓ Same-day turnaround regularly achieved for drop-off and collection jobs

    location_on 808 Hastings Street North, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Endless Panel Repairs

    ★ 4.7 43 reviews Top5 Score 143 +1
    5★ 36 4★ 4 3★ 2 1★ 1

    Endless 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.

    Reviews most often describe: Budget-conscious repairs with straightforward, personal service

    • ✓ Pricing called out as among the best value in town
    • ✓ First-time customers leave satisfied and commit to returning
    • ✓ Shane personally keeps customers informed throughout their repair

    location_on 701 Hastings Street North, Mayfair, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    Sun City Car Painters

    ↓ 2
    ★ 4.9 33 reviews Top5 Score 142
    5★ 30 4★ 3

    Sun 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.

    Reviews most often describe: Family-run panel repairs with loan car included

    • ✓ Loan car provided for the full duration of the repair
    • ✓ Cars returned cleaned inside and out after panel work
    • ✓ Repairs completed on time and within the quoted price

    location_on 300 Jervois Street, Mayfair, Hastings

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Greenmeadows Panel And Paint

    ★ 4.4 59 reviews Top5 Score 142
    5★ 48 4★ 1 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 7

    Greenmeadows Panel And Paint completes panel repairs, paint work, and collision restorations, and has taken cars while customers were away on holiday, returning them to the owner's home rather than waiting for collection. Front desk staff are called out specifically for keeping communication clear and making the handover process straightforward from drop-off through to return.

    Reviews most often describe: Full panel and paint repairs with home delivery

    • ✓ Completed repairs and delivered cars directly to customers' homes
    • ✓ Returned vehicles cleaned inside and out after panel repairs
    • ✓ Courtesy cars provided to customers during the repair period

    location_on 18 Gloucester Street, Greenmeadows, Napier

    map Map Is this your business?

Related Napier and Hastings rankings

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About this ranking

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. See how we rank for the full method.

How often are rankings updated? expand_more

Every category and city is recrawled on a rolling cycle, about every two months. This page was last checked on 25 August 2026.

Can a business pay to appear in this list? expand_more

No. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-only and cannot be purchased. Verifying a business is free. A subscription adds a website link on the card, a public profile page, and competitor and ranking history in the owner's dashboard, none of which affects ranking position. 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. At the last update, the smallest review count among the 10 businesses listed here was 33. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.