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Best Panel Beaters in Wellington

We assessed 19 panel beaters in Wellington 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 1,400 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 12 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 Wellington

The top 5 panel beaters in Wellington are RS Lane, Hutt City Panel & Paint, Spot On Panel & Paint, Chung Hing Panel, and Porirua Motor Body Repairs, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.

  • 1

    R S Lane Panel and Paint - Petone

    ★ 4.6 577 reviews +18 Top5 Score 182 -1
    5★ 488 4★ 29 3★ 6 2★ 4 1★ 50

    RS Lane turns around panel and paint repairs quickly, with several customers collecting their car the day after drop-off and finding it cleaned inside and out on return. Staff members like Brooke and Chelsea are named repeatedly for proactive updates throughout the repair process, including follow-up calls after collection to check everything is right.

    Reviews most often describe: Straightforward repairs with hands-on staff communication

    • ✓ Cars returned cleaned inside and out after repair work
    • ✓ Staff call customers after pickup to check for issues
    • ✓ Named staff members keep clients updated at every repair stage

    location_on 57 Sydney Street, Petone, Lower Hutt

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 2

    Hutt City Panel & Paint

    ★ 4.8 162 reviews +1 Top5 Score 166 +1
    5★ 145 4★ 10 1★ 7

    Hutt City Panel & Paint takes on damaged vehicles that other shops have declined, with at least one customer collecting a car that looked brand new after being turned away elsewhere. Staff like Angela and Shane are named across multiple jobs for keeping clients informed from assessment through to collection, and several customers report their car came back detailed inside and out.

    Reviews most often describe: Complex repairs other panel beaters turned down

    • ✓ Cars returned cleaned inside and out after panel repairs
    • ✓ Insurance claim process handled with minimal hassle for customers
    • ✓ Named staff like Angela and Shane praised across multiple separate jobs

    location_on 61 Marsden Street, Melling, Lower Hutt

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 3

    Spot On Panel & Paint Ltd

    ★ 4.9 117 reviews +2 Top5 Score 164 +1
    5★ 114 4★ 1 3★ 1 1★ 1

    Spot On Panel & Paint gets vehicles back on the road with damage repairs, rust treatment, and paint colour matching handled in short timeframes. Owner Donil is named across multiple jobs for going beyond the repair itself, including car delivery to a customer too unwell to collect, insurance claim coordination, and returning cars fully groomed.

    Reviews most often describe: Fast turnaround on body damage with insurance coordination

    • ✓ Cars returned cleaned and groomed after body repair work
    • ✓ Insurance claims coordinated directly by the team on behalf of customers
    • ✓ Completed jobs on time against the timeframe given at drop-off

    location_on 37 Home Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 4

    Chung Hing Panel Limited

    ★ 4.6 109 reviews +1 Top5 Score 154 -1
    5★ 92 4★ 6 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 8

    Chung Hing Panel completes bumper repairs, rust work, and mirror replacements at a price point multiple customers describe as genuinely affordable, often finishing jobs overnight or within two days of the initial enquiry. Hing is noted for reading exactly what a customer needs despite a language barrier, and for repairing rather than replacing parts where possible to keep costs down.

    Reviews most often describe: Budget-conscious jobs needing fast rust and bodywork

    • ✓ Jobs completed within one to two days of first enquiry
    • ✓ Repairs rather than replaces damaged parts to reduce cost
    • ✓ Rust work and bodywork priced well below customer expectations

    location_on 12 Wigan Street, Te Aro, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 5

    Porirua Motor Body Repairs Ltd

    ↑ 1
    ★ 4.7 73 reviews +3 Top5 Score 153
    5★ 63 4★ 6 1★ 4

    Porirua Motor Body Repairs handles dent repair, full repaints, and collision damage, with Sam walking customers through the repair process, expected timeframes, and next steps from the first conversation. When a polishing machine marked a fresh paint job during one repair, Sam flagged the issue himself and redid the work rather than leaving the customer to find it.

    Reviews most often describe: Stress-free collision repairs with a named contact

    • ✓ Repair completed within the timeframe quoted at drop-off
    • ✓ Loan car available while your vehicle is being repaired
    • ✓ Car returned clean and presentable at collection time

    location_on 14 Prosser Street, Elsdon, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?

Before you book a panel beater in Wellington

Drawn from 167 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 sit between $150 and $500, depending on location and severity. Moderate damage such as a crumpled door or quarter panel runs from $500 to $2,000. Full respray work ranges from $3,000 to $8,000 or more for larger vehicles. Insurance claims run through an assessor, and your excess applies before the insurer covers the rest.

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 force you to use one in New Zealand. Choosing your own repairer may mean paying the gap if your repairer's quote exceeds the insurer's assessed value, and some policies also withdraw their repair warranty when you go outside the preferred network. Read your policy wording before lodging a claim, because the cost implications vary significantly between insurers. If you feel pressured or financially disadvantaged, the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) offers a free disputes process and has handled exactly these kinds of repairer-choice complaints.

Will my car be repaired with genuine parts, or non-genuine substitutes? expand_more

New Zealand insurance policies routinely allow the use of aftermarket or non-genuine parts unless your policy explicitly requires manufacturer parts, and this is entirely legal. The Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) has dealt with complaints from consumers who were not told upfront that aftermarket parts would be used, so asking in writing before work starts is the safest approach. Genuine OEM parts can be requested, but if your policy does not mandate them, you will likely pay the cost difference yourself, and that gap can be substantial on late-model or European vehicles.

What are the warning signs of a panel beater you shouldn't use? expand_more
  • –A repairer who returns your vehicle with safety-critical items overlooked, such as suspension bolts not retightened or structural damage not identified, is a serious red flag.
  • –Broken components zip-tied together rather than replaced, or rust filled with body filler instead of proper panel repair, are signs of corner-cutting that reviewers have flagged explicitly.
  • –Poor colour matching or an uneven orange-peel finish that does not match the surrounding paintwork points to inadequate preparation or paint skill.
  • –Repeated delays with no proactive communication, or promises on turnaround time that are made and then ignored, suggest poor job management.
  • –Operating on a cash-only, no-receipt basis removes your ability to dispute the work or seek a refund, and should be treated as a serious warning sign.
  • –A shop that fails to respond to quote requests after multiple follow-ups is signalling how it will treat you once your car is in their workshop.
What should you ask before approving panel beating work? expand_more
  • –Ask whether they will liaise directly with your insurer and handle the claim process, or whether that responsibility falls on you.
  • –Confirm what their process is if additional damage is found once panels are removed, including whether they will contact you for approval before proceeding.
  • –Get a realistic completion date in writing and ask specifically how they will notify you if that date changes.
  • –Ask how they guarantee colour matching, particularly on metallic or pearl finishes, and what they will do if the repaired panel does not match the rest of the vehicle.
  • –Confirm whether parts used will be genuine OEM, aftermarket, or reconditioned, and ask for this in writing if your vehicle is a late-model or European make.
  • –Ask what their process is if you are not satisfied with the finished result, including whether they will redo work at no cost and what timeframe applies for raising concerns after pick-up.

Panel Beaters ranked 6 to 10 in Wellington

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

  • 6

    Justrust panel and paint

    ↓ 1
    ★ 4.5 94 reviews Top5 Score 152 -1
    5★ 72 4★ 10 3★ 4 2★ 1 1★ 7

    Justrust takes on rust treatment, undercarriage repairs, and body damage across multiple vehicles, with at least one mechanic independently praising the standard of work done on a storm-damaged Camry undercarriage. Staff like PJ and Kerry are named for fitting customers in at short notice and staying late when a deadline matters.

    Reviews most often describe: Rust and undercarriage work at competitive prices

    • ✓ Priced below competing quotes for rust and body repairs
    • ✓ Takes on jobs at short notice when other shops fall through
    • ✓ Named staff stay late to meet customer deadlines

    location_on 81A Kenepuru Drive, Kenepuru, Porirua

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 7

    Autobarn Panelbeaters 2022 Ltd

    ★ 4.9 55 reviews Top5 Score 152
    5★ 51 4★ 2 3★ 2

    Autobarn fixes dents, rust, paint damage, and WoF-related panel work, with multiple customers noting jobs completed within 36 hours of drop-off. Staff like Bala, Dani, and Barry are named for explaining the work clearly, and at least one customer received a free paint touch-up on top of a booked repair when spare paint was on hand.

    Reviews most often describe: Warrant failures and paint repairs needing fast turnaround

    • ✓ Jobs completed and returned within 36 hours of drop-off
    • ✓ Free paint touch-ups added when spare paint is available
    • ✓ Staff walk customers through repairs with before-and-after photos

    location_on 265 Coutts Street, Rongotai, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Edwards Panel & Paint

    ★ 4.6 76 reviews Top5 Score 151
    5★ 61 4★ 7 3★ 1 2★ 4 1★ 3

    Edwards Panel & Paint fixes collision damage, rust, and full resprays, with multiple customers finding the finished result better than their car looked before the accident. When repairs go through insurance, the team coordinates the claim process directly, which several customers singled out as reducing the stress of an already difficult situation.

    Reviews most often describe: Collision repairs through insurance with same-day availability

    • ✓ Collision repairs completed to a standard customers call better than before
    • ✓ Insurance claims coordinated by staff from start to finish
    • ✓ Got customers in same day when other shops could not help

    location_on 21 Kingsford Smith Street, Rongotai, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    Wall Place Panel & Paint

    ↓ 1
    ★ 4.7 60 reviews +2 Top5 Score 149 +1
    5★ 53 4★ 4 1★ 3

    Wall Place Panel & Paint covers rust repair, scratch and chip fixing, door repairs, and collision damage, returning cars in a condition multiple customers described as looking brand new. Jobs come back fully groomed inside and out without being asked, and deadlines given at drop-off are met consistently across different types of work.

    Reviews most often describe: Bodywork and paint with thorough finish and clean

    • ✓ Cars returned cleaned inside and out without being asked
    • ✓ Repair completion dates quoted upfront and stuck to
    • ✓ Rust, paint, and collision work handled across different vehicle types

    location_on 14 Wall Place, Kenepuru, Porirua

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Wakefield & Scott Panel Beaters

    ★ 4.5 77 reviews Top5 Score 148
    5★ 59 4★ 10 3★ 2 1★ 6

    Wakefield & Scott coordinates insurance claims, collision repairs, and door and fender damage, with staff like Rhys and Mark named across multiple jobs for keeping customers informed and making the process feel straightforward from first contact. Courtesy cars are organised without customers having to ask, and vehicles come back cleaned inside and out on top of the repair itself.

    Reviews most often describe: Insurance repairs needing personal communication and loan vehicles

    • ✓ Loan cars arranged as part of the repair process
    • ✓ Cars returned cleaned inside and out after panel work
    • ✓ Named staff like Rhys and Mark guide customers through insurance claims

    location_on 417 High Street, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt

    map Map Is this your business?

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About this ranking

How are the top panel beaters in Wellington chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for panel beaters in Wellington. 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 once a month. This page was last checked on 12 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 Wellington. 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 55. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.