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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. How we rank →

Last updated: 25 Jun 2026

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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 R S Lane Panel and Paint, Hutt City Panel & Paint, Spot On Panel & Paint, Chung Hing Panel, and Justrust Panel and Paint, 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

    ★ 4.6 559 reviews +20 Top5 Score 183 +19
    5★ 472 4★ 28 3★ 6 2★ 4 1★ 49

    Hire them if you want proactive communication throughout repair, with staff who call to flag delays and confirm completion without being asked. They handle insurer liaison directly once claim details come through, removing paperwork friction from the repair process.

    Reviews most often describe: Insurance claims and jobs requiring regular customer updates

    • ✓ Unprompted progress calls during repair
    • ✓ Handles insurer communication directly
    • ✓ Interior cleaning included with repair

    location_on 57 Sydney Street, Petone, Lower Hutt

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 2

    Hutt City Panel & Paint

    ★ 4.8 161 reviews +3 Top5 Score 165 +6
    5★ 144 4★ 10 1★ 7

    Hire them if you've got significant panel work and want reassurance that communication and transparency will match the repair outcome. They handle minor follow-up requests without friction and detail-clean vehicles as part of the job rather than as an add-on.

    Reviews most often describe: Car owners with major damage thought unfixable

    • ✓ Returns for minor fixes without resistance
    • ✓ Completes jobs assessed as unfixable
    • ✓ Includes interior and exterior cleaning post-repair

    location_on 61 Marsden Street, Melling, Lower Hutt

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 3

    Spot On Panel & Paint Ltd

    ★ 4.9 115 reviews +3 Top5 Score 163 +4
    5★ 112 4★ 1 3★ 1 1★ 1

    Hire them when you need fast turnaround on panel damage without compromising detail work, especially for insurance-involved jobs. Communication gaps after initial quote are a real risk: one customer waited three months without follow-up despite multiple attempts to contact them.

    Reviews most often describe: Complex panel work with tight deadlines and insurance claims

    • ✓ Colour matching on aged vehicles
    • ✓ Insurance claim handling during repair
    • ✓ Fast job completion within short timeframe

    location_on 37 Home Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 4

    Chung Hing Panel Limited

    ↑ 1
    ★ 4.6 108 reviews Top5 Score 155 +8
    5★ 91 4★ 6 3★ 1 2★ 2 1★ 8

    Hire them if your bodywork damage is straightforward and you need it done fast, with turnaround measured in hours rather than days. They prefer to repair damaged parts rather than replace them, which saves money but means communication gaps have shown up when they don't follow through on sending quotes.

    Reviews most often describe: Urgent dent and damage repairs with same-day turnaround

    • ✓ Completes bumper and dent work overnight
    • ✓ Repairs rust instead of replacing panels
    • ✓ Quote requests sometimes go unacknowledged

    location_on 12 Wigan Street, Te Aro, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 5

    Justrust panel and paint

    ↑ 5
    ★ 4.5 94 reviews +1 Top5 Score 153 +9
    5★ 72 4★ 10 3★ 4 2★ 1 1★ 7

    Hire them if you have structural or undercarriage damage from weather events, where mechanics trust their repair quality enough to recommend them. They tackle rust and hidden damage that other panel beaters might overlook, and pricing sits below market rate for this type of work.

    Reviews most often describe: Storm damage, undercarriage repairs, and rust work

    • ✓ Mechanic-referred for undercarriage work
    • ✓ Rust repair at competitive pricing
    • ✓ Completes jobs across three vehicles without repeat issues

    location_on 81A Kenepuru Drive, Kenepuru, Porirua

    map Map Is this your business?

Before you book a panel beater in Wellington

Common themes, pricing patterns, and watch-outs drawn from customer reviews and independent research.

What does panel beating typically cost in New Zealand? expand_more

Minor dents and scratches run from $150 to $500, while bumper repairs and single panel damage sit between $500 and $2,000. Structural or multi-panel work can exceed $5,000, and a full respray costs $3,000 to $8,000 or more depending on vehicle size. Insurance jobs work differently: your insurer assesses the damage and you pay only your excess, but you can dispute their valuation if it seems low.

Does my insurer have to use their preferred panel beater, or can I choose my own? expand_more

You can choose your own panel beater in New Zealand, but your insurer may only pay up to their assessed repair value, leaving you to cover any gap. Some policies also limit their repair warranty to work done by approved repairers, so read your policy wording before you commit. Reviews show some shops will liaise directly with insurers on your behalf, which reduces friction and helps keep the process straightforward.

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

Insurers in New Zealand are permitted to authorise aftermarket parts unless your policy specifically requires genuine manufacturer parts, and quality among aftermarket parts varies considerably. Ask the repairer in writing what parts will be used before approving any work, and request genuine parts if fit and safety tolerances matter to you. If your policy does not require genuine parts, expect to pay the cost difference yourself, and raise any undisclosed substitution with the IFSO Scheme if needed.

What are the warning signs of a panel beater you shouldn't use? expand_more
  • –Quotes are provided verbally without a written breakdown of parts, labour, and scope.
  • –The shop fails to follow up with a quote after a full assessment, even after repeated contact from you.
  • –Promises about turnaround time are made at booking but not honoured, with no proactive communication about delays.
  • –Paint finish shows poor colour matching or an orange peel texture that does not match the rest of the vehicle.
  • –Interior surfaces are damaged or contaminated during the repair, with the shop dismissing or downplaying the issue.
  • –The shop avoids direct contact with your insurer, leaving you to manage the claim process yourself.
What should you ask before approving panel beating work? expand_more
  • –Ask whether the shop will liaise directly with your insurer and handle the claim process on your behalf.
  • –Confirm the realistic completion timeframe and ask how they will notify you if hidden damage extends the job.
  • –Ask specifically how they handle colour matching, and whether the repaired panel will be blended with adjacent panels.
  • –Find out what their process is if you are not satisfied with the finish on pickup, and whether they will remedy the work.
  • –Ask whether your car will be groomed or cleaned before return, as several Wellington shops include this as standard.
  • –Confirm in writing what parts will be used, whether genuine, aftermarket, or reconditioned, before work begins.

More top panel beaters in Wellington

The next five highest-scoring panel beaters in Wellington. Worth considering if your first choices aren't available.

  • 6

    Porirua Motor Body Repairs Ltd

    ↑ 1
    ★ 4.7 70 reviews +1 Top5 Score 153 +7
    5★ 60 4★ 6 1★ 4

    Hire them if you want clear explanation of repair process and timeline before work starts, with staff who follow through on promises. Sam walks customers through what happens next and delivers within the stated timeframe, which removes guesswork from an already stressful situation.

    Reviews most often describe: Accident damage repairs where communication matters

    • ✓ Explains repair process and timeline upfront
    • ✓ Delivers car within promised timeframe
    • ✓ Returns vehicle visibly clean after repair

    location_on 14 Prosser Street, Elsdon, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 7

    Autobarn Panelbeaters 2022 Ltd

    ↓ 3
    ★ 4.9 55 reviews +1 Top5 Score 152 +2
    5★ 51 4★ 2 3★ 2

    Hire them for dent removal and minor panel damage that needs to pass inspection or get your car roadworthy fast. They'll touch up paint at no extra charge if spare stock matches, rather than charging separately for primer and topcoat.

    Reviews most often describe: Quick dent fixes and warrant-prep panel work

    • ✓ Fixed dents same day on short notice
    • ✓ Complimentary paint touch-ups when paint matched
    • ✓ Removed rust and applied underseal in one job

    location_on 265 Coutts Street, Rongotai, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Wall Place Panel & Paint

    ↑ 1
    ★ 4.7 58 reviews +1 Top5 Score 149 +5
    5★ 52 4★ 3 1★ 3

    Hire them when your car needs panel and paint work and you want confirmation that timelines will be met without constant follow-up calls. Finishing touches like deep grooming and vacuum cleaning after repair are included as standard, which lifts the handover experience above basic panel work.

    Reviews most often describe: Collision repairs needing finish detail and scheduling reliability

    • ✓ Keeps to stated completion dates
    • ✓ Deep vehicle grooming after repairs included
    • ✓ Roof repainting with matching polishing work

    location_on 14 Wall Place, Kenepuru, Porirua

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    Sovereign Panel & Paint (2011) LTD

    ★ 4.5 64 reviews Top5 Score 148
    5★ 53 4★ 3 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 5

    Hire them when you need panel work coordinated through your insurer and finished faster than quoted, with staff who spot gaps in insurer paperwork. They'll fast-track urgent repairs before travel deadlines and remember repeat clients by name across visits.

    Reviews most often describe: Insurance claims and tight timelines needing early completion

    • ✓ Alerts customers to missing insurer details
    • ✓ Delivers ahead of promised timeline
    • ✓ Recognises repeat clients without re-introduction

    location_on Tawa, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Wellington Panel and Paint

    ↓ 4
    ★ 4.7 64 reviews Top5 Score 148 +2
    5★ 55 4★ 4 3★ 2 1★ 3

    Hire them when you need bonnet, boot, or panel resprays completed within days without surprises on price or finish quality. Harry's team quotes upfront and delivers within the stated timeframe, which sets them apart from competitors who leave customers chasing for updates.

    Reviews most often describe: Quick resprays and panel damage with fast turnaround

    • ✓ Turnaround completed within three days
    • ✓ Upfront pricing quoted before work starts
    • ✓ Responsive to initial contact and booking

    location_on 234A Rongotai Road, Rongotai, Wellington

    map Map Is this your business?

Related Wellington rankings

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About this ranking

How are Wellington's top Panel Beaters chosen? expand_more

We assess every Panel Beaters business in Wellington against public ratings and review data using a consistent, published method. See how we rank for the full methodology. Top 5 and Also Recommended positions are merit-based and cannot be purchased. At the last update, scores in the top 5 ranged from 153 to 183 points.

How often are rankings updated? expand_more

Rankings are refreshed regularly. This list was last updated in 25 June 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. Verified businesses may be able to update their listing details in future, but this will never affect ranking positions.

Why isn't my Panel Beaters business listed? expand_more

We pull from local search results for each category and city. If you're missing, the most common reasons are an incorrect Google Business category or too few recent reviews. At the last update, the lowest-ranked business in the top 10 had 55 reviews. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.