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Best Panel Beaters in Whangārei

We assessed 16 panel beaters in Whangārei 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 565 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 4 September 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 Whangārei

The top 5 panel beaters in Whangārei are #1 LB Collision Repair, #2 Shields Bros, #3 Autocraft, #4 Kevin Gray, and #5 Cottrell & Ross, ranked by Top5 score. Scroll for our take on each, plus what to ask before you book.

  • 1

    LB Collision Repair Group Ltd (Formally Louie Berkers Collision)

    ★ 4.7 87 reviews Top5 Score 152
    5★ 68 4★ 15 3★ 3 1★ 1

    LB Collision Repair gets cars back from rear-end damage, hit-and-run repairs, and break-in bodywork within the timeframes quoted, often ahead of schedule. They return vehicles cleaned inside and out, with small extras like stone chip touch-ups thrown in without being asked.

    location_on 308 Port Road, Port Whangārei, Whangārei

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  • 2

    Shields Bros Panel & Paint (Kamo) Ltd

    ★ 4.7 108 reviews Top5 Score 152
    5★ 92 4★ 9 3★ 1 1★ 6

    Shields Bros turns around dent repairs, collision damage, and paint finishing with completed jobs delivered on time and returned clean. When unexpected complications arise, such as sourcing specialist parts or arranging repairs at a sister garage elsewhere in the country, they keep customers informed by text and email throughout.

    location_on 49 Pipiwai Road, Te Kamo

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  • 3

    Autocraft Panelbeaters

    ★ 4.8 65 reviews Top5 Score 151
    5★ 52 4★ 11 3★ 1 2★ 1

    Autocraft coordinates insurance claims from start to finish, sourcing parts, supplying loan cars at no cost, and returning vehicles in like-new condition after accident, dent, and paint repairs. Greg and Callum have been specifically noted for calling customers before their cars even arrived on site, then following up after collection to check everything was right.

    location_on 24 Lower Tarewa Road, Whangarei Central, Whangarei

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  • 4

    Kevin Gray Panelbeaters & Car Painters

    ★ 4.7 75 reviews Top5 Score 149
    5★ 67 4★ 3 3★ 2 1★ 3

    Kevin Gray gets vehicles back from collision damage, paint repairs, and bodywork looking factory-fresh, with multiple reviewers unable to spot where the damage had been. A courtesy car is regularly available, and the team returns vehicles washed, vacuumed, and sometimes with small fixes thrown in that were never part of the original job.

    location_on 37 Hannah Street, Whangārei, Whangarei

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  • 5

    Cottrell & Ross Panel and Paint

    ★ 4.9 40 reviews Top5 Score 145
    5★ 38 4★ 1 1★ 1

    Cottrell & Ross handles respray, panel beating, and paint finishing with turnarounds as short as four days and results described as flawless. Tim and Amy are regularly named for taking time to explain the work before it starts, which gives first-time and returning customers alike a clear sense of what they are signing up for.

    location_on 259 Port Road, Port Whangārei, Whangārei

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Before you book a panel beater in Whangārei

Drawn from 441 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 dents and scratches cost between $150 and $500 to repair privately. Moderate damage like a crumpled door or quarter panel runs from $500 to $2,000. Structural or multi-panel repairs can exceed $5,000, and a full respray sits between $3,000 and $8,000 depending on vehicle size and paint type. Labour rates across New Zealand sit between $80 and $130 per hour, with Whangārei shops broadly in that mid-range.

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

You are not legally required to use an insurer's preferred repairer in New Zealand, but your policy wording determines whether the insurer will cover any cost difference if your chosen shop quotes higher than their assessed value. Some policies also specify that using a non-preferred repairer removes the insurer's warranty on the repair work itself, so read those terms carefully before committing. One reviewer found that their insurer's preferred repairers had poor reviews, researched independently, and secured approval to use their chosen shop instead, covering only a small courtesy car fee out of pocket. If you feel unfairly pressured or financially penalised for exercising your choice, the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) runs a free dispute resolution service for exactly this kind of complaint.

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

New Zealand insurance policies legally permit the use of aftermarket or non-genuine parts unless your policy specifically guarantees original manufacturer components, so ask in writing before any work begins. Quality among aftermarket parts varies, and one reviewer documented a case where poorly fitted aftermarket components caused an oil leak that led to further mechanical failure, with the shop refusing to accept responsibility. If your policy does not mandate genuine parts, you can still request them, but expect to pay the cost difference yourself; the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) Scheme, which is a free service for New Zealand consumers, can assist if a repairer or insurer refuses to disclose what parts will be used.

What are the warning signs of a panel beater you shouldn't use? expand_more
  • –A shop that gives no clear timeframe and then goes silent for months, leaving you chasing updates by phone and email, is a red flag regardless of its reputation.
  • –Charging well above a written quote without prior authorisation is a serious concern, and one reviewer reported being billed roughly double the agreed price with no explanation.
  • –Using cheaper aftermarket parts without telling the customer, then denying responsibility when those parts fail, points to poor integrity.
  • –A repairer who returns a courtesy car and disputes its condition on pickup, rather than documenting it beforehand, is likely to create disputes on your own vehicle too.
  • –Communication that drops out during the job, rather than proactive updates at key milestones, often signals disorganisation that affects the repair quality itself.
  • –Shops that do not honour a written workmanship guarantee when a problem is reported after the job is complete are ones to avoid entirely.
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 paperwork, or whether you are expected to manage that yourself.
  • –Confirm in writing what parts will be used, whether genuine manufacturer, aftermarket, or reconditioned, and what the cost difference would be to upgrade to genuine if your policy allows substitutes.
  • –Ask how hidden damage found during the repair is handled: will they contact you and your insurer for approval before proceeding, or will they bill for extras on pickup.
  • –Get a realistic completion date and ask specifically how they communicate delays, whether by phone, text, or email, so you are not left guessing.
  • –Ask about their colour-matching process, particularly for partial repaints, and whether they blend into adjacent panels to avoid visible edges.
  • –Confirm what their process is if you are unhappy with the finished result, including whether they offer a rectification period and what form any workmanship guarantee takes.

Panel Beaters ranked 6 to 10 in Whangārei

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

  • 6

    Comm-Fleet Northland

    ★ 5.0 32 reviews Top5 Score 145
    5★ 31 4★ 1

    Comm-Fleet fixes chassis rust, panel damage, and full resprays across everyday vehicles, classic cars, and large vehicles like motorhomes. They supply photos of prep and repair work with the invoice, and several customers have been charged at or below the original quote even when more work was uncovered mid-job.

    location_on 221 Port Road, Port Whangārei, Whangārei

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 7

    All Truck Repairs Ltd

    ★ 4.6 54 reviews Top5 Score 143
    5★ 45 4★ 4 3★ 2 2★ 1 1★ 2

    All Truck Repairs fits heavy vehicle and motorhome operators who need work done quickly, with multiple reviewers getting brake adjustments, rust removal, and mechanical fixes sorted same day or within hours of calling. Staff like Chris and Janice are named for fitting customers in at short notice and keeping the process moving without unnecessary back-and-forth.

    location_on 24 South End Avenue, Raumanga, Whangarei

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 8

    Krystal Klear Panel and Paint

    ★ 5.0 24 reviews Top5 Score 141
    5★ 24

    Krystal Klear takes on full bare-shell restorations, partial repaints, rust repairs, and clear coat work, with finished results repeatedly described as matching or exceeding factory standards. Noel and the team provide courtesy cars and work around customers based out of town, and pricing is quoted fairly and held to.

    location_on 18 Porowini Avenue, Morningside, Whangarei

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 9

    Tony Gordon Panelbeaters

    ★ 4.6 56 reviews Top5 Score 140
    5★ 49 4★ 1 3★ 2 1★ 4

    Tony Gordon Panelbeaters fits drivers who want a straightforward repair process, with rust work, collision repairs, and paint jobs regularly completed on time and within the original quote even when more damage is uncovered mid-job. Kristin, Josh, and Trev are named across multiple visits for keeping communication clear from the front desk through to the workshop.

    location_on 12 Finlayson Street, Whangārei, Vinetown

    map Map Is this your business?
  • 10

    Prestige Panel & Paint - Whangarei Panelbeaters

    ★ 4.8 24 reviews Top5 Score 136
    5★ 21 4★ 2 1★ 1

    Prestige Panel & Paint comes in under estimate on panel and paint work, with one customer quoted a job at more than ten times the price elsewhere choosing them and being charged less than the original figure. They organise vehicle pickup and have completed paint restoration, bodywork, and rust repairs with results described as looking brand new.

    location_on 47 Porowini Avenue, Morningside, Whangārei

    map Map Is this your business?

Related Whangārei rankings

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About this ranking

How are the top panel beaters in Whangārei chosen? expand_more

We build this page from Google Maps results for panel beaters in Whangārei. 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 4 September 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 Whangārei. 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 24. Check where you rank or read how rankings work.