Best Panel Beaters in Whangārei
We assessed 16 panel beaters in Whangārei and ranked the top 5 on public rating quality, review volume and how recent the reviews are. The businesses listed below hold 530 Google reviews between them. No business can pay for a place in these rankings. Last updated 4 September 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 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.
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1
LB Collision Repair Group Ltd (Formally Louie Berkers Collision)
★ 4.7 87 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 68 4★ 15 3★ 3 1★ 1LB 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.
308 Port Road, Port Whangārei, Whangārei
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2
Shields Bros Panel & Paint (Kamo) Ltd
★ 4.7 108 reviews Top5 Score 1525★ 92 4★ 9 3★ 1 1★ 6Shields 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.
49 Pipiwai Road, Te Kamo
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3
Autocraft Panelbeaters
★ 4.8 65 reviews Top5 Score 1505★ 52 4★ 11 3★ 1 2★ 1Autocraft 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.
24 Lower Tarewa Road, Whangarei Central, Whangarei
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4
Kevin Gray Panelbeaters & Car Painters
★ 4.7 75 reviews Top5 Score 1495★ 67 4★ 3 3★ 2 1★ 3Kevin 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.
37 Hannah Street, Whangārei, Whangarei
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5
Cottrell & Ross Panel and Paint
★ 4.9 40 reviews Top5 Score 1455★ 38 4★ 1 1★ 1Cottrell & 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.
259 Port Road, Port Whangārei, Whangārei
Before you book a panel beater in Whangārei
Drawn from 195 customer reviews collected for this page. The first answer is what it costs.
What does panel beating typically cost in New Zealand?
Minor dent and scratch repairs in New Zealand sit between $150 and $500, depending on the depth and location of the damage. Moderate work such as a crumpled door or quarter panel replacement runs from $500 to $2,000, while structural or multi-panel repairs can push past $5,000.
A full respray costs $3,000 to $8,000 or more, with vehicle size and paint complexity driving the higher end of that range. Insurance claims work differently: your insurer assesses the repair value, you pay your excess, and the insurer settles directly with the repairer, though some shops in Whangarei noted in reviews that they offer courtesy cars as part of managing insurance jobs.
Does my insurer have to use their preferred panel beater, or can I choose my own?
Your insurer can recommend a preferred repairer but cannot legally force you to use one, and your right to choose your own repairer is a recognised consumer entitlement in New Zealand. The practical catch is that if your chosen repairer quotes more than the insurer's assessed value, you may need to cover the difference out of pocket.
One reviewer in Whangarei specifically checked the insurer's preferred repairers, found their reviews unsatisfactory, and successfully arranged their own repairer with the claim approved without issue. If your insurer pressures you unfairly or you feel financially disadvantaged for exercising your choice, you can raise a complaint with the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO), which is a free dispute resolution service for New Zealand consumers.
Will my car be repaired with genuine parts, or non-genuine substitutes?
New Zealand insurance policies legally permit the use of aftermarket or non-genuine parts unless your policy wording specifically guarantees original manufacturer parts, so read that section before you lodge a claim. One Whangarei reviewer flagged that a repairer used secondhand parts without clear prior disclosure, which is exactly the scenario the Insurance and Financial Services Ombudsman (IFSO) has dealt with in formal complaints. Ask your repairer in writing before work starts whether genuine OEM, aftermarket, or reconditioned parts will be used, and if you want genuine parts, request that in writing and clarify who pays any cost difference.
What are the warning signs of a panel beater you shouldn't use?
- –Returning a vehicle with new damage that was not there at drop-off, such as a fresh dent or scrape on a panel not involved in the repair
- –Using secondhand or non-genuine parts without disclosing this before work begins
- –Poor communication during the repair period, including not returning calls or giving no timeframe updates
- –Requiring multiple return visits to fix the same job due to paint runs, missed damage, or incomplete work
- –Staff who are dismissive or rude when you ask straightforward questions, including about whether insurance or private payment affects how your job is prioritised
- –Refusing to give a written quote before starting work, or changing the scope verbally without documenting what was agreed
What should you ask before approving panel beating work?
- –Ask whether the shop will communicate directly with your insurer and handle the claim paperwork, or whether that coordination falls to you
- –Ask how they handle additional damage found once panels are removed, and whether you will be contacted for approval before any extra work is charged
- –Get a realistic timeframe in writing and ask specifically how they will notify you if parts delays or hidden damage push that out
- –Confirm in writing what parts will be used, whether OEM, aftermarket, or reconditioned, and who covers any cost difference if you want genuine parts
- –Ask whether a courtesy car is available, the cost if any, and how long you can keep it if your repair runs over schedule
- –Ask what their process is if you are unhappy with the colour match or finish quality when you collect the vehicle
Also recommended panel beaters in Whangārei
Ranked 6 to 10 on the same public review record.
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6
Comm-Fleet Northland
★ 5.0 32 reviews Top5 Score 1445★ 31 4★ 1Comm-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.
221 Port Road, Port Whangārei, Whangārei
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7
Krystal Klear Panel and Paint
★ 5.0 24 reviews Top5 Score 1405★ 24Krystal 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.
18 Porowini Avenue, Morningside, Whangarei
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8
Tony Gordon Panelbeaters
★ 4.6 56 reviews Top5 Score 1405★ 49 4★ 1 3★ 2 1★ 4Tony 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.
12 Finlayson Street, Whangārei, Vinetown
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9
Prestige Panel & Paint - Whangarei Panelbeaters
★ 4.8 24 reviews Top5 Score 1365★ 21 4★ 2 1★ 1Prestige 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.
47 Porowini Avenue, Morningside, Whangārei
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10
Hikurangi Panel Beaters
★ 4.8 19 reviews Top5 Score 1355★ 17 3★ 2Hikurangi Panel Beaters takes on demanding repair and restoration work, with Willi noted for completing a difficult job beyond the customer's expectations even while his home had no power during Cyclone Gabrielle. Customers are kept informed throughout, quotes come in reasonable, and the finished work on both panels and paintwork is regularly described as exceeding what was promised.
2 George Street, Hikurangi
About this ranking
What the 10 panel beaters listed above hold, at the 4 September 2026 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 3.3% of their total.
How are the top panel beaters in Whangārei chosen?
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, 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?
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?
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. 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.