Home/SMART repair
Ericraft Bodyshop, Smallfield
SMART repair for small dents, scrapes and scratches
SMART stands for Small to Medium Area Repair Technique. It means fixing the damaged part of a panel instead of repainting the whole thing.
SMART repair fixes small to medium damage, like a bumper corner scrape, a scratch or a small dent, without a full panel respray. Send us a photo and we will tell you if it suits your car.
Not every mark needs a whole panel respraying. A scraped bumper corner, a patch of scuffs by the door handle, a shallow dent: these can be repaired in the damaged spot and blended into the paint around it.
That keeps the work focused and the cost down. It also keeps more of your car's original paint.
We use SMART repair for three things most often:
- Dents. Small and medium dents, with paintless methods where they suit. See dent repair.
- Bumper scrapes. Corner scuffs and scrapes on plastic bumpers. See bumper repair.
- Scratches. Light to deep scratches that need filling and paint. See scratch and scuff repair.
If a panel is too badly damaged for a spot repair we will say so, and talk you through a larger repair.
Who this suits
Owners of cars and vans with small to medium damage who want it fixed without paying for a bigger job than they need.
How it works
- Send photosPhotograph the damage from a step back and close up.
- We say if SMART suits itSmall and medium damage often does. Larger damage may need a full panel repair.
- Spot repairWe repair the damaged area, fill and sand it, then paint and blend it into the surrounding paint.
- Polish and collectWe polish the repaired area so it sits flush with the rest of the panel.
What it costs
We do not publish a price list, because every car and every dent is different. Send us photos on WhatsApp and we will give you a price. It is free, there is no obligation and no pressure.
Questions people ask
What does SMART stand for?
Small to Medium Area Repair Technique.
Is SMART repair cheaper than a respray?
Usually, because less of the car is worked on. We will give you a price from photos.
Will you be able to match my paint?
We mix paint to suit your car and blend it into the panel next to it. Our article on colour matching explains how.
What if the damage is too big?
Then we will tell you and quote for a panel repair or a respray instead.
Do you do SMART repair on vans?
Yes. See our van bodywork page.
Get a quote with photos
Fill in a short form and add up to four photos. We will give you a price. It is free and there is no pressure.
Read before you book
Plain answers to the questions we hear most.
Do I need a respray, or just a repair?
Most damage does not need a full respray.
Read the answer
Paintless dent repair or filling and respraying?
Paintless dent repair works from behind the panel and keeps your original paint, so it suits smaller dents with unbroken paint.
Read the answer
How does a body shop match the colour of your car?
A paint code tells the shop which colour your car left the factory in.
Read the answerWe work in these areas
Send us a photo and get a price
Take two or three photos of the damage and send them to us on WhatsApp. We will tell you what it needs and what it costs. It is free and there is no pressure.