Van Panel and Paint Repairs in Tyne and Wear

A van takes a hard life: tight loading bays, shared car parks, trolleys, ladders and the odd misjudged gatepost. Most of that damage starts as a dent or a scrape, and the paint is what stops it turning into rust.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn our coachworks and bodyshop team handles panel and paint repairs on vans. This page covers the panel and paint side specifically: what the work involves and what to think about before you book the van in.

When a panel or paint repair is worth doing

Not every mark needs work straight away, but some should not wait. Paint that has been scraped back to bare metal will start to corrode, and rust spreads under the surrounding paint where you cannot see it.

Dents that crease the metal, sit on a panel edge or stop a door or sliding door closing properly are also worth looking at sooner rather than later, because they tend to get worse with every knock.

• Scrapes that show bare metal or primer
• Bubbling or flaking paint, especially around wheel arches and sills
• Dents that crease or stretch the metal
• Doors, tailgates or sliding doors that no longer close cleanly
• Faded or patchy paint after an earlier repair

What the job involves

The repair depends on the damage. Shallow dents can sometimes be worked back into shape, while stretched or torn metal usually means a panel is repaired more heavily or replaced. We inspect it and tell you which route makes sense.

Paintwork is then prepared, primed, colour matched and finished, and the repaired area is blended so it does not stand out.

What affects the outcome and the cost

Cost follows the labour involved and the materials used, so there are no useful quick figures without seeing the van. A single scuffed panel is a different job from damage that runs across a door, a quarter panel and a bumper.

Things that move the estimate include how many panels are affected, whether a panel can be repaired or must be replaced, the paint type and colour, and whether there is hidden damage behind the visible dent.

Preparing and alternatives

Take out loose stock and tools, and tell us about any signage, vinyl graphics or racking that may be affected.

If the damage is minor and the van is still safe and working, a smaller cosmetic repair may be all you need. We will say so at the estimate rather than suggest more work than the van requires.