Auto body repair shops, from solo painters working out of a rented bay to small collision centers, bill for collision repair, dent removal, refinishing, and panel replacement. Customers are either individual owners paying out of pocket or insurance-backed, where the shop bills the insurer for the approved amount and the customer for the deductible. An invoice has to break out labor by type, parts, paint and materials, and sublet work so it holds up with both customers and adjusters.
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Most shops price from an itemized estimate built on labor hours, parts, and paint and materials. Labor is billed at different hourly rates by type: body labor, paint (refinish) labor, mechanical, frame, and sometimes aluminum or glass work. Hours usually come from a collision estimating database or from the shop's own experience, not from a stopwatch. Paint and materials are commonly billed per refinish hour, which covers paint, clear coat, sandpaper, masking, and similar supplies. Parts are billed at cost plus a markup, and the type matters: OEM, aftermarket, and used or recycled parts price differently and insurers often dictate which one is used. Paintless dent repair and small cosmetic jobs are often flat-priced per panel or per dent. Sublet work such as alignments, glass, or wheel repair is passed through with a markup. Add separate lines for hazardous waste disposal, storage fees for vehicles left after completion, and towing if you arranged it.
| Service | Priced | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Body labor | per hour | $55-100 |
| Refinish (paint) labor | per hour | $55-100 |
| Paint and materials | per refinish hour | $30-45 |
| Frame and structural labor | per hour | $80-150 |
| Paintless dent repair | per dent or panel | $75-450 |
| Bumper cover repair and refinish | flat fee | $350-900 |
| Full panel repaint (door, fender, quarter panel) | per panel | $300-700 |
| Mechanical labor (suspension, cooling, A/C after collision) | per hour | $90-160 |
Typical US ranges. Rates vary by region, experience, and job size.
| Description | Qty | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body labor: repair right front fender, replace bumper cover, align hood and headlamp | 8.5 hours | $70.00 | $595.00 |
| Refinish labor: fender, bumper cover, blend hood and door | 6.2 hours | $70.00 | $434.00 |
| Paint and materials | 6.2 refinish hours | $38.00 | $235.60 |
| Parts: aftermarket certified bumper cover | 1 each | $285.00 | $285.00 |
| Parts: headlamp assembly (OEM), clips and hardware | 1 lot | $410.00 | $410.00 |
| Hazardous waste and shop supplies fee | 1 flat fee | $35.00 | $35.00 |
| Total | $1,994.60 | ||
Notes: Insurance deductible of $500 due at vehicle pickup. Balance billed to the insurance carrier under claim approval. Repairs carry a written lifetime warranty on workmanship and paint for as long as the original owner holds the vehicle. Storage fee of $40 per day applies starting 3 days after notice that the vehicle is ready.
Identifies the exact vehicle and paint formula, and protects you if a dispute arises about the condition or mileage when it arrived.
Lets the insurer match your bill to the claim and shows the customer exactly what they owe versus what the carrier covers.
Each type has a different rate, and insurers and customers expect to see hours tied to specific repairs.
Insurers may only approve certain part types, and customers have a right to know what went into their car.
Keeps refinish supply costs from looking like padded labor and matches how estimating systems report them.
Alignments, glass, or hidden damage found after teardown should be itemized with the approval date so the final total ties back to what was authorized.
Puts your workmanship warranty and any storage charges in writing before a disagreement over either.
Individual customers paying out of pocket are commonly asked for a deposit, often 25 to 50 percent, before parts are ordered, with the balance due in full at pickup. Many shops hold the keys until payment clears. For insurance jobs, the customer pays the deductible at pickup and the carrier pays the rest, usually within 15 to 30 days of the final invoice and sign-off. Shops typically accept cards, checks, and cash, and some work with repair financing for larger jobs. Large cash payments, card chargebacks, and carrier payments sent to the customer instead of the shop are common friction points, so get a direction to pay or assignment of benefits signed where your state allows it. Storage fees for vehicles left after completion are normal, but state the amount and start date in writing, and check your local rules on lien and storage notice before charging them or selling a vehicle.
Hidden damage found after teardown is routine. Photograph it, send the supplement to the adjuster or customer, and get approval in writing before doing the work. Unapproved extra repairs are the most common reason final invoices get disputed or cut.
Dated photos of existing damage, dents, and scratches that are not part of the claim protect you from complaints that your shop caused them. Attach or reference them in the file.
Collect the deductible or customer-paid balance at delivery. Releasing the car first makes collection much harder, and a mechanic's lien generally depends on you holding the vehicle or following your state's process.
If the insurer authorizes aftermarket and you install OEM at the customer's request, bill the difference to the customer on a separate line and get their sign-off first.
Use the same line structure on both documents. When the final bill follows the approved estimate plus documented supplements, adjusters and customers have little to question.
Many shops use one invoice showing the total repair cost, then show the deductible due from the customer and the balance due from the insurer. Some carriers require their own form or an estimating-system export, so check what each carrier accepts. Either way, the claim number and deductible should be clearly stated.
In many states you can, if you disclosed the fee in writing before or when the work was authorized and gave notice that the vehicle was ready. Rules on amounts, notice, and what you can do about abandoned vehicles vary, so check your state's rules before enforcing them.
The standard approach is a flat rate per refinish labor hour. If you refinish a panel for 2.5 hours at a $38 materials rate, the paint and materials line is $95. Some shops use actual material cost plus markup, but the per-hour rate is what insurers and estimating systems expect.
Many policies pay a reasonable amount, not your rate, and customers may owe the difference unless the shop agreed to accept the carrier's amount. Tell the customer before starting if there might be a gap. Keep your documentation, such as photos and a supplement request, to support a request for the difference.
It depends on the state. Parts and materials are commonly taxable, while labor is taxable in only some states. Check with your state's department of revenue or an accountant, and show tax as its own line on the invoice.
Send a Auto Body Repair estimate for approval, then turn it into an invoice when the work is done.
Auto Body Repair estimate template