function calculateRepairEstimate() {
var damageType = document.getElementById("damageType").value;
var panelAffected = document.getElementById("panelAffected").value;
var panelMaterial = document.getElementById("panelMaterial").value;
var paintFinish = document.getElementById("paintFinish").value;
var partsCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById("partsCost").value);
var laborRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("laborRate").value);
var additionalPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("additionalPercentage").value);
// Input validation
if (isNaN(partsCost) || partsCost < 0) {
partsCost = 0;
}
if (isNaN(laborRate) || laborRate <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid Shop Labor Rate (e.g., 85).");
return;
}
if (isNaN(additionalPercentage) || additionalPercentage 100) {
additionalPercentage = 10; // Default to 10% if invalid
}
var repairLaborHours = 0;
var paintMaterialCost = 0;
// 1. Determine Base Repair Labor Hours based on Damage Type
switch (damageType) {
case "scratch":
repairLaborHours = 2; // Minor sanding, filling, prep
break;
case "minorDent":
repairLaborHours = 5; // PDR or minor bodywork
break;
case "moderateDent":
repairLaborHours = 10; // More extensive bodywork, filler, shaping
break;
case "majorCollision":
repairLaborHours = 20; // Significant bodywork, potential panel replacement prep
break;
}
// 2. Adjust Repair Labor Hours based on Panel Affected
switch (panelAffected) {
case "bumper":
repairLaborHours += 0; // Often replaced or simpler plastic repair
break;
case "fender":
repairLaborHours += 1;
break;
case "door":
repairLaborHours += 2;
break;
case "hood":
repairLaborHours += 3;
break;
case "trunk":
repairLaborHours += 2;
break;
case "quarterPanel":
repairLaborHours += 5; // Welded panel, more complex, often involves blending
break;
case "roof":
repairLaborHours += 7; // Most complex, often involves interior removal, structural considerations
break;
}
// 3. Adjust Repair Labor Hours based on Panel Material
switch (panelMaterial) {
case "steel":
repairLaborHours += 0;
break;
case "aluminum":
repairLaborHours += 3; // Harder to repair, specialized tools and techniques
break;
case "plastic":
repairLaborHours -= 1; // If repairable, often quicker than metal, but sometimes replacement is cheaper
break;
}
// Ensure labor hours don't go below a minimum for any repair
if (repairLaborHours < 1) repairLaborHours = 1;
// 4. Determine Paint Material Cost
switch (paintFinish) {
case "standard":
paintMaterialCost = 150; // Base cost for solid color materials
break;
case "metallic":
paintMaterialCost = 350; // Higher cost for metallic/pearl pigments
break;
case "triCoat":
paintMaterialCost = 600; // Highest cost for multi-stage paint systems
break;
}
// 5. Calculate Paint Labor Hours (prep, masking, spraying, curing, blending)
// A common rule of thumb is a base amount plus a percentage of repair labor
var paintLaborHours = 2 + (repairLaborHours * 0.5); // 2 hours base + 50% of repair hours for prep/paint
// 6. Calculate Total Labor Cost
var totalLaborHours = repairLaborHours + paintLaborHours;
var totalLaborCost = totalLaborHours * laborRate;
// 7. Calculate Subtotal (Labor + Parts + Paint Materials)
var subtotal = totalLaborCost + partsCost + paintMaterialCost;
// 8. Calculate Additional Materials/Supplies Cost
var additionalCost = subtotal * (additionalPercentage / 100);
// 9. Calculate Grand Total
var grandTotal = subtotal + additionalCost;
// Display Results
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
resultDiv.innerHTML = `
Estimated Repair Breakdown:
Estimated Repair Labor Hours: ${repairLaborHours.toFixed(1)} hours
Estimated Paint Labor Hours: ${paintLaborHours.toFixed(1)} hours
Total Estimated Labor Cost: $${totalLaborCost.toFixed(2)}
Estimated Parts Cost: $${partsCost.toFixed(2)}
Estimated Paint Material Cost: $${paintMaterialCost.toFixed(2)}
Estimated Additional Materials/Supplies: $${additionalCost.toFixed(2)} (${additionalPercentage.toFixed(0)}%)
Total Estimated Repair Cost:$${grandTotal.toFixed(2)}This is an estimate. Actual costs may vary based on detailed inspection, hidden damage, specific vehicle model, and shop rates.
`;
}
Understanding Your Car Body Repair Estimate
Getting into a fender bender or finding a new dent on your car is never fun, but understanding the potential costs of repair can help ease the stress. A car body repair estimate isn't just a single number; it's a detailed breakdown of labor, parts, paint, and other materials required to restore your vehicle to its pre-damage condition. Our Car Body Repair Estimate Calculator helps you get a preliminary idea of what to expect.
Key Factors Influencing Repair Costs:
Type of Damage: A minor scratch or scuff will naturally cost less to fix than a deep dent or extensive collision damage that might involve structural repairs. The severity dictates the amount of labor and specialized techniques required.
Panel Affected: Different body panels have varying complexities and accessibility. A fender or bumper might be relatively straightforward, while a door, hood, or especially a quarter panel or roof, can involve more intricate work, including welding, panel alignment, and interior component removal.
Panel Material: Modern vehicles use a variety of materials, including steel, aluminum, and various plastics. Aluminum repairs often require specialized tools and techniques, increasing labor costs. Plastic bumpers can sometimes be repaired, but often replacement is more cost-effective.
Paint Finish Type: The cost of painting is significantly influenced by the type of paint. Standard solid colors are the least expensive. Metallic or pearl finishes require more material and skill to match and apply. Tri-coat pearl paints, which involve three distinct layers, are the most expensive due to the complexity and material cost.
Parts Cost: If a panel is too damaged to repair, or if components like headlights, grilles, or sensors are broken, replacement parts will be needed. The cost of these parts can vary widely depending on whether they are OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer), aftermarket, or used.
Shop Labor Rate: Labor is a significant portion of any repair bill. Shop rates vary by location, shop reputation, and technician expertise, typically ranging from $75 to $120 per hour.
Additional Materials and Supplies: Beyond the main parts and paint, shops use a variety of consumables like sandpaper, masking tape, solvents, body fillers, and other shop supplies. These are often charged as a percentage of the total labor and parts cost, usually between 5-15%.
How Our Calculator Works:
Our calculator takes into account the primary variables mentioned above to provide an estimated cost. By selecting the type of damage, the affected panel, its material, and the paint finish, along with your local labor rate and an estimated parts cost, the tool calculates:
Estimated Repair Labor Hours: Based on the complexity of the damage and panel.
Estimated Paint Labor Hours: Includes prep, masking, spraying, and curing.
Total Estimated Labor Cost: Sum of repair and paint labor hours multiplied by the shop rate.
Estimated Parts Cost: The value you input for any necessary replacement parts.
Estimated Paint Material Cost: Based on the selected paint finish type.
Estimated Additional Materials/Supplies: A percentage of the subtotal to cover consumables.
Total Estimated Repair Cost: The sum of all these components.
While this calculator provides a helpful preliminary estimate, it's crucial to remember that it cannot account for hidden damage, specific vehicle models, or the exact nuances of every repair. Always obtain detailed quotes from certified body shops after a thorough inspection for an accurate assessment.