How much does paint correction cost?

Paint correction is priced by how much work the paint needs, and that comes down to stages. A single-stage polish, which removes light swirl marks and restores gloss, is the entry point and starts around $275. Paint with deeper swirls, scratches, water spots, or oxidation needs multiple stages, a heavier compound followed by refining polishes, and the labor for that pushes the price up, often into the $500 to $800 range or beyond on a large or badly neglected vehicle.

Vehicle size factors in too, since a big truck or SUV has far more panel area to work than a compact car. The condition of the starting paint is the bigger driver, though: a car that has been washed carefully needs far less than one that has cycled through automatic brush washes for years.

Correction is also the recommended step before a ceramic coating, since the coating locks in whatever is underneath. Many owners pair the two, correcting the paint and then sealing the corrected finish so the gloss lasts for years. Car Hub evaluates the paint and quotes the number of stages it actually needs rather than charging for work the finish does not require.