How do you differ from your competition?

Our company is family owned and operated. It is not a franchise. What this means to you, is that you can expect the same quality and care at each one of our locations. If you have a problem with your paint job, while we would ask you to go back to the center where you got your car painted, that is not a necessity. If you've moved or another situation has come up, we can handle your needs at any of our 28locations. Also, unlike our competition, our warranty is 100% it is not prorated. That means if your paint peels, wrinkles or fades during the warranty period, we'll take care of it at no charge. Our competitors prorate their warranty, which means you'll pay a portion of their full price for warranty work.

Do you do Bodywork?

Yes, our body men are experts at repairing most body and fender repairs. We can handle anything from door dings to insurance estimates. Our labor rate of $38.00* per hour is among the lowest in the industry and we offer free estimates for automotive bodywork.
*Labor rate differs in Albuquerque, NM.

Is Bodywork included in the price of the paint job?

No, a professional must estimate the bodywork and give you a free estimate. There are so many variables that it's impossible to even guess at a cost online or over the phone.

How much does an estimate cost?

Estimates are free and 95% of our estimates usually take 10 minutes or less. With heavy collision jobs an estimate could take up to 1 hour depending on the amount of damage.

Can I change the color of my car?

Sure, we do color changes all the time. And at 1-Day Paint & Body Centers we give you an option: (1) we can paint inside your doorjambs, under the hood, and under the deck lid for an additional charge, or (2) we can just paint the exterior of your car for no extra charge.

How much extra does all of this cost?

The Options and Extras page can give you a better idea. As far as estimating bodywork and parts, you'll have to stop by one of our 28 locations and get a free estimate.

What is special prep?

Special prep is a term used in the industry to correctly repair a condition known as lacquer checking or clear coat delamination. If your car is badly faded or if the paint appears chalky you may have these conditions. There is an extra charge and we may need to keep your car for an extra day or two. But the best way to tell is to stop in for a free estimate before you paint your car.

What is color sand and buff?

When you apply a basecoat/clear coat finish (Plus 4) to your car you get the opportunity to buff the clear coat. Every paint job (Even new cars) has a condition called orange peel. This literally looks like the peel of an orange. In other words it isn't perfectly smooth. The only way to eliminate orange peel is to color sand and buff the clear coat.

A buffer uses a very fine grit polish to sand down the clear without damaging the color. When the buffer is done the paint job looks very close to the finish on a mirror. Perhaps you've heard the term "mirror-like finish". Some custom car painters can charge up to $15,000 for a mirror-like finish. At 1-Day we can't match those paint jobs but we can give you a fantastic "close to mirror-like finish" for only $1,595.

Can you really paint a car in one day?

When we opened our company in 1967 painting a car in a day was no problem. Today, however that is seldom the case. New environmentally safe paints take a little longer to apply, as do primers. Our average length of time to repair a car is 2-3 days.

Can you paint a car if it's raining or snowing?

Yes, our paint booths are temperature controlled. Cold weather and rain affect dry time and sprayability only. Our booths maintain a constant 75 degree temperature regardless of the weather outside.

Do you oven bake the car?

Yes, our ovens reach temperatures of 120 degrees, perfect for drying your paint but not so hot as to affect computer chips found in many of today's cars. Your car is dried in an enclosed pressurized booth to minimize dust.

Are trucks and Vans extra?

Yes, how much will be determined by the type of vehicle you have. Stop by any of our 28 locations for a free estimate.