Question
How much does a clear coat respray cost?
I have a 2010 Jeep Wrangler that belonged to my grandfather. The clear coat is peeling away on the hood and across some other panels. How much does a clear coat respray cost? I don’t have a big budget and don’t necessarily need the Jeep to be fully restored to its former glory.
The Answer
Clear coat is a transparent layer of paint that’s usually applied over a layer of colored paint. The average cost of painting a car ranges from $300 to more than $20,000, according to the American Automobile Association (AAA).
So, on the high end, a professional clear coat respray will cost thousands of dollars. On the low end, well… a can of Rust-Oleum clear spray paint costs under $25 at Auto Zone.
Clear coat can give a car a shiny look, but it also has a protective function, preventing damage from the sun’s rays, road salt, and of course, bird droppings. It provides a level of protection from rain and snow, preventing rust.
That said, a layer of clear coat is typically only 1.5 to 2 millimeters thick, and it can deteriorate, crack or fade. Some people also complain of “crazing” — clear coat splitting in a pattern like a spider web, or broken glass.
Refinishing a car’s clear coat can be tricky. First the affected area needs to be sanded down. It’s difficult to do so without messing up the underlying paint. Depending on the damage, the paint, and possibly even primer beneath that, might have to be resprayed in addition to fresh clear coat.
In 2024, a class-action lawsuit alleged that the clear coat on Toyota pickup trucks was oxidizing prematurely and leading to faded paint. The lead plaintiff in that case said that body shop estimates to repair the problem totaled around $6,000. A similar lawsuit was filed the same year against Hyundai, with repair estimates in that case ranging from $200 to $1,800.
What to know about the cost
A professional clear coat repair might seem expensive, but keep in mind that an expert will use highly specialized tools, like an ultrasonic paint thickness gauge to measure exactly how much primer, paint and clear coat is on the body part; and a gloss meter to measure how much reflection is given off by the finish. They’ll sand and repaint as needed, to exacting standards. If your car has matte paint, which has become popular in recent years, it’s even harder to touch up spots—it’s recommended that you repaint the entire panel.
You could try to fix your vehicle’s paint job yourself by sanding the affected area yourself (use extra fine sandpaper) then spray on matching paint, followed by a clear coat. To keep costs down, you could treat only the hood—or, alternately, replace it.
To keep your car’s finish looking spiffy, be sure to wash it only with gentle cleaners and promptly repair any chips, scratches, or dings so the coating doesn’t peel and rust doesn’t form. If you’re really serious about your car’s finish, you might consider putting a ceramic coating or paint protection film over the clear coat.
Deirdra Funcheon is a journalist with a master\\\’s degree from Boston University and more than 20 years of experience covering a broad range of topics. She has worked at Univision (on the investigative team at Fusion), Axios (where she covered Miami-area news) and Bisnow (covering the commercial real estate industry). At Jerry, she aims to empower drivers with knowledge about how their vehicles work and how best to handle repairs, insurance and other complications of car ownership.
