The first round of judging for the 2025 Paint & Panel Awards has concluded.
Not a single complaint was uttered against insurance companies for the first year ever. What does this mean? I think people have worked out who they work best with, curate those relationships and get on with repairing cars, satisfying customers and making a crust for themselves and their team.
According to IAG claims are down the most in Queensland but everywhere else is pretty consistent barring school holiday disruptions. No one was complaining about a lack of work and while many businesses aren’t as booked out weeks ahead as they were – there’s plenty of work to go around.
Everyone we visited is EV trained. We noticed Xpeng are setting up an approved repairer network, but parts from Chinese EVs on the whole are proving troublesome to source.
There was a good showing in the dealer category this year as well as many strong country repairers. We were very impressed with Collision Panel & Paint in Taree who were new to the Bodyshop Awards. Meanwhile in Tamworth, Sampsons never fails to impress – two owners with OCD equals immaculate workplace.
It was great to see a number of Fix Auto branches throw their hats in the ring this year. The businesses we visited were all thriving and focussed on growth and expansion.
In person visits in NSW ranged from the small but beautiful Len Hollis Repair Facility – which still has some of the most bougie customer toilets in the country and there’s still competition these days. For jaw drop to floor there was ESR bespoke. Brand spanking new and not at full tilt yet this is a shop treated to extreme attention to detail.

Everything is discreetly tucked away – there’s nothing to distract from the hyper cars being fettled and kissed all better. The customer reception/office has leather wallpaper and is designed to appeal to its high class predominantly male customers. I felt an overwhelming urge to light a cigar and reach for a tumbler of 100 year old malt.
The effervescent Dan Maher from L&M Smash Repairs has a great workshop with at least six apprentices on the go - his commitment to bringing on the next generation is commendable. We also visited two dealer shops - Alto in Artarmon is in a positive transition phase and Lexus Body & Paint in Chatswood has invested in next level customer facilities and has a very well organised workshop.
Finalists for the awards will be announced in September after the second round of judging later this month. Thank you to all of this year's awards sponsors.