Rust Repairs & Proofing

Did you realise that rust is one of the reasons that your vehicle could fail a warrant of fitness? Shepherd and Kime are Christchurch's experienced panel beaters who love eliminating rust.

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And it's not just old vehicles

Even new vehicles can suffer from a rust attack, especially since most Kiwis drive their vehicles – for work and play – in high corrosion zones. Live near the coast? Spending time at the beach? It's not unheard of for cars and vans and utes no more than a couple of years old to be hiding the beginnings of rust spots inside the doors, under the guards or boot lid, in the sills… underbody corrosion is something to take seriously as a vehicle owner.

And of course, as specialist panel beaters, we do rust repairs for owners of vintage and classic cars as part of restorations big and small. But we're also constantly on the lookout for patches of the pesky stuff during all our projects. We frequently recommend to drivers they take advantage of our rust-proofing processes to give greater protection to the visible and invisible steel and metal components. Talk to us about rust repairs and rustproofing.

Stop Rust Quick

Rust is not something you want to delay taking action on. As soon as you discover your vehicle has rust, we need to talk about repair options.

New Cars Aren't Immune

Vehicle manufacturers can only do so much to protect a car from rust. Every car needs to be kept away from salt air and other corrosive elements.

Inside and Outside

When it comes to repairing or protecting your vehicle from rust, both underneath as well as in all the cavities, we are Christchurch's rust-busters.

Worried About Rust Under Your 4WD?

Get an instant rust protection estimate in under a minute - no phone calls, no waiting.

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The Reality of Rust

Your New 4WD Is Already Rusting

How Rust Takes Hold

First Signs

6–12 months

Surface oxidation in hidden cavities - chassis rails, sills, wheel arches. You won't see it yet.

Taking Hold

12–24 months

Rust breaks through coatings. Pitting on underbody components. WoF failures become likely.

Critical

2–4 years

Holes in structural panels. Repair costs can exceed vehicle value - a $70k 4WD written off.

The New Car FallacyManufacturers warranty their paint against defects, not against corrosion. Factory cavity wax is thin, patchy, and designed for showrooms, not salt air. By the time the dealer's "rust warranty" kicks in, the damage is done and the exclusions are airtight. Rust-proofing isn't an add-on for new 4WDs - it's the protection they should have come with.

1 in 3

NZ vehicles show visible rust within 5 years of coastal driving

6 months

Salt exposure can begin corroding untreated metal in half a year

$4,200

Average cost to repair structural rust once it takes hold

70%

Of a vehicle's value can be lost once rust becomes structural

Stop It Before It Starts

Prolan rust-proofing applied to your new 4WD creates an impenetrable barrier in every cavity, seam, and underbody surface. One treatment. Lifetime warranty. Total peace of mind for your investment - whether you're hitting the beaches of Coromandel or the stations of the Mackenzie.

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From the Workshop