
In the UAE, repairing a damaged side skirt (the plastic trim under the doors) typically costs between AED 300 to AED 600 for common sedans like the Camry or Nissan Sunny, while a full replacement at a dealership for a Toyota Land Cruiser or Nissan Patrol ranges from AED 1,800 to AED 3,500, including parts and labor. The choice depends on the damage severity and your car's model year. Minor scratches from parking in tight Dubai mall spaces can often be sanded and repainted. For cracks from hitting a high curb—common with GCC-spec suspensions on rough roads—plastic welding at a reputable garage is viable for ABS plastic parts. However, severe damage from a desert off-road incident usually necessitates replacement. Consider the vehicle's age and value: For a 2018 Toyota Hilux with 120,000 km, a AED 2,500+ replacement might not be cost-effective versus a good repair. The RTA Dubai's vehicle inspection guidelines emphasize the importance of intact body panels for safety, and MOI UAE traffic regulations consider protruding damaged parts a violation. Always check your agency service contract; some include limited exterior trim warranty for newer models.

My 2020 Tucson's side skirt got scraped on a high pavement in Sharjah. The Al Quoz garage quoted AED 450 to repair and repaint the section, matching the Pearl White color perfectly. They said since it was just deep scratches and not cracked, repair was better than the AED 1,200 the agency wanted for a new part. After two years, the repair still looks fine, even with weekly car washes.

My 2020 Tucson's side skirt got scraped on a high pavement in Sharjah. The Al Quoz garage quoted AED 450 to repair and repaint the section, matching the Pearl White color perfectly. They said since it was just deep scratches and not cracked, repair was better than the AED 1,200 the agency wanted for a new part. After two years, the repair still looks fine, even with weekly car washes.

For mechanics here, the biggest issue is the dust and heat. We plastic-weld a lot of side skirts on SUVs used for desert camping. The problem isn't just the crack; the sand gets inside and weakens the area. We always advise customers to get the underbody cleaned after a desert trip. For a Pajero or Nissan Patrol, a proper repair with sealing and painting costs around AED 700-900. Replacement is a last resort because the original GCC-spec parts are expensive and sometimes on backorder.










