Safe driving isn’t perfect, and even the most careful drivers sometimes get their cars scratched for various reasons. It can be both frustrating and annoying to see your vehicle showcasing a big, ugly scratch because of someone else’s clumsy driving, especially if it just got a new paint job or a wax finish.
Fortunately, you don’t have to resign yourself to high repair fees to fix a few deep scratches. With this guide, you can learn how to fix deep scratches on your car.
Bear in mind, while these practices are effective, large or very deep scratches may require professional service for a complete repair. However, these tips should repair most scratches. Let’s cover a few different methods for fixing deep scratches in your car.
How to Remove Deep Scratches From Car – 4 Easy Methods
Method 1: Using A Touch-Up Paint Pen
Using a touch-up paint pen is an effective method for addressing minor scratches, particularly those that affect the clear coat or slightly go into the base coat. It’s essential to find a paint pen that closely matches your car’s paintwork for a seamless repair.
After cleaning the scratched area with car wash soap and drying it with a microfiber cloth, apply the paint in layers, allowing each to dry as per the manufacturer’s instructions. This method is ideal for small scratches and scuffs where the bare metal isn’t exposed, ensuring a simple and efficient DIY repair.
Method 2: Using A Scratch Repair Kit
Scratch repair kits, sourced from professional auto shops, are highly effective for a range of scratch types, from light scratches to more noticeable deeper scratches. These kits typically include a scratch-removing compound, a microfiber cloth or buffing pad, and sometimes additional polishing solutions or a clear coat applicator.
The key is to thoroughly clean the scratched area, perhaps using a car wash soap, before applying the compound. Apply the compound in a circular motion as instructed, then gently buff the area with the provided pad.
This process not only removes the scratch but also helps in blending the area with the surrounding paintwork. Finally, applying the included polish or wax can restore the shine to your paint job, protecting the area against future scuffs and scratches.
Method 3: Using Car Polish For Minor Surface Scratches
Car polish, an ideal solution for light scratches, typically contains mild abrasives that gently smooth out imperfections in the automotive paint. For minor scratches and small scratches on your vehicle, select a car polish that is compatible with your vehicle’s paint job.
Apply a small amount of the polish to a microfiber cloth or soft cloth. Carefully rub the polish into the light scratches using a circular motion. The gentle abrasion process will gradually minimize the appearance of the scratch.
After working the polish into the scratched area, use a clean section of the cloth to buff the surface. This restores its shine and helps in blending the repair into the surrounding paintwork, ensuring a seamless car care routine.
Method 4: Wet Sanding And Polishing For Deeper Scratches
For deeper scratches that reach the base coat or bare metal, wet sanding followed by polishing can be an effective method. This advanced car scratch repair technique involves using 2000-grit and 3000-grit wet/dry sandpaper, suitable for automotive paint.
Start by wetting the sandpaper and gently sanding the scratched area. Use the coarser 2000-grit sandpaper for dealing with base coat scratches, progressing to the finer 3000-grit for a smoother finish on the layer of paint.
After sanding, clean the area thoroughly to eliminate any grit and sanding dust. Next, apply a car polish, as described in Method 3, to restore the shine to the sanded area. Conclude by applying car wax, which not only seals the repair but also adds a protective layer, particularly crucial if the scratch had exposed the bare metal.
This method requires careful execution to avoid additional damage to the paintwork and maintain the car’s paint-scratch-free appearance.
Different Types of Scratches on Cars and How to Fix Them
Three main types of scratches that can occur on your car: clear coat scratches, Paint scratches, and deep scratches.
Finding the right remedy to repair a scratch depends on the type and depth of the car scratch damage. Is it a surface scuff, or does it expose the metal of the vehicle? The factory finish on modern vehicles is comprised of three layers:
- A clear coat of lacquer adds protection against UV rays and oxidation.
- A base semi-gloss color coat which may contain a more expensive flake or pearlescence on premium models.
- A primer sprayed on bare metal panels is designed to make the area uniform and ready for the subsequent application.
Knowing the layers of your car paint will help you determine the correct approach to take. If a scratch hasn’t penetrated down to the color coat, for example, you shouldn’t feel any indentation by gently gliding the back of your knuckle over the blemish.
1. Clear-coat scratches.
A clear coat is the topmost layer of the car’s painted surface; it is transparent and provides the paint with a gloss. It also protects the paint surface from direct contact with elements, thus ensuring its longevity.
Scratches on the clear coat surface are caused by everyday wear and tear; this can include dusting, washing, and other minor scratches.
How do you spot clear-coat scratches? Scratches on the clear coat are visible upon close inspection and under light, they look like swirls, whorls, straight lines, and sometimes white lines.
How To Fix Clear Coat Scratches?
These are scratches that are only on the surface of the paint and can be easily fixed. To fix surface scratches, follow these steps:
Step 1: Clean the Area.
Use car wash soap and water to clean the area around the scratch. Dry the area thoroughly before proceeding. Here are some car cleaning hacks that you can follow for an effective cleaning.
Step 2: Apply Scratch Remover.
Apply a small amount of scratch remover compound to a microfiber cloth. Rub the compound into the scratch using a circular motion. Apply light pressure and continue buffing the area until the scratch disappears.
Step 3: Apply Car Polish.
Once the scratch is gone, apply a small amount of car polish to a clean microfiber cloth and buff the area to restore the shine. Find out more about cleaning with polish here.
2. Paint Scratches
Paint scratches, or base-coat scratches, extend down into the enamel color layer of your car’s finish. Scratches on this layer happen if your car comes in contact with a rigid and abrasive surface like a wall when you intend to park or a metal pole or if someone decides to run a key on your car surface.
Paint scratches are deeper and more difficult to fix than clear coat scratches. You may get them from a minor collision (like hitting a tree branch while driving) or if someone purposely scratched your vehicle.
Since these scratches remove the color from your vehicle’s paint, you’ll need to have the spots repainted to get rid of them. You can fix some of these scratches using DIY touch-up paint, but it’s best to leave the job to a professional if the damage is extensive.
How Do you spot Paint scratches? Paint scratches are usually easier to see than clear coat scratches. The paint may appear white or discolored, and the scratch will be visible in all lights. Still, with this type of scratch you shouldn’t see any exposed metal—if you do, you have a primer scratch (which we cover below).
How To Fix Paint Scratches On A Car?
These are scratches that are more significant and have gone through the clear coat and into the paint. To fix these scratches, you will need to be attentive and use some specific tools. Here are the steps we recommend you take:
Step 1: Clean the Area.
Use car wash soap and water to clean the area around the scratch. Dry the area thoroughly before proceeding.
Step 2: Apply Touch-Up Paint.
Apply a small amount of touch-up paint to the scratch using a toothpick or small brush. Allow the touch-up paint to dry completely. Visit this article to know how to apply touch up paint.
Step 3: Sand the Area.
Sand the area lightly with 2000-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.
Step 4: Apply Rubbing Compound.
Apply a small amount of rubbing compound to a microfiber cloth. Rub the compound into the scratch using a circular motion, applying light pressure. Continue buffing the area until the scratch disappears.
Step 5: Apply Car Polish.
Once the scratch is gone, apply a small amount of car polish to a clean microfiber cloth and buff the area to restore the shine.
3. Deep Scratches (Primer Scratches)
A primer scratch is the deepest and the most destructive of all: it scratches all the three layers and exposes the metal. Breaks your heart, doesn’t it?! It takes an accident or a really severe abrasion to cause a primer scratch.
Primer scratches should be taken care of immediately as the exposed metal is prone to rust and once rust finds its way in, there is little you can do about it, except for changing the part/panel.
How To Fix Deep Scratches on A Car?
As we already mentioned, these are deeper scratches that have gone through the two previous coat layers, straight into the primer coat. Repairing these requires either great care and patience, or a professional’s touch – keep on reading to see how you can attend to it:
Step 1: Clean the Area.
Use car wash soap and water to clean the area around the scratch. Dry the area thoroughly before proceeding.
Step 2: Sand the Area.
Sand the area with 1000-grit sandpaper to remove any rough edges. Sand the area again with 2000-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.
Step 3: Apply Touch-Up Paint.
Apply a small amount of touch-up paint to the scratch using a toothpick or small brush. Allow the touch-up paint to dry completely.
Step 4: Sand the Area.
Sand the area lightly with 2000-grit sandpaper to smooth out the surface.
Step 5: Apply Rubbing Compound.
Apply a small amount of rubbing compound to a microfiber cloth. Rub the compound into the scratch using a circular motion, applying light pressure. Continue buffing the area until the scratch disappears.
Step 6: Apply Car Polish.
Once the scratch is gone, apply a small amount of car polish to a clean microfiber cloth and buff the area to restore the shine.
Related Post: How Much Does It Cost To Paint A Car?
How to Prevent Your Car from Scratches?
There are smart ways to prevent scratches to car paint so you don’t have to deal with the consequences.
- Don’t park where the car is vulnerable. Avoid pulling in next to a vehicle that’s not lined up properly, and don’t park where pedestrians have to pass close to your car. It’s better to choose a spot in an empty area of a parking lot and walk a little farther than risk scratches from adjacent vehicle doors, shopping carts or passersby.
- Allow ample space around the car when you’re driving. Avoid any situation that puts you in too close a proximity to other vehicles, stationary objects, low hanging tree branches or overgrown shrubs that could scrape the paint and cause a scratch.
- Bath your car regularly and carefully. Dirt and grime are abrasive and can easily create nicks, swirls and scratches on a beautiful, shiny finish, so you need to take care when washing your car. Hand washing is safer than using an automatic car wash, but always rinse off accumulated dirt first, starting from the roof on down. Never use a dry cloth or your hands to wipe away dirt instead of washing the car properly.
- Don’t place foreign objects on the car. If you want to protect the paint from scratches, never sit on your car or place an object on the hood or roof for convenience sake.
Even if you take a proactive approach to prevention, scratches can happen. Making a scratch disappear requires specialized skills and equipment, so it’s best left in the hands of a knowledgeable professional. An auto finish expert can assess the damage and tell you whether just a touch up is necessary or if the entire panel needs repainting.
FAQs.
Scratches that affect the clear coat are usually in the shape of circles and whorls and can be seen upon close inspection. Paint scratches can be seen and be felt by touch, these are a bit deeper and affect the paint surface. Primer scratches can immediately be distinguished as these expose the metal of the car.
For deep scrapes on newer cars, a local dealership should have the VIN paint needed to make repairs. You can purchase colors from them for DIY for around $50 to $300 for two ounces. At a dealer, the cost to remove a car scratch can range from $150 to $1000—double the amount for repairs to the hood or doors.
To determine if you can do the job at home, run a fingernail very gently across the area with the scratch. If your nail passes over the scratch without any real resistance, you can fix the issue at home. If your fingernail catches inside the scratch, it may be too deep to repair without professional help.
Car detailing can hide minor scratches through polishing, waxing, and sealing, but it cannot help with deep scratches. For repairing such a car scratch, you need to get professional services for your car’s paint.
So, although these repairs can be done at home with research and minimal cost, a dealership or reputable body shop can give you a professional looking result. Dealerships can charge as much as $50 – $300 for just 2 ounces of a VIN-matched paint, and another $500 or more to actually repair a major scratch.
