How to Fix Paint Scratches

No matter how well you take care of your car, scratches, chips and other imperfections are inevitable. All it takes is one rogue shopping cart or an angry ex to totally ruin your paint job. A little know-how in fixing car scratches saves you money. 

Taking your car to a professional body shop could cost you a small fortune in repairs. Luckily, you can remove most scratches from a car at home with a few simple tools and a bit of elbow grease. Keep reading to find out how to fix a car scratch and restore your vehicle to its original beauty.

Types of Car Scratches 

Depending on whom you consult, car scratches can come in anywhere from three to five different types. The basic three types are clear-coat scratches, color-coat scratches and primer scratches.

1. Clear Coat Scratches 

Your car’s clear coat is its outermost layer of paint, consisting of a transparent coating to protect what’s underneath. This level of removing scratches from your vehicle is the easiest to DIY, even for beginners. Types of clear-coat damage include: 

• Scuff marks
• Surface-level scratches, such as those from a small tree branch
• Slightly deeper scratches that don’t penetrate the paint layer 

You can see clear coat scratches but may not feel them, depending on how sensitive you are. Most of these scratches you can easily buff out. 

How to Buff Out Scratches on a Car 

To buff out scratches on a car’s clear coat, you’ll need the following tools:

• Soap and water
• Microfiber cloth
• Scratch remover, such as Carfidant’s Scratch and Swirl Remover

Begin by washing the affected area — although soap drips. It wouldn’t hurt to clean your entire car. Then, apply scratch remover with a microfiber cloth. Apply a small amount to the cloth and buff in a circular motion over the scratch until you can no longer see it. Voila! Now, hitch your thumbs through your overalls, lean back and nod approvingly at the savvy repair job you’ve done, you bodywork master, you. 

2. Color Coat Scratches 

Your color coat is what gives your vehicle its signature hue and lies beneath your clear coat. These may occur from brushing against trees while driving or having a close encounter with an unhappy ex. Although these don’t expose the metal on your car, they cut closer to the “bone,” leaving you more prone to rust if you leave them unaddressed.

The bad news? This repair job entails a bit of paint. However, you can DIY. It all depends on your access to a suitable garage, your level of confidence and the available time and patience you have remaining after a busy work week for tinkering on your ride. 

3. Primer Scratches 

Primer scratches are the most severe, as they protect your car’s metal. They typically result from collisions, which may or may not involve another vehicle. What’s important to keep in mind is that this damage immediately exposes your car to rust and may affect its resale value. Taking swift action is crucial. 

Removing Scratches from a Car 101: Your 6-Step Guide to How to Fix a Car Scratch

You’ve decided to DIY. The precise formula you’ll use to fix a car scratch depends on the depth of the damage. However, the first three steps and the final one remain the same. 

1. Wash and Prep 

Before you even think about fixing a nasty scratch, you must wash and prep your car. Start by dousing your vehicle in car shampoo and giving it a good scrub with a microfiber cloth. Doing so will remove any buildup, so you have a clean surface to work with. 

Pro-tip: Do not wax your ride after you wash it. You want it as bare and clean as possible for assessing damage and for the process of removing scratches from your car. 

Once it’s rinsed and completely dry, you can tape off the area with masking tape and newspaper. This step is especially important if you’re fixing a large area or a deep scratch — more on that later. However, you should also do so when getting rid of white scratches to avoid drips and other mistakes. 

2. Assess the Damage

Now that your car is free of dirt and debris, you can accurately assess the scratch. Gently run your fingernail across the damaged area. If you can feel the groove but it doesn’t catch your nail, you’re likely dealing with a color coat-level scratch, which is the easiest kind to fix. 

On the other hand, if your fingernail catches, the scratch has dug down to the base coat and will be more difficult to repair. You can still get DIY and avoid a full paint job, but you risk running around with the gray patchwork primer look temporarily. Therefore, you might want to check with your HOA before working on your ride in your driveway. Some of them are mighty picky. 

3. Gather Your Supplies 

You already know that surface-level scratches that only affect the clear coat will disappear with a polishing compound and some elbow grease. Polishing is also an effective way to prevent rusting on your vehicle. 

Fixing color-coat paint scratches entails removing some of the clear coat, so ensure you have everything you need before you begin. Gather the following supplies:

• Multiple grains of sandpaper. A mechanical sander can spare your aching arms some agony while doing a better job. Cutting compound is also optional but can help remove clear coating from a specific area.
• Microfiber cloths
• Masking tape and film
• Microapplicator, spray gun or vehicle paint application kit
• Primer 
• Paint
• Clear coat 
• Eye protection and face mask
• Tarps to protect your garage floor 
• Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty

How to Get Rid of White Scratches on a Car

Getting rid of white scratches on a car refers to removing color coat scratches. Although this DIY project may seem intimidating at first, it’s less so than other chores like changing headlights or other electrical components. There’s no need to disconnect the battery, and if you make a mistake, it only affects your car’s appearance, not its functionality. 

4. Sand the Area 

First, use ultra-fine 3,000 to 5,000 grit sandpaper or some toothpaste and gently sand the area until the finish looks dull and the scratch isn’t as obvious. Run your finger over the surface — you shouldn’t be able to feel the indentation any longer. 

Then, wipe the surface with a dry microfiber towel. Be careful to remove all dust to avoid a grainy paint job. You may wish to stop and wash the car again before proceeding to the next step. 

5. Paint

Color-coat scratches rarely require you to reapply primer as you only remove the clear coat and topmost paint layer to even out the indentation. Choose a touch-up paint that matches your original color — check your owner’s manual for an exact match. 

Apply each coat evenly over the affected area. Sand the area with super-fine sandpaper between each coat and finish the process off with a little wet-sanding. Finalize your work with one clear coat to seal everything and add a little shine. 

6. Polish 

Allow the clear coat to dry overnight. Then, polish the newly painted area to match the rest of your car. Use a circular motion and a microfiber towel to rub it in until all the polish is gone. An overall wax can also help it blend, so grab your orbital buffer and get to work. When you’re done, your vehicle should look good as new — or close to it!

How to Remove Deep Scratches From a Car 

Removing deep scratches from a car follows roughly the same procedure. However, it takes a slightly different approach and a longer time. Here’s what to do.

4 (deep). Sanding

Removing deep scratches from a car will likely require rougher sandpaper with about 2,000 grit or less. Sand in the direction of the scratch and go to town until you reach your vehicle’s metal panel. In other words, fully remove the paint. While it may feel horribly wrong to cause even more damage to your beloved car, you must make the scratch worse before making it better. 

5 (deep). Primer and Paint

Wipe the area with a microfiber cloth, but do not wash the bare metal — you want to avoid contact with water. Then, coat it in sandable primer that matches your car’s original paint job. Follow the instructions on the aerosol can and wait a few minutes between each coat. 

You may need to let the primer dry before proceeding to the paint step. The right sprayer assists in applying a smooth, even coat. Follow the instructions for the number of coats but use your judgment — your goal is to match the rest of your ride. Finish with a clear top coat. 

6 (deep). Polish 

Finally, polish your car, using the same procedure as you would to get rid of white scratches. 

Fixing Car Scratches on the Fly: Quick Fixes 

Of course, if you don’t have the time or money to spend on fixing your car scratches via the above methods, your best bet is to use a quick fix like a miracle paint pen. Use your car’s factory paint code to find a pen that matches and go to town on those scratches. You might also try a scratch removal product to address light chips and scratches and restore shine to your car’s topcoat.

Preventing Paint Scratches in the First Place

As the cliche goes, prevention is the best cure. Unfortunately, it’s impossible to safeguard against every paint scratch on your ride. Life happens. However, you can catch minor problems before they snowball into larger headaches by adding periodic inspections to your car maintenance checklist. 

Additionally, ensure you use the right tools while washing and waxing your car. Microfiber cloths cost little and provide sufficient abrasion to remove debris without damaging your clear coat. Avoid using paper towels or even standard dish models, which can mar the surface. 

Finally, slow down and drive mindfully. It’s admittedly easier said than done in a world full of deadlines and relentless pressure to do more faster. However, you rarely shave off that many minutes by driving like a maniac, and it can take far longer to undo careless damage to your car than it would to take a deep breath and relax behind the wheel. 

FAQs About Fixing Car Scratches

Here are answers to some of your most frequently asked questions about fixing car scratches. 

1. Is It Better to Simply Paint Your Entire Car? 

In some cases, yes, but most of the time, no. You might want to paint your entire car if one of two conditions apply: 

• You cannot match the manufacturer’s original color:  Unfortunately, some paints go out of production, just like certain vehicle models. If you can’t find an exact match and you have a significant patch to cover, you might be better off coating your entire vehicle to avoid a mismatch. 
• Your insurance covers it: You must tread carefully with insurance claims, as filing them can raise your rates. However, if you were in an accident, your ride requires additional repairs, and you get a sufficient payout, why not let a body shop do the heavy lifting? 

2. Does Buffing Remove Scratches Entirely?

Buffing can make surface scratches look better. However, it won’t repair the damage. Using a scratch remover polishes the clear coat and adds protection, but scratches affecting the color coat or deeper require additional repairs to address fully. 

3. Will WD-40 Fix a Car Scratch? 

WD-40 is a solvent that can camouflage minor scratches by essentially dissolving a bit of the clear coat enough to spread it around. However, doing so too often or over too large of a surface can cause worse damage by weakening your car’s protective coating. 

4. Will a Magic Eraser Fix a Car Scratch? 

Magic Erasers are abrasive sponges that contain a solvent cleaner. They work similarly to WD-40, but the rough surface can cause further scratches. Most experts do not recommend this method of camouflaging minor scratches. 

How to Fix a Car Scratch

Knowing how to fix a car scratch saves you cash. It’s also an accessible first-time DIY project, as it doesn’t require you to address any functional components of your ride. However, building confidence by tackling minor cosmetic repairs can whet your appetite for tougher automotive projects. 

Use this guide for removing scratches from your car while they remain minor issues to keep them from snowballing into major headaches. Fixing car scratches isn’t difficult but is a crucial factor in maintaining the overall resale value of your ride.