No matter how careful you are with your car, it is almost impossible to prevent scratches. Whether you drive it frequently or not, keeping up the shiny paintwork is difficult. Even if your car is parked in a public parking spot, there is a probability that your vehicle may get scratches from careless passers, either by their keys or any other sharp object. But, car scratch repairs are important, irrespective of the scratch being small or big.
Drivers must fix the scratch as soon as possible, otherwise, the damaged paintwork may cause the exposed metal to rust/corrode. Furthermore, scratches may devalue your car, if you want to sell it without car body scratch repair.
Read on to know about different types of scratches and how to repair them:
Different Types of Scratches
Every scratch is different and requires your vehicle to undergo various processes for removing scratches from a car. Scratches like swirl marks may require multiple levels of repair, depending on the damage lurking on the car’s body paint.
Let’s discuss some of the common types of scratches that your car paint is prone to:
Clearcoat Scratch
The clear coat scratch is one of the most common car paint scratches, nonetheless, these types of scratches can be corrected seamlessly. Clearcoat is a thin layer that prevents the vehicle’s paint from UV rays, dust, acids and other damaging stuff. Therefore, this car paint scratch repair is easy.
Clearcoat scratch is caused by using rough mitts and sponges as well as low-quality stuff for washing and drying your vehicle’s exterior. These scratches usually look like swirl marks or appear in round patterns. It is, therefore, recommended that you use high quality detailing and washing material for your car.
Primer Deep Scratch
Primer is a protective layer on the car’s exterior that gives it a shining and smooth look and surface. However, when there is a deep scratch on this layer it is damaging. A primer deep scratch cuts through the clear coat and damages the primer and there is a high probability that the metal body may get rusted. Therefore, you need to treat this scratch on time.
Primer car paint scratch repair is not easy and may require professional assistance.
Paint Embedded Scratch
Paint embedded scratch is deep that makes the car exterior metal quite visible. This scratch is usually caused by keys, stones, any sharp object or by an accident. In such a case, take your car to a professional for scratch repair.
Useful Techniques for Car Scratch Repairs
Each type of scratch needs to be treated differently. Thankfully, there are DIY solutions for minor car scratch repairs, whereas for major ones you can consult a professional car repair service provider.
Read on to know about a few approaches for DIY car scratch repairs.
Using a Rubbing Compound
Rubbing compound is easily available in the market. Here is how you can use it to remove the clear coat scratch from the vehicle’s exterior:
- Wash the scratched area with soapy water
- Clean it using a microfiber cloth. This cloth is one of the essential car cleaning products.
- Take a buffing pad and apply a small amount of rubbing compound to it
- Rub the buffing pad on the scratched area in a circular motion
- Repeat the process till the scratch is removed
- Wash the area and let it air dry
After completing the process, only a small bump will be felt on the affected area. But, using a rubbing compound for car scratch repair is better than painting the entire scratched area.
Using a Toothpaste
Toothpaste can also be used for removing scratches from cars. However, this will only work if the scratch is minor such as paint splashes. Here is how you can use toothpaste to do the needful:
- Clean the scratched area with a microfiber towel
- Apply toothpaste and rub it with your finger
- Use few drops of water when rubbing toothpaste
- Take a clean piece of microfiber towel and rub it over the scratch and surrounding area
- Repeat the process till the scratch is completely gone
If your car windows has scratches, read the guide on how to remove scratches from car windows.
Going to a Professional Car Scratch Repair Service Provider
As mentioned earlier, severe scratch marks on the car’s exterior require professional assistance, they can not be fixed with DIY solutions. You can only get rid of minor car scratches with DIY solutions, besides, you can take your car to a vehicle scratch repairer for minor corrections as well.
The car scratch repair service providers guarantee perfect showroom finish results. Given they have skilled and experienced technicians to work on the repair. They know how to conceal the blemishes and which paint to use that matches with the original one among other technicalities.
Other services include complete car painting, colour change, roof painting, bumper painting and various individual exterior parts.
This is all about car scratch repairs and the most common types of scratches vehicles incur. It is better to take your car to a professional if the scratches are extensive and the damage is deep. However, you can save money by treating minor car scratches yourself with the solutions detailed above. For a better understanding of how paint restoration works, you can also refer to our detailed guide on the car painting process.
Make sure you take up the DIY paint correction job only if it’s easy, otherwise, head to an expert car body paint scratch repairer. The car scratch repair cost depends on its severity. If you are buying a used car in the UAE, minor scratches won’t be a problem you will have to spend a lot on after the purchase.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top auto blog for guides on different auto part repairs and maintenance.
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