Car detailing can effectively remove scratches, but it is not a simple answer. Not all scratches are created equal, and understanding the type of scratch is important. Surface and clear coat scratches can be effectively removed through exterior detailing. However, deep scratches that reach the base coat or metal may require professional bumper repair services.
Car detailing employs a range of techniques to address and remove scratches, varying in approach based on the severity of the scratch. Understanding these methods provides insight into how car detailing can improve a vehicle’s appearance. For minor and some moderate scratches, detailing can significantly improve a vehicle’s appearance. However, for deep scratches, especially those revealing the primer or metal, or for extensive surface damage, professional bumper repair services are recommended.
In conclusion, car detailing can help remove or at least lessen the appearance of scratches on your vehicle. However, it is essential to remember that one step will remove less paint and achieve arguably the same results as long as you are not 2-3 feet from the vehicle with an inspection.
Paint correction is one area where detailing consists of many different areas, such as cutting the clear coat to level the surface. It is important to use a buffer to remove fine scratches and swirl marks. While it may not be possible to completely remove scratches, effective scratch repair can still be achieved by waxing the car every few months and trying to protect the paint the best you can.
📹 How to Remove Scratches from Car PERMANENTLY (EASY)
Fix scratches on car. Learn how to remove car scratches at home with these 5 easy steps and no special tools! After watching this …
Can paint correction take out scratches?
The process of paint correction entails the gradual removal of paint layers from the surrounding area until they reach a level commensurate with that of the lowest point of the scratch. This method effectively eliminates surface scratches, swirl marks, and hazing.
Is it worth fixing scratches on car?
This article emphasizes the importance of prompt car scratch repair, as delaying it can expose the paint or metal underneath and cause further issues. It also highlights the significance of proper scratch repair for future car owners, as even minor bodywork problems can impact the trade-in estimate. The article covers various types of car scratches, their causes, and how to fix them. Five common reasons for car scratches include:
- Defective paint or metal
- Damage to the paint or metal
- Damage to the bodywork
- Incorrect repair methods.
How big of a scratch can touch up paint fix?
To apply touch up paint to small scratches on a small surface area (2 square inches or less), use a touch up paint pen. If the scratch is larger, a full touch up paint process may be necessary. To apply touch up paint with a touch up paint pen, follow these steps:
- Gather necessary materials, such as a touch up paint pen, paint thinner, and a brush.
- Apply the paint using a roller or brush, ensuring even coverage and a clean surface.
Do detailers buff out scratches?
Detailing involves various areas, including paint correction, which can fix and remove scratches depending on their depth. If they cannot be fixed, they need to be repainted. There are two types of scratches: light scratches, which are easy to remove by hand or machine with a bit of polish, and paint transfer scratches, which are caused by objects rubbing themselves onto the paint. The majority of paint transfer scratches occur on the clear coat’s surface, which protects everything underneath, making the damage minor even if it appears serious. Light scratches are the first to be impacted by the environment, while paint transfer scratches are more difficult to remove.
Can a detail shop buff out scratches?
Car detailing can help reduce the appearance of scratches on your vehicle, but the outcome depends on the severity of the scratch and the car detailer’s expertise. If you’re dealing with scratches that diminish your car’s appearance and shine, contact a professional car detailing team. They have the expertise, materials, and commitment to transform your vehicle, restore its shine, and address those pesky scratches. Car detailing is a more thorough process, covering every nook and cranny of your car, both inside and out.
While car detailing can significantly reduce the appearance of scratches, some deep scratches may require further repair work. The frequency of detailing depends on factors like usage, parking location, and personal preferences, but a good rule of thumb is to opt for detailing every 4-6 months.
What are the disadvantages of car detailing?
Professional auto detailing has several advantages, including lower upfront costs compared to DIY work, which may deter some individuals due to budget constraints or financial priorities.
Can detailing remove interior scratches?
Car detailing can effectively remove scratches, depending on the depth and severity of the scratch. Professional detailing services use tools like clay bars, polishers, and wax to thoroughly clean the vehicle’s body, removing contaminants that washing alone cannot remove. However, deeper scratches that penetrate the base coat or primer cannot be removed through simple polishing or waxing, requiring more intensive repair methods like touch-up paint or color sanding.
Paint correction is a process used in car detailing to restore and rejuvenate the paintwork of a vehicle, removing surface imperfections that dull, oxidize, or haze the surface. This process involves several stages of compounding, polishing, and sealing the paint to achieve a flawless finish. While it can significantly improve the appearance of the vehicle and reduce the visibility of scratches, it may not completely remove deep scratches.
Preventing future scratches is crucial, and regular detailing with a mobile detailer can help reduce or eliminate light scratches and improve the appearance of deeper ones. By following these tips, car detailing can help prevent future scratches and maintain a polished and polished vehicle.
Is exterior car detailing worth it?
Exterior detailing is a crucial service that enhances the appearance and resale value of your vehicle by removing dirt, grime, and dust that can build up inside the vehicle. It goes beyond surface-level grime and ensures every nook and cranny sparkles like new. This service is particularly important when dealing with dust and allergens that can settle on surfaces and become airborne during air conditioning use. Interior detailing kills germs, removes stains, and protects the interior, allowing you to enjoy driving a clean and fresh-smelling car.
Professionals will vacuum carpets, seats, dashboard, console, air vents, windows, and mirrors, ensuring a hygienic and clean car for you and your passengers. This service not only looks clean but also provides a comfortable and safe driving experience.
How do professionals remove scratches from car?
In order to repair scratches in a professional manner, it is first necessary to remove any dirt or debris from the affected area. It is then necessary to assess the depth of the scratch, to buff the paint, to allow it to dry, to apply touch-up paint, and to polish and wax the area. This process ensures the creation of a clean and polished surface.
Is it expensive to remove scratches from car?
Deep scratches in your car can be repaired by sanding, priming, and repainting, costing between $1, 500 and $2, 500. If you don’t want to spend a significant amount on restoring your old car, consider donating it to Veteran Car Donations. This not only helps you dispose of the vehicle at no cost but also serves as a champion for the disadvantaged and neglected veterans in your community, providing them with new opportunities to lead healthier and more productive lives.
Does exterior detailing remove scratches?
While car detailing can enhance minor scratches, professional bumper repair services are recommended for deep scratches, revealing primer or metal, or extensive surface damage. This is due to the fact that such damage reveals the primer or metal.
📹 Meguiars Scratch X it’s good BUT…. (How to remove Scratches by hand)
Is Meguiars Scratch X the Best Car Paint Scratch Remover? Does it even Work? I show you how to remove scratches By hand …
Thank you Chris!! I never write comments but I had to give my experience. Someone scratched my car a couple of months ago in a parking structure and didn’t leave a note. It was about 2 feet long, had the other car’s red paint on my black car as well as a dent. I got quoted from 3 different companies the highest being $1400 for the repair. Fast forward I just thought I would have to live with the scratch on my car but then I saw this article immediately bought the supplies (as well as a dent remover) and was able to remove the remnants of the scratch even the other car’s paint which I was super surprised. It looks night and day different. I am so happy with the results and this cost me less than $30. I am so grateful thank you Chris!!
I already had an appointment to get the hood on my black Corvette repainted tomorrow. I figured I would give your method a try. I was a bit nervous about taking sandpaper to my black paint but I figured if I messed it up it was getting it painted anyway. I just cancelled my paint appointment. Your method worked fantastic!
I tried his method on my old car, it works perfectly. Finally applied the same method on my new family car. I am really happy about the result. I bought all the stuff he mentioned in the article. The only difference is that it took me more time to sand the scratches, 15 seconds won’t be good enough if you are not pro like Chris. If you have small scratches on your car, just follow this article and subscribe!
Hi Chris: I used your excellent article to guide me through the removal of 8-10 scratches from my car today. Your process was spot on. The scratches took anywhere from 10-30 minutes to become invisible. My stress level plummeted after working on the first scratch and seeing the results. Thank you very much for your excellent tutorial. I really appreciate it!
Dude, this is a life saver. Went through an alley and there was an extremely tight turn I though I cleared. When I wiped the scratches with a Clorox wipe to get the yellow paint off, most of the scratches disappeared, while it was wet. So, I was happy to know the scratches weren’t too bad. I just did it know how to remove them, but now I know. New subscriber here. Keep up the good work.
Chris, you are an excellent presenter/explainer. You anticipated and answered all my questions along the way. Made it so we understand about car paint, the nature of scratches, and broke out the repair process in a logical and detailed manner, and did it all on a modest budget. Thanks for taking the time to share!
Chris, you saved my neck on this one! I accidentally scratched the wife’s car while moving something in the garage. I was going to fess up, but I knew that she would hold that over me and be pissed at me, even though it was purely accidental. So I bought all the supplies on Amazon right away, yet, it was difficult to pull off, because she’s been working from home exclusively for 2 years, so it’s she’s home 99% of the time, and when she’s not home, she’s in her car. I was waiting for the moment when she would be away from home, but not in her car, so I could work on it. Finally, about 2 weeks ago, her mom picked her up and they were out for about 2 to 3 hours. The clock was ticking. I was nervous that I was going to screw it up and make it much worse, then I would have been completely screwed. I was trying to finish before she showed up, so I didn’t get caught in the act! I followed all the steps, and of course, after the sandpaper steps, it looked awful. Would it come out with the polish? Well, it did, and the wax took care of the rest. I was so pleased at how this worked, as previously, I could feel the scratch with my fingernail, and it didn’t come out with polish alone….a few days later, I washed and waxed her entire vehicle, and the car looks great. There is one more fine scratch (not my fault) on the car, and I’m going to work on that next, that one is less severe than the one I caused. You’re a life-saver Chris!
My car (2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Kompressor) has been pretty neglected. I keep up with the regular service intervals but besides that I don’t really put any effort into cleaning the outside or inside. I’ve never considered myself a car guy. I once bought a 1998 BMW E36 M3 a few years and was too scared to work on it myself so after spending thousands of dollars at the mechanic I eventually sold it anyway at a huge loss. But thanks to perusal a bunch of your articles, I feel motivated to restore the interior and exterior of my current car. If all goes well, maybe in the future I’ll buy another BMW E36 M3 and it will be come my project car, hopefully I can restore it to looking nice and shiny and clean and with everything working and running smoothly. I find myself perusal your articles whenever I have time now. Now I feel confident to restore the exterior of my 2002 Mercedes Benz C230 Kompressor so it looks shiny and clean again. Thanks ChrisFix!
I’m a horrible driver and my car is basically one big scratch. It’s in the mechanic right now so I had to convince my sister to let me use her car. It was hard to do because she knows how bad I am at driving. After a lot of yelling and fighting,, she finally let me use it. I drove myself to work today and scratched it on a concrete pole🥲🥲🥲. I haven’t tried to fix it yet but I’m on my way to Bunnings now and I’m super hopeful!!!! You’ve saved my life
One of the greatest YouTube articles ever made! Incredible stuff when you consider there are body shops that will pay you $500 to polish your car and still doesn’t address the issue. Now my ‘23 Corolla hatchback is just as new. Had crazy amount of scratches (11 total) because of a lazy contractor who was painting my neighbor’s house and had overspray on my car and tried to wash off the paint. It got to a point where he overdid it and really did some serious damage to it. All I can say is, thank you. Chris’s article really works people. It just takes time and effort.
This article is great! My only question is about sanding and the removal of the clear coat in that area. Does the polish and wax replace the clear coat in that area and should we regularly be touching up the worked on area? I just worry I will take too much clear coat off. Thanks so much again for a great article
After getting t-boned and totaling my car, I thought for sure I was going to have to buy a new one. But after perusal this article and buying the supplies at Walmart, in about 2 hours my car is good as new! It took a little more pressure to get out the bent frame, but with a little elbow grease she straightened right up. Thanks, ChrisFix!
Had a K-9 unit search my sister’s car. Jumped up on the car all the way around the perimeter and left scratches all over the place. Nothing was done about it and there was no reason for the vehicle to be searched. The cop’s excuse for it was that the dog smelled “hard drugs” and that they are only trained to smell out “hard drugs”. All my sister had in the car was her medications for her heart problems and other medical issues. Still pretty sad that nothing was done about it.
Following having received a deep scratch just like the one you created, for yourself, I gave your tips a try. I must admit to getting quite worried when I had the dull area but the shine did indeed reappear after compound and even though I know the scratch was there even I cannot see it anymore. Congratulations on a nice well- explained article.
Wow, you articulated these instructions so well. I can’t wait to try this tonight, you certainly made it look easy. My wife just put 3 nice scratches on the red cherry tint coat of our 2021 Camaro convertible. She’s literally been heartbroken over it. Hopefully you are going to help me be the hero of the day. I will reply with the results.
I Just finished fixing a car scratch I recently got on a rental. I was freaking out and worried I had to pay fees to fix after having my own car in the shop. Chris, thank you so much. The way you explained everything, I felt very confident in executing the project to repair the scratch before returning it. Once I was finished I couldn’t stop smiling! It looks brand new.
We just bought a 2019 Porsche Cayenne and it has a couple of light nicks and scratches and I was scared shit less to touch the paint job. they wanted $300 bucks to fix the scratches. There’s no way I’ll pay that. Then I saw your article. I have another car I’ll practice on with your method first then I’m gonna go for it. thanks for a great tutorial!!!
I tried this out on an area with tons of scratches and it worked great. Almost perfect, but I do notice the areas I sanded lack the same luminescence as untouched areas (just a bit). I’m guessing due to loss of clear coat? Any suggestions for adding more clear coat to the area after this kind of job? Or not worth it? Also once we’ve removed some of the clear coat, will it still hold up long term to the elements? I live in Ontario
Don’t know if this has been asked or not. Over time I assume the car will go back to that hazy 5,000 grit look. 1. Am I correct with this thought? 2. Then to fix just clean, reapply polish, and buff with paste wax again? 3. How often would you assume touching it up will take? Ignoring harsh weather.
Definite savings over a body shop. They’d probably just end up doing the same thing and charge you a few hundred bucks. This might be a neat project. A friend of mine does paint/body work. I asked him if these steps were legit and he said that’s almost exactly what they’d do if the clear coat were still in good shape.
Hey Chris, thnks for the article. It certainly grabbed my attention and I am surely gonna try it out on my car however i have a question . When we sand the scratches, the clear coat is removed and we are then going to use polish and wax to cover it up .But how long will this polish and wax cover up for the clear coat which is removed during sanding ? Do we have to repeat the polishing and waxing every few months ?
4:08 – Clean surface of car using soapy water to remove dirt and debris 4:25 – Tape of scratch about 1/2 inch on either side 5:11 – Sand scratch perpendicular for about 15 seconds using P3000 sandpaper. if scratch is still visible, repat process for another 15 seconds 7:55 – Move the tape an inch further away from the scratch. Using the P5000 sandpaper, sand in a circular motion. 9:25 – Place polish on the clean part of a microfiber towel and rub in a circular motion. A second layer may be needed if haze is still visible. 10:13 – Using paste wax and a microfiber mitt rub on in a circular motion. After giving it a minute to haze up, rub it off using a clean microfiber towel.
I’ve seen a lot of articles about how to remove scratches but this article is by far the most well detailed explained article on how to remove scratches. I actually bought what was needed and actually did what I watched and the end results were amazing. I give this article two thumbs up. Thanks for an awesome article Chris …
7 years later and this article just saved my WRX I found your vid after going through an automatic car wash. There was a guy outside scrubbing the backs of cars as they went through cause this one never gets the back well. His brush scratched the crap out of my trunk. I got the stuff you recommended and it totally removed all the scratches! I’m not much of a car guy so this was super helpful. Thank you!
Hey Chris! Amazing article and good to see very good feedback. I have a question after sanding it down with p5000 of course I am left with the hazy result. But I’m afraid no amount of polishing or waxing is able to bring it back to the original. Is that normal? Am I expecting too much? btw – I’m commenting this while I’m still working on the scratches on my car.
Hey The methods you show in this article are fantastic. But I do have a couple of really deep scratches on my car, and don’t know how to remove those. Could you please make a article how to remove some really deep scratches (fix scratches that goes all the way to the primer). Would really appreciate that.
Hello 😊 thanks for the great article! I was wondering if this is a permanent fix for clear coat scratches or if the dullness caused by sanding the scratch down will resurface at which point it will have to be repolished and waxed. I ask that because I scratched a rental and I want to fix the scratch permanently so it does not become someone else’s problem, otherwise I will have to report it to them and pay God knows how much to get it fixed. Thanks.
Wonderful article but I must warn that many cars from factory have very very light coats and if sanding a bit too much you might end up going through he clear quickly and having a bigger issue. Would it have been more beneficial to fill in the scratch with a touch up paint/clear, then perform the steps in the article, this way you dont have to cut into the surrounding clear as much (making it thinner).
I wanted to personally thank you for your articles. I came across these after I scratched my brand new car bad one night. I was devastated but then your vids gave me some hope I could fix things. I bought the things you suggested, took a few hours but it worked out incredibly. I have a few other scratches I need to watch your other article to fix, they are deeper. If I could add pics before and after I would to show you. But I’m a fan, and have subscribed. Thanks for the help.
Great articles! I’ve watched this one probably ten times. So I finally got enough courage to try it myself and the results were actually pretty good, unfortunately I only had 3000 grit but it still worked, I do have one question, over time after washes, driving etc will the haze from the wet sanding return since I removed some of the clear coat?
I couldn’t believe this would work, until I saw it with my own eyes! I repaired some scratches on my wife’s car with a slight variation to what you described in the article. First I used a small piece of 2500 grit wet and dry paper soaked in washing up liquid which I scrubbed perpendicular to the scratch. As I did this I started to panic as the paintwork went from high gloss to a dull haze but I continued until the scratch was gone. Once finished I washed the treated area then polished it using Poorboy’s World Super Swirl Remover 2.5 grade – already the shine started to come back. Then finally I polished with T-Cut a couple of times before a final wash and wax. My wife can’t believe the result and neither can I! For those of you reluctant to use sandpaper on your car, the grades you are using are ultrafine, it’s smooth to the touch.
That scratch was deeper then any of the ones on my truck. Mine need alot of attention I previously thought I could not fix easily without a shop and it’s resources until now. I was preparing for a re-spray until you showed these tips. Thanks for teaching me something new! You just got a new subscriber just because your honest educational approach! Thank you!
Will try this on point. I just came back from a trip to the desert and there was this nice friendly dog that got excited and accidentally scratched my door with his paws. 😭😭😭My car is new too but thankfully the scratches don’t look deep and will try this method. Is claybarring. sandpaper with compound, polish, and wax okay to use? I live in Los Angeles. Thanks.
Chris, Why do you not sand the small area and add clear coat on top of it to fill and level the clear coat layer? It seems to me that the already thin clear coat layer is now even more thin. So it does not seem like you would have as good of protection. In your other article, when you fix a scratch down into the primer, you paint sand and then add clear coat and sand.
Hey Chris! I am working on my Honda accord euro 03 and the cut is rather large BUT not too deep – it is white. I did the 3000 grit for ~20 mins then moved onto the 5000 – waxed up and it turned out good! BUT the following morning it was not great again? Could you explain + provide some fixes? Thanks!!
Chris thank you very much for the vid, great piece of information! I did follow the steps as described…the hazy part goes away observing the area from the front but if there is some dust or as it happens here in San Antonio all that pollen sticks to the car and from an angle you can se the haziness as a ghostly shade…is this normal or do I need to give it another go with the scratch fix with a bit more of pressure, maybe using a rotary hand piece or just heavier buffing?
I followed your steps and removed like 7 scratches and they’re less noticeable up close. HOWEVER, I might have made a boo boo one one. 🥺 What does it mean when a lighter gray color starts appearing where I was sanding a scratch??? My car is granite crystal metallic btw on a challenger. The tiny spot is driving me nuts, I stopped as soon as it appeared so please tell me if its fixable, I have a photo of it if you need to see it.
I used it and it looked more or less fine BUT after 20 days going to my local carwash, the scratches were again visible as before. So, my conclusion it is the wax that’s hiding the scratches. I’m wondering when people post a review whether they did it right after applying this product or wait until the car was washed after a period of time and evaluate again.
Dave thank you again from across the pond and for making a great article. You are helping detailer’s in our business who doesn’t have a massive budget to buy expensive products. It is helpful for removing light and fine scratches. I also liked the Clare Balding picture and the Aquaman it’s harmful to him too. Have a great day and thank you again!
Really appreciate your thoroughness and honesty in presenting this article review, however, I wonder if plain old rubbing compound might work just as well. Btw- Dave my guess in respect to slight “halo” or discoloration you noted especially when polishing the rear side quarter panel, this could be because the product is “eating into” the clear coat which is used on all car paints from 2001 to date. If my guess is correct (and I don’t know for certain it is) but if it is, this product and your “elbow grease” could be doing more harm than good. In any event, the product is way over rated and NOTHING short of professional body work (probably sanding and re-painting) would restore deep scratches in a car’s paint finish. Thanks mate.
I’ve used this after Jack knifing a trailer into a bumper on my last car and really did work the marks out well. I found a damp Autosmart foam applicator was best for using with this . Also helps with headlight discolouration, I’ve no quarms with it but as you say its not setting expectations too high and you will be fine
Hi Dave, at about the 5:15 mark you mentioned this haze or blemish left behind. I used this product around a few door handles and also the side of a door. Now I am left with a slight blemish I can’t seem to remove. Is there anything I can do or do you know what may have happened here? I was not in the sun nor did I let the product dry. Could this be the product eating away my clear coat? I have a 2022 so I’m not sure if I can do anything to fix it or if I’m up the creek. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I think these products make it look better for a while which is probably what the average joe wants? It’s not going to remove all but it will make it look better I guess which is good enough for 99% of people. Good article that shows what results you can get. Where was the knock off chocolate bars tho 🤔!!!
Wow nice work Dave. Would you prefer to use AG super resin polish over this? AG seems to have a nice following. I recently picked up a cheap DA from Argos but don’t have the bravery to use some compound with it and do my cars. Yes I know I’m a coward but I’m terrified at ruining my paint. I have no clue about the thickness of the clear coat, what speed and pads I should use on it etc. Or even what is the best compound to use for that particular paint like Rupez or Koch Chemie etc.
the polymer is filling also the scratches, i tried one time but wasn’t that suprised after cleaning it with stripwash al of the polymers where gone and a lot of small scratches where back. although the filling capability is really good in my opinion, but a good compound will remove a lot more scratches, this one is more a filler then a polish
Sounds like a turntablism competition. I bought something similar for my bro’s wife who had driven down a hedge and done a double key-like scratch every panel. I realised it was just a firm cutting compound of which I could have used anything i own already to do it and rsults in my application were never going to fix it, just make it less noticable by blending up to it. I mean it worked to a point but it took ages and many passes not to mention it was hard work. This is def for people without a polisher and left a haze like you showed. Worked better by applying with a small-folded interior microfibre cloth (like your grey wipe-off one, rather than a sponge as that gave it a bit more bite. Oh, and poor Aquaman!
So, what’s the difference between this and the Meguiar’s Ultimate Compound? I’m not a detailer or a car paint obsessive, just a guy who likes his car to look nice. I lived in London for nearly 30 years and didn’t need a car, so having moved back home (rural) I now have a car again and want to keep it looking good 🙂