How to Fix a Car Scratch

Car scratches disrupt its appearance.

A car scratch results from purposeful vandalism to your vehicle or from any number of minor accidents that can occur any day. Regardless of a scratch's origin, it can be an eyesore, especially for the vehicle owner. The size of the scratch, its depth in particular, determines how you approach fixing it. Fix a scratch when you notice it, instead of allowing it to remain exposed to the elements, which leads to the added complication of rust.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket of soapy water
• Clean rags and cloths
• Towel
• Shoe polish
• Bowl of cold water
• Liquid dishwashing detergent
• 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper
• Wood block
• Machine glaze
• Dual-action polisher
• Foam polishing pad

Instructions

1. Mix a bucket of soapy water. Wash the scratched area of the car, using a rag, and dry it with a towel.

2. Examine the scratch to determine if it is on the surface or extends below the paint.

3. Wipe shoe polish, that is a different color from the car, onto the scratch. This fills the scratch with shoe polish, so that you can easily see it.

4. Place two to three drops of liquid dishwashing detergent into a bowl of cold water, if it is a surface scratch. Wrap a piece of 2000-grit wet/dry sandpaper around a wood block, and dip the sandpaper into the water.

5. Sand down the scratch, holding the sandpaper securely wrapped around the wood block. Use extremely light, short strokes, and repeatedly dip the sandpaper back into the bowl of water, to rinse it off and keep it wet. Continue until you remove all signs of the shoe polish.

6. Wipe the area dry, using a rag or towel.

7. Dip the sandpaper into the bowl of water, and lightly sand the car surface immediately surrounding the scratch, if the scratch is deeper through the car paint.

8. Apply touch-up paint, in the exact color as the car, into the scratch, using a small paintbrush, and allow the paint to dry.

9. Apply a layer of touch-up clearcoat to the scratch, and allow it to dry.

10. Put polishing compound on a clean rag, and rub it into the scratch, using circular motions. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations for the amount of time to allow the compound to set. Wipe the compound away with a separate clean rag.

11. Apply machine glaze to the scratch, and buff it into the car surface, using a dual-action polisher at low speed. This brings out the paint's shine. Hand-buff the spot with a foam polishing pad.

References

• Cars Direct: 4 Easy Steps to Fix a Car Scratch