How to Remove Car Paint Scratches & Chips

Day-to-day usage can cause damage to your car's paint job.

If you take pride in the condition of your car, then odds are you won't like it when the paint job gets a scratch or chip. Even a tiny scratch can stand out and be very noticeable, particularly on cars that have bold paint colors, such as red or blue. You can take your car to a professional auto body shop to repair the scratch or chip, or you can try to fix the problem at home using a few relatively simple methods.

Things You'll Need

• Touch-up paint
• Rubbing alcohol
• Pencil eraser
• Artist's brush
• Hair dryer
• Sanding block
• 1,500 to 2,000 grit sandpaper

Instructions

1. Get touch-up paint that matches your car's color. You can find out the exact color from the dealer or car manufacturer.

2. Clean the scratch or chip and the surrounding area with rubbing alcohol.

3. Use a pencil eraser to clear out dust and debris from inside the scratch or chip.

4. Use an artist's brush to fill in the scratch or chip with the touch-up paint. An artist's brush will be more precise than the brush that comes with the touch-up paint.

5. Allow the paint to dry for at least an hour. Then dry with a hair dryer for about 30 seconds.

6. Use the artist's brush to put on another coat of touch-up paint if the chip or scratch is not completely filled in. Repeat the drying process and continue adding coats until you're satisfied.

7. Cover a sanding block with 1,500 or 2,000 grit sandpaper and sand over your touch-up paint to smooth out the surface.

References

• Paint Chip Repair.com: How to Fix Automobile Paint Chips