How To Fix Paintwork Damage, Chips And Scratches
Fixing scratches and chips should be a common job for many motorists, but it’s often left to the professionals or just not fixed at all.
Here’s our guide to getting those nasty blemishes removed from your bodywork yourself, so you save money on an expensive fix and enjoy a smooth, scratch-free car once again.
Before you start, you’ll need:
- Protective gloves
- Safety glasses
- A dust mask
- The right product for your type of damage
Car paint is made up of multiple layers, so there can be different types of damage that require personalised approaches.
How to remove light scratches from car paint
Light scratches on the surface of the paintwork can usually be fixed by polishing. To find out if the scratch is light, run a finger over it – if you can’t feel it, then it can be polished. Grab a fine cloth and some clear polish and start buffing the scratch. If you feel confident, or already have a polisher, then you can use this to remove surface scratches.
Deeper scratches
If you can feel the scratch, or can see that it has gone down to the primer or metal, then you’ll need a more comprehensive solution. Scratch repair fluids like T-Cut are often the best solution, as they’ll fill the scratch as well as providing a suitable colour match.
How to use T-Cut
Grab a very light grit abrasive pad suitable for repairing paintwork and clean away any rough edges. Then, apply the T-Cut or scratch solution to the scratch. T-Cut may take some time to cure, so try to fix the scratch in good weather conditions and try to avoid driving for 24 hours or so.
Other solutions
For bodywork scratches or chips that have taken off the paint from your vehicle, you may also be able to repair this easily with our paint repair pens. Found in all different colours, all you need to do is swipe the pen over the area that needs it.
Pro tip: To get the best finish on chips, it can be worth using a sponge to evenly build up your layers. Once the paint is cured (this will take a few hours), use a 2500 grit to lightly wet sand the surface, then use a rubbing compound, and finally polish. This same process is effective for small scratches too.
Remember, you’ll need to know the exact name or code for your car’s paint to be able to get the right match, so check your car’s documents or look for a code in the glove box or inside the wheel well. Check out our guide to finding out your car colour for more information.
Damaged paintwork and scuffs
If the damage to your car goes beyond superficial, then the repair jobs become a little more complex. You may need to apply a filler if your car’s bodywork has been damaged.
If this is the case, then you’ll need to smooth the damaged surface using a fine grit sanding block designed specifically for paintwork, or potentially a buffer if the damage is particularly bad.
04/24
Fixing scratches and chips should be a common job for many motorists, but it’s often left to the professionals or just not fixed at all.
Here’s our guide to getting those nasty blemishes removed from your bodywork yourself, so you save money on an expensive fix and enjoy a smooth, scratch-free car once again.
Before you start, you’ll need:
- Protective gloves
- Safety glasses
- A dust mask
- The right product for your type of damage
Car paint is made up of multiple layers, so there can be different types of damage that require personalised approaches.
How to remove light scratches from car paint
Light scratches on the surface of the paintwork can usually be fixed by polishing. To find out if the scratch is light, run a finger over it – if you can’t feel it, then it can be polished. Grab a fine cloth and some clear polish and start buffing the scratch. If you feel confident, or already have a polisher, then you can use this to remove surface scratches.
Deeper scratches
If you can feel the scratch, or can see that it has gone down to the primer or metal, then you’ll need a more comprehensive solution. Scratch repair fluids like T-Cut are often the best solution, as they’ll fill the scratch as well as providing a suitable colour match.
How to use T-Cut
Grab a very light grit abrasive pad suitable for repairing paintwork and clean away any rough edges. Then, apply the T-Cut or scratch solution to the scratch. T-Cut may take some time to cure, so try to fix the scratch in good weather conditions and try to avoid driving for 24 hours or so.
Other solutions
For bodywork scratches or chips that have taken off the paint from your vehicle, you may also be able to repair this easily with our paint repair pens. Found in all different colours, all you need to do is swipe the pen over the area that needs it.
Pro tip: To get the best finish on chips, it can be worth using a sponge to evenly build up your layers. Once the paint is cured (this will take a few hours), use a 2500 grit to lightly wet sand the surface, then use a rubbing compound, and finally polish. This same process is effective for small scratches too.
Remember, you’ll need to know the exact name or code for your car’s paint to be able to get the right match, so check your car’s documents or look for a code in the glove box or inside the wheel well. Check out our guide to finding out your car colour for more information.
Damaged paintwork and scuffs
If the damage to your car goes beyond superficial, then the repair jobs become a little more complex. You may need to apply a filler if your car’s bodywork has been damaged.
If this is the case, then you’ll need to smooth the damaged surface using a fine grit sanding block designed specifically for paintwork, or potentially a buffer if the damage is particularly bad.