So you walk out of the supermarket, back to your car, the sunlight catches it just the right way and there it is, a long straight scratch down the door of your beautiful car, no doubt the work of some insensitive bonehead who didn't think to look where is cart rolled away to after he was finished with it.
Okay, the damage is done, so what do you do about it? A scratch isn't worth the cost of having your door or fender repainted, but can it be effectively repaired without causing further damage to your vehicle's finish?
The answer is yes, but before doing anything, look to make sure that what you are dealing with is actually a scratch. Sometimes what is rubbing against your vehicle may be softer than the vehicle finish, the result being material deposited on top of the finish as opposed to being gouged into it. In this case, the "scratch" can often be removed by simply rubbing it off with a damp cloth.
If it is actually a scratch, as in a mark embedded into the finish, remember that the paint itself is in all likelihood undamaged. Most scratches are confined to the clear coat covering the paint.
You can test to see the severity of a scratch by simply running your fingernail over it. If you do not feel the scratch, it can probably be removed with a simple buffing. If your fingernail "catches" in the groove created by the scratch, it may require a little more work. Still, remember, you're dealing with damage to the clear coat, not the paint itself, so treat it as such.
You can find any number of good scratch removal products at your local automotive store. Wash the affected area with soap and water, and then gently spread the rubbing compound over the scratch using gentle circular motions. Continue rubbing in a circular pattern until the scratch disappears. You will now want to switch to a back and forth motion to remove all of the buffing marks. Use a clean cloth to buff the area and then apply a coat of wax over the affected area.
Scratches in the clear coat can often times be sanded out, although you do run the risk of sanding through the clear coat and into the finish, with the result being the repainting of the affected panel.
Actually, the term "scratch removal" is a misnomer, as you aren't actually removing scratches, but rather sanding down through the clear coat to a level below below where the scratch has affected. Some pros advise using something with a contrasting color, such as shoe polish, to help determine when you have "sanded through" the scratch. When you no longer see the shoe polish color, the scratch is gone.
Of course you will need to buff out and apply a coat of wax and sealer over the affected area, but there is no reason why you should not be able to remove most scratches and scuffs your car may suffer.
If your car has been the victim of a more serious type of damage, such as "keying" (where some wonderfully upstanding individual uses a key to cut a deep scratch into your car), then you may want to look into taking your vehicle to a professional automotive paint or body shop. In cases like this, the scratch may be deep enough that it is into the paint and primer, which will require much more substantial bodywork to correct. Keying is almost always a willful action committed against nicer cars, such as sports cars or luxury models, meaning the cost to repair is usually substantial. Owners are usually willing to pay it, though, because of their understandable desire to preserve the aesthetic appearance and quality of the vehicle they put so much money and effort into.
If you do choose to have a professional work on the scratches on your car, make sure it is somebody reputable. Bad body shops are numerous, and bad body work on your vehicle can do horrendous wonders when you try to re sell your car later on. I would advise choosing a nationally or regionally recognized name in body work to take care of your car. Yes, you may spend a little more, but you can also expect superior results and work that is guaranteed.
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