Scratches on your car are unavoidable, and unfortunately, it’s only a matter of time until they first pop up.
Also, there is more than one type of scratch, and this affects the repairability.
That’s why we’ve put together this guide to help you learn all about the different scratches you can find in the automotive world and help you identify different types of scratches and repair them yourself!
Types of Scratches on Cars
There are many different kinds of scratches possible on cars. If you’re trying to get your vehicle rolled back into shape, it is vital that you first determine what type of scratch your vehicle has and then properly tackle the repair.
That being said, we have laid out six types of vehicle scratches you could encounter on your vehicle.
#1. Clear Coat Scratch.
Clear coat scratches are very common on vehicles, and fortunately, they are also the most straightforward to address and fix. Clear coat scratches only penetrate the outer protective layer of your vehicle, and only affect the coat; they don’t actually scratch paint.
How to Identify
There are a lot of different ways to identify a clear coat scratch, but the simplest way you can check is to see if you can feel it with your fingernail.
If you can see the scratch, but you can’t feel it with your fingernail, when you gently run your fingernail over the area, then it is a clear coat scratch.
If you have had paint protection film on your vehicle at some point, what could be a clear coat scratch could possibly be on the PPF instead. If that’s the case, the clear coat is typically okay underneath.
Causes
There are a lot of different causes of a clear coat scratch, but one of the most common is road debris. As you drive down the road, debris like rocks gets kicked up, and if they hit or rub up against your vehicle, it could scratch the clear coat.
Another cause of clear coat scratches can be sleet, hail, and just about anything else that may rub up against your vehicle (including a traffic cone). Shopping carts are a common contributor, as are children!
Even bird poop can scratch up your paint if it is left on too long or not removed properly.
Repair Process
If all you have is a clear coat scratch on your vehicle, the repair process is quite easy, you simply have to reapply another layer of clear coat on the area. That is basically what most scratch repair kits (like Meguiar’s) actually do.
They don’t match paint colors or anything, they just address clear coat scratches by getting that clear protective layer back onto your vehicle!
Repair Cost
If you are performing the repairs yourself, you can expect to spend around $15 – $30 for everything to repair the clear coat scratch.
If you take your car into an automotive repair shop, expect to pay $100 – $300 for the clear coat repair, depending on how much is there and which shop you take it to.
#2. Base Coat (Paint) Scratch.
The next level scratch is a base coat, or paint, scratch. The scratch has begun to remove some of the paint, but it hasn’t completely removed the paint yet. These scratches are still fairly easy to fix, especially if you have the right kit. But not every kit will work.
How to Identify
It’s the same process you test for a clear coat scratch, but with the opposite conclusion.
If you felt that there was something there after running your fingernail over a scratch, then you have a base coat scratch. But, for this type of scratch, you will still see paint color, not metal.
Causes
Essentially, everything a clear coat scratch could create damage of some kind can also result in a base coat scratch – it just hits your vehicle with a little more force and takes off a little bit more.
Another cause is if you don’t fix the protective clear coat when it has a scratch, and then something else doesn’t hit that very same area.
If you continue to scratch that same area over and over again, then there is a likelihood of it being upgraded to a base coat scratch.
Repair Process
Most, not all, products that have repaired a clear coat scratch (we like this Chemical Guys product) will also help hide a base coat scratch.
It may take a few more applications to get a smooth surface, though. Take your time, and only use a quality product when you repair a base coat scratch.
But, with most base coat scratches, a polishing product can only do so much. You’ll want to use some touch-up paint for better results.
The easiest way to do so is with a product like Dr. Color Chip. It is completely possible to complete the repairs yourself, with a little patience.
It works because they can match your vehicle year/make/model, or utilize the factory paint color to get you the EXACT paint for your vehicle.
It might not be a perfect color match, but very close. As it could be, they’re off from fading due to UV rays – and, if you have a deep scratch, it might not look flawless up close. But it’s as close as you may get without painting the entire panel affected and blending around it.
Repair Cost
If you want to do the repairs yourself, expect to spend around $20-$70 to get everything that you need to repair the scratch.
If you go to a repair shop, expect to spend around $200-$500 if they do it for you.
#3. Primer Scratch.
If your vehicle has scratches down to the metal on your vehicle, you have a primer scratch. Primer scratches are the deepest scratches your vehicle can have, and they are the worst if you do not repair them.
Primer scratches will turn into rust and a slew of other issues if you are not quick to repair them. Repairs can be a little more expensive at a repair shop, but we will show you a different alternative.
How to Identify
Primer scratches are typically pretty easy to identify if you know what to look for. You are looking for bare metal. If you see any metal on your vehicle, you have a primer scratch.
Causes
Fortunately for everyone, there aren’t typically a ton of causes for primer scratches. The first potential cause is a vehicle that is older, and you did not take care of the paint.
Smaller scratches build up, and if you don’t do something to restore the clear coat, eventually those smaller scratches will break through the paint and go to the primer.
Another cause is an accident or some other form. Accidents do a ton of damage, and often take off a chunk of paint and create some primer scratches.
Repair Process
While repairing primer scratches is definitely more extensive than a regular scratch, it is possible to repair some deeper scratches yourself with a product like Dr. Color Chip
With a DEEP scratch, having an auto body shop do the repairs is often the only true option to repair your car to pre-scratch condition.
However, if professional repainting or auto body repair isn’t in the budget, it’s often well worth a shot with Dr. Color Chip, as long as you have reasonable expectations. It can hide a deep scratch pretty well, however, it does not work miracles.
Repair Costs
If you use Dr.Color, your scratch will cost you anywhere from $40 to $70 to fix, while it might seem a little more expensive than Dr. Color Chip will save you a ton of money compared to a repair shop that typically charges anywhere from $500 to $1,500 to repair your vehicle.
#4. Wheel Scratch (Curb Rash).
Not every scratch on your vehicle shows up on the paint! Another very common type of scratch is on your wheels, commonly referred to as a curb rash. We will cover how those scratches occur and what you can do to repair them below.
Causes
By far the most common cause of a wheel scratch is that you pulled too close to the curb and it rubbed. When it rubs, it can scratch or scuff the wheel.
Road debris, such as small stones, can cause wheel scratches, but it is usually chipped, and even these are infrequent.
Repair Process
To properly repair a wheel scratch, you really need to sand and repaint it or powder coat it.
This is going to be a labor-intensive operation, but it is also the best way to get the best results. They do have some easy products to use (e.g., a wheel scratch fix), but you are basically covering the scratch up not repairing it.
Repair Cost
While it can be a little more labor-intensive for you when you repair your own wheel scratch, the good news is that most automotive repair shops will be able to perform the repairs at a reasonable cost.
For smaller wheel scratches, they can complete the repairs for about $50, but larger issues can probably be up to $400. Just remember, this is the price per wheel.
#5. Glass Scratch.
If you’re experiencing a scratched windshield or another scratched glass surface on your car, that is what we call a glass scratch. So, if you’re confronted by a glass scratch, what do you do, and what causes glass scratches? We’ll address both of these subjects here.
Causes
Glass scratches, especially on the windshield, are fairly common. They typically occur when a piece of road debris glances off the glass but does not hit it hard enough to crack anything.
Scratches can also occur in dusty or sandy environments, especially when something kicks the sand up.
However, the most common source of glass scratches on your windshield is old windshield wipers. The longer you run the disfunctional wipers, the deeper the scratch will become.
Repair Process
If the glass only has small scratches, you can usually buff them out with a polishing compound. A product such as Griot’s Garage Fine Glass Polish works really well, but you can also use non-gel toothpaste for small scratches.
Repair Cost
If you do the repairs yourself, you can expect to spend about $10 to $20 to get everything you need. Some repair shops will fix the scratches for you for about $50, but not all repair shops even offer glass scratch repair services.
Instead, they’ll try to push you into replacing the glass. For a windshield, that can range from about $200 and $500.
#6. Scratch on Plastic Trim.
A scratch in a plastic trim panel is not quite the same as a scratch in your car. Sometimes it can be a little easier to repair these scratches, and other times you will just be replacing the entire piece altogether.
Causes
Any abrasives that can scratch your clear coat can also scratch a plastic trim piece — it’s a matter of where you make contact. Road debris is a common culprit for these scratches, but anything that comes into contact can scratch the trim.
Repair Process
Repairing a scratch on a plastic trim piece is much like repairing a scratch on glass. Just like before, get some polishing compound and apply it to the impacted area to see if you can lessen some of the swirl marks and scratches. Likewise, you can use non-gel toothpaste to reduce smaller scratches.
But the prudent word of caution here is that there is only so much you’ll be able to buff, so this will only be useful for minor scratches. If it is a deeper scratch, there is only so much buffing that will help.
Repair Costs
If you are doing this on your own, you can expect to pay anywhere from $5 to $20 for the various compounds and materials you will need.
On the other hand, most repair shops will not do this repair for you. They will prefer to change the condition to get the price right on the plastic trim piece, and they all vary quite a bit!
Scuff or Scratch (What’s the Difference?)
The first thing you need to identify when you assess how your paint has been damaged is whether it’s a scuff or a scratch, which are two different things but often occur together.
Scuffs are surface damage where you often have residual paint that has deposited from whatever impacted the vehicle. Most of the time, removing paint scuffs requires simply buffing it out. No compounds or anything are needed to fix your vehicle.
A scratch occurs when something penetrates through the clear coat and further. In your vehicle accident, you will often have a scratch at the deepest point and a scuff or scratches on the edges.
Does Car Insurance Cover Scratches?
Well, it depends on how the scratches appeared on your vehicle. Any scratches that occurred from debris while driving down the road are probably not covered by car insurance.
However, if the scratches were sustained from an accident, there is insurance coverage, but only if you have comprehensive insurance.
It is also important to note that for most scratches, it may not be worth it to file a claim because you will have to pay a deductible. In addition, many insurance companies opt to increase your rates when you use insurance.
So, you could end up paying even more for insurance coverage and damage, even if the insurance would otherwise cover the scratches.