Accidentally Scratched Your Car? Here’s An Affordable Solution!
Scratched your car? First of all, don’t panic! A scratch may seem like a big deal at first but more often than not, will only require minor repairs for a fix. Secondly, if it happened because of a mistake you made, make sure to learn from it and not repeat it.
There are three primary types of car scratches. The fourth one just involves a stronger impact that further causes a dent in addition to a scratch. We’ve put together affordable solutions to help you get rid of all types of scratches!
The Four Types of Car Scratches and Their Solutions
There are three paint layers on your car: primer, base coat and a clear coat. First, you need to identify the type of scratch on your car and follow up by washing it with warm, soapy water before opting for an appropriate solution.
Clear coat scratch
Carefully run your fingers over the scratch. If you’re unable to feel the scratch, it is most likely in the clear coat. It is the mildest form of a car paintwork scratch and here’s how you can get rid of it:
- Once you’ve washed it with warm water, wipe it gently with a microfiber cloth.
- Get a whitening toothpaste and apply a pea-sized amount of it around the scratch.
- Rub toothpaste all around the scratch with a microfiber cloth in a circular motion until it is well-distributed over the area.
- Once you’ve finished rubbing the scratched area, dry it with a microfiber cloth and remove any excess toothpaste.
- Repeat this process until you don’t see the scratch anymore.
Base coat scratch
If you can feel the scratch, it certainly runs deeper than the clear coat. This type of scratch can only be handled using a dedicated car scratch remover. Here’s how you can get rid of it without professional help:
- Once you’re done rinsing it with warm water, carefully dry the scratched area.
- Apply a bit of the car scratch remover around the affected area.
- Get a microfiber cloth and rub the paste all over the scratch in a gentle, circular motion.
- You need to ensure even application of the scratch remover so make sure to rub gently and evenly.
- Any excess product can affect the paintwork so clean it up nicely once you’re done.
- The scratch should be removed but if it’s not, read the instruction manual before repeating the process.
Primer
If the scratch runs deeper and you can see the primer coat, it’s best to let the professionals handle it. You can try applying a scratch remover just to be sure.
Scratch and Dent
At times when the impact is too severe, your car may even have a small dent in addition to a scratch. You may be able to see through the primer into a slightly warped metal body panel. This type of problem first requires fixing the body panel, followed by applying the remedy for scratch.
The Bottom Line
Scratching your car (or another’s) while driving (particularly parking) is more frequent than you’d imagine. If you’re a new driver, it may even shatter your confidence for a while. We suggest that you be easy on yourself and others during a turbulent situation like this one. Lastly, it’s nothing a few bucks can’t help you fix. So, don’t panic and recollect your emotions and thoughts. Apologize and offer support if there’s a need to and opt for one of the fixes we’ve explained above.