Distracted driving and overspeeding are some of the leading causes of auto car accidents and ugly scratches on your car.

Have you been in similar situations? Do you want to remove car scratches without paying the hefty workshop charges?

Don’t worry! This blog post will walk you through some amazing methods you can try at home, depending on the severity of the scratch.

But first, let’s get educated about the paint layers on a car’s body and the type of scratches it can sustain.

Let’s get started.

What Are The Layers Of A Car’s Body Paint?

A car’s body paint is made up of the following three layers:

Clear Coat: This is the topmost layer of paint that provides a glossy finish and acts as a barrier against UV rays, scratches, and other external elements.

Base Coat: The layer of paint beneath the clear coat — which gives the car its color — is known as the Base Coat or Enamel Coat. Almost every car has two layers of Base Coat to get the right color tone.

Primer Coat: The bottom-most layer that adheres the base coat to the car’s metal body is called the primer coat.

Tip: A car’s paint is an important thing to look for when buying a used car. Learn to analyze the layers if you plan to buy a used car.

Now, let’s see what kind of scratches appear when these paint layers get ruined.

What Are The Types Of Car Scratches?

Depending upon which layer of your car’s paint is hit, there are three types of scratches on a car.

• Minor Scratches: These are the commonest and mildest form of scratches that only affect the topmost layer, i.e., the clear coat. Minor scratches are usually caused by small stones or gravel hitting the car while driving or poor washing technique.

• Moderate Scratches: These are deeper than clear coat scratches and impact the base layer. These scratches usually result from hitting large objects like parking barriers, gates, tree branches, and other vehicles.

• Deep Scratches: These are the deepest and most severe forms of scratches that damage the primer layer or even the metal body underneath. They usually occur when the car hits hard objects like curbstones, barriers, vehicles, shopping carts, and other large objects at high speed.

Now that you know the paint layers on a car and the types of scratches, let’s see how you can fix them. 

Keep in mind that the following methods work only for minor scratches. If your car is significantly damaged, it’s best to seek professional advice. You can use Dinggo to compare local mechanic quotes so you don’t have to spend extra on car repair. 

How To Fix Surface And Moderate Scratches From A Car?

Surface Scratches

Here are four ways to remove surface scratches from a car.

1. Use A Toothpaste

The abrasive nature of toothpaste helps remove the scratch’s top layer, making it less visible.

Here is how to use it:

1. Squeeze a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on a clean, soft cloth.
2. Rub the cloth over the scratch for a few minutes.
3. Wash the area with water and dry it off with a clean towel.
4. Repeat the process until you get satisfactory results.

2. Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is another common household item that helps lightly sand down the scratch’s top layer, making it less visible.

Here is how to use it:

1. Make a paste of equal parts water and baking soda.
2. Apply the paste on the scratch with a clean, soft cloth.
3. Rub the cloth over the scratch for a few minutes.
4. Wash the area with water and dry it off with a clean towel.
5. Repeat the process until you get satisfactory results.

3. Use Car Wax

Car wax is a product specifically made to protect the car’s paint from scratches and other external elements. Waxing the car regularly will make it more resistant to minor scratches.

Here is how to use it:

1. Wash the area around the scratch with water and soap.
2. Dry the area with a clean towel.
3. Apply car wax on the affected area and buff out the scratch.

4. Use A Scratch Repair Pen

Scratch repair pens are designed to fill in and cover minor paint scratches. These pens can be easily found in any auto parts store. However, they might require a bit of skill so try to learn how to use a scratch repair pen first.

Here is how to use it:

1. Clean the area around the scratch with water and soap.
2. Dry the area with a clean towel.
3. Apply the scratch repair pen over the scratch.
4. Allow the pen to dry for a few minutes.
5. Wash and dry it again to see the final results.

Moderate/Deep Scratches

If your car has deep scratches, it’s best to take it to a professional for repair. You can also try using a scratch repair kit or the method below.

5. Using Glazing Putty

Glazing putty is an inexpensive scratch repairing product that can be easily found at any auto parts store. It acts as a filler material to fix moderate and deep scratches.

Here is how to use it:

1. After cleaning the damaged area, apply glazing putty on the scratch.
2. Smooth out the putty with a spreader to fill in the scratch.
3. Allow the putty to dry for a few minutes.
4. Remove the excess putty with a levelling tool.

So this is it — these are 5 methods you can use to remove scratches from your car!

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