Paint Scratches on Your Car

4 Easy Fixes for Paint Scratches on Your Car

Paint scratches and chips on your car can occur from everyday travel when small rocks and debris inevitably hit your vehicle, or they can come about after a collision. They can even be caused by taking your vehicle off-road or by a bad-intentioned person with a key.

While paint scratches are annoying eyesores, you should be aware that they can also significantly devalue your vehicle if you intend on trading it in or selling it.

Has your car collected a few scrapes here and there on its paint job? If so, there’s no need to freak out. Here, we’re sharing some quick, easy fixes that’ll minimize the sight of those scratches and have your car looking (almost) good as new! Just keep on reading to find out what they are.

1. Shoe Polish

Light pain scratches are no match for shoe polish. No, seriously!

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You’ll need car-appropriate soap and water to start, along with some shoe polish that is a few shades darker than your car’s paint. First, thoroughly clean the scratched area with soap and water, then dry it off completely with a fresh rag. 

Once the area is completely dry, carefully apply the shoe polish to the area. The polish will spread on its own to fill up the scratch, and then you’ll need to sand down the paint in the area around the scratch with fine sandpaper.

2. Toothpaste

The naturally abrasive elements in toothpaste make it the perfect scratch-remover. Simply clean the impacted area and then squirt some toothpaste onto an old toothbrush. Then, buff the scratch in small circular motions until you see that the scratch has disappeared. Easy as that!

Pro tip: if you want to prevent scratches and scrapes in the future, it’s important to invest in a car with a high-quality body panel. Read more about automotive body panel assembly here!

3. Candle Wax

Yes, candle wax. Car owners have been using candle wax to remove minor scratches for decades, but you should know that this isn’t a permanent fix. 

Clean the area and then apply candle wax to the scratch. The wax will cover and seal any damage, leaving your car looking scratch-free.

4. Super Glue

The transparency of super glue makes it the perfect substance to remove light car paint scratches. Simply apply a thin layer of high-quality super glue to the scratch and allow it to dry.

After the glue has dried, examine the area. It may require some extra buffing with sandpaper if the damaged area doesn’t look even, but that’s how it’s done!

Fix Car Paint Scratches With These Easy Tricks

Nothing is more annoying than getting a scratch on your car. Not only is it costly to get the scratch professionally removed, but it takes away from your vehicle’s overall appearance and value. Now that you know these easy fixes for car paint scratches, you don’t have anything to worry about.

Did you find this article helpful? If so, read the rest of our posts about all things cars.