Witnessing a new scratch on your sparkly paint job can be heart-rending, and even after all the technological innovation, there’s no way to prevent your car from getting scratched. Hence the intelligent approach to tackle this problem is to look for efficient strategies how to remove deep scratch from car so that you can live with peace of mind.
As we all aim to drive squeaky clean cars without scratches, we should all be making significant efforts to look for the best ways to make this dream come true. But we have saved you from doing the hard work by doing the research ourselves.
Being in the automotive industry allowed us to learn about vehicles and to innovate methods to keep them in top-notch condition. And after years of research and market surveys, we have come across these fantastic methods of scratch removal from cars.
Strategies For Removing Deep Scratch From Car
Minor car scratches can be fixed using a few simple strategies and DIY methods, but if you have a big nasty scratch on your car surface, that can be a nuisance.
If fixing deep car scratches is your concern, you are at the right place as we will fill you up with methods on fixing car scratches that will save you considerable time. In contrast, the ways will save you from spending a fortune by taking your car to detailers to fix a minor scratch.
We have mentioned a few tested methods with guaranteed results to save your skin and car.
Test The Depth Of The Scratch Using Fingernail
You can try running the fingernail test to find out whether the scratch on your car is dug deep into the base coat or if it’s just a tiny scratch on the clear skin. In this regard, glide your fingernail across the scratch.
If your nail glides over the scratch without digging into it signifies that the scratch is minor and can be fixed with DIY methods or simple polishing. But if the scratch catches your fingernail, it means that it is dug deep into the base coat, and you need a more professional approach to fix it.
How To Remove Deep Car Scratches
When you can see the metal surface of your car, that indicates that the scratch is dug deep into the surface. And indeed, it will be much more daunting to treat and hide properly. But not to worry, I’m here to guide you with my years of experience and research.
Removing a deep scratch is not indifferent to removing minor scratches but adding a few more steps.
Let’s dive into the details!
- Wash & Clean The Area
If your car has dirt or debris accumulated, the scratch repair process will cause more scratches on the surface. So give your vehicle a thorough cleaning and wash it nicely with a good car wash detergent to eliminate any traces of dirt.
A regular car wash with the best car wash soap will do the job, and it will prepare the car surface for the other scratch removal process.
Wash off any dirt or detergent with clean running water; you can also use a hose but make sure to adjust its settings to low or medium to avoid any inconvenience.
- Scratch The Area With Sand Paper
Next comes the process of sanding or scratching the area; in this regard, you should take 2000 grit sandpaper. Wet the surface and the sandpaper and start rubbing; you can also attach sandpaper with a sanding pad with a handle for better grip.
Rub in the direction of the scratch and avoid sanding in the opposite direction, as it will cause more scratches you despise. Sand the area until you reach the metal surface of the car.
Rinse the surface between sanding to analyze the progress and check how much more to sand.
When you reach the bottom of the scratch, stop sanding and clean the area with a microfiber cloth.
- Spray Primer Onto The Surface
Before spraying primer, it’s better to mask the area with masking tape or paper to prevent the primer from spreading onto other areas. Put a good-quality primer into an aerosol can and start spraying.
Make sure that the primer’s color is similar to your car paint; not exact, but it should be equal.
Spritz the surface with 2 to 3 coats of primer. Make sure to do it in back and forth motion and make even application throughout the affected area. Then let the primer dry for a few brief moments.
- Paint The Surface
When the primer is dry, it’s time to paint the surface, which is also my favorite step. Next, spray the paint the same color as the rest of your car, and make sure to sprinkle evenly.
Finding the perfect car paint shade can be challenging, but you can read the paint code on your car’s manufacturer’s specs.
Apply a heavy layer of paint onto the primed area and wait for 5 to 10 minutes for a second application.
- Polish Or Wax The Surface
And the final step is to polish or wax the surface to make the area shine like the rest of the car and to give that new paint some classy shine.
If you choose to polish, dab a bead size onto the polishing band and rub the surface in circular motions unless you achieve your desired results.
While in the case of wax, you should be settling on some excellent quality carnauba wax that can keep the surface protected for longer. Apply a small amount onto the microfiber towel and gently spread it onto the area evenly.
Let it dry for brief moments and buff off the excess wax with a clean towel, and you will witness that shiny clean surface of your car.
The process of buffing off the scratch from your car paint is all done, and you can enjoy it.
Professional Way To Fix Deep Car Scratch
The above-given method to tackle deep car scratches is efficient enough that it can remove the deep scratch without leaving any residue. But if you have a nasty scratch that cannot seem to be fixed even after applying the method mentioned above.
Try out this professional approach to repairing car scratch no matter how deep it is, and you will be stunned by the results.
- Wash & Clean The Car
I mention this every time because this step holds significant importance when fixing a car scratch. And it will save you from a lot of hassle as the dirt or dust on the surface can worsen the blemishes if you neglect the cleaning process.
Hence wash your car with a good detergent and remove any traces of dirt by scrubbing. Then wash off with clean running water, and your vehicle is ready to adopt any approach to fix scratches on the car.
- Apply Rubbing Alcohol & Masking Tape
As your car surface is clean, to start the scratch removing process, you should begin by preparing the area using rubbing alcohol. Put the rubbing alcohol on a microfiber cloth and rub the affected area for a good minute.
Let the surface dry and apply the masking tape around the scratch almost 1 or 2 inches above. This will help you tackle the scratch without affecting any surrounding area.
- Sand The Area
Take 1500-grade sandpaper, make it wet, and start sanding it. Make sure to do it properly and rub all the surrounding area.
- Fill With Filler Putter
When the scratch on your car is super deep, and even the sanding won’t do the job, it’s time to fill the scratch with a filler putter. It will nicely fill the scratch, and after all the painting and polishing, you won’t be able to identify the area that had the scratch.
Let it dry for barely half an hour, and then rub off the excess filler using a paint leveler or sandpaper.
- Apply Primer & Then Paint
Though you might not need the primer at this stage, you can directly apply the paint. But it can cause a slight difference in the color of the painted area. So it’s better to use a primer similar to the color of your car before you start painting.
Get the paint the same color as your car, and to get the exact shade, you can refer to the manufacturer’s specs on the door side for the paint code. And mentioning the code, you can get the precise paint from any automotive dealer or directly from your car manufacturer.
Put the paint in an aerosol container and apply an equal layer of paint. Try to do it nicely and gently to avoid getting paint on areas out of masking tape. Let the paint dry for one or two hours for better results.
- Apply Clear Coat & Wax Or Finish Off
The last step is applying a layer of clear coat readily available in the market. It will bring back the faded shine of your car and make the area look shiny like the rest of the vehicle. Make sure to let it dry overnight for a better shine.
You can finish off by applying a good layer of carnauba wax to offer a layer of protection to your car and minimize surface damage in the future.
Now you can flaunt your sparkly scratch-free vehicle on the roads.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fixing a scratch on the car is not as tricky as we exaggerate it, and it can easily be repaired at home. So to clear your concepts a little more regarding the issue, we have answered a few more queries from you.
Q.1. How to buff out a deep scratch on the car?
Fixing and repairing small or minor scratches is easy, but if the scratch is dug deep into the primer or metal body of the car. It can be a bit daunting to treat such scratches, but not impossible. And if you do not want help from professionals, you can fix the car’s deep scratches using the methods mentioned earlier.
Q.2 How much does it cost to get a deep scratch fixed by professionals?
The detailers cost around $300 to $1000 to fix a deep scratch on the car, while independent body shop owners and professionals offer different estimates to fix the deep scratch. Read More.
Q.3. Can Toothpaste remove deep scratches from cars?
Though toothpaste is considered the best DIY remedy to tackle minor scratches on the car’s surface, the strategy might not be that effective for removing deep scratches from the car as the deep scratches require professional methods to restore the shiny appearance of the vehicle.
Wrapping Up
Fixing a deep car scratch is not that hard, only if you know the right strategy to carry out the task. This article explains the tested step-by-step methods of removing deep scratches on cars to save you from the hassle of taking your car to professional detailers and spending a fortune every time your car gets a little scratch.
