Fixing Your Car's Scratch Yourself Without Filing An Insurance Claim

If you accidentally ran into something with your car and want to avoid filing a claim with your auto insurance company, then you can patch the damaged area yourself at home. Automotive scratch repair kits are inexpensive, easy-to-use, and available at all automotive parts stores.

Scratch repair kits contain all of the tools and materials necessary to adequately fix small damaged areas on all makes, models, and colors of vehicles. Additionally, using your car's vehicle identification number (VIN), a local dealership can obtain a bottle of matching paint from the same lot of paint that was originally used to paint your car. You can use this matching paint for a seamless repair.

Use these tips to repair the scratch on your car's paint like a professional auto body repair technician:

Sand the Scratch to the Metal and Clean It Well

The matching paint will not stick to the existing paint on your car unless you carefully sand the scratch down into the clean metal. Use the sanding stick in your kit to sand the entire scratch down the fresh steel before you apply your paint.

Once you have sanded the area well, then use a tacky cloth to remove all of the paint and metal flakes to help the paint adhere well.

Build up the Matching Paint Slowly in Layers

When applying the matching paint into the scratch, build up the layers slowly. It is better to apply two or three thin layers of paint than it is to apply one thick one that doesn't dry properly. Let the layers dry according to the instructions on the bottle of paint.

Apply Only a Thin Layer of Clear Coat Spray

The biggest mistake people often make when repairing a scratch on their car is that they apply too much clear coat spray. While you want to seal in the new paint and protect it from damage, applying too much clear coat spray will make the area look obviously repaired in the sun.

To apply the clear coat spray, hold the bottle a few inches from the car and spray it in an even motion without getting too much of it in one place or over-spraying the surrounding area. Remember, you can always add more clear coat, but you cannot remove it once it is in place.

Seek Professional Assistance for Scratches with Accompanying Dents

Finally, if the scratch in your car's paint has a dent around it, then you need to have your car professionally repaired at an auto body shop like Auto Body By Duie LLC. Even if the dented area is small or shallow, leaving the dent in place will ensure that your repair paint will be visible to the naked eye when the sun shines on your car.