There is a lot of misunderstanding when it comes to removing scratches and scuffs from a vehicle’s paintwork. While any unwanted marks on your vehicle can be scary, removing them doesn’t have to be. Learning the right approach will make all the difference and leave you less frustrated.
Modern clear coat on your vehicle is very hard. However, it is also very scratch-sensitive. Even though you try to be as gentle as you can with your vehicle, we all get the inevitable scuff or scratch.
When it comes to the majority of paint abrasions, it generally boils down to two types: the more superficial scuffs or the deeper scratches. Depending upon what was in contact with the vehicle will typically determine what type of damage has occurred.
Scuffs are superficial because they reside on top of the clear coat. They are also sometimes called paint-transfer as a general term, even if there was no paint involved. For example, if a car bumps against a garage while backing out it will typically have paint from the garage transferred onto the vehicle’s clear coat. This can also happen with rubber or plastic. If a trash can or another vehicle’s tire bumps against your vehicle it may leave a scuff, or transfer.
Scuffs are the easiest defect to remove. Typically a simple wax (Meguiar's Ultra Polishing Wax) and microfiber towel (TRC Microfiber) used by hand with light to moderate pressure can remove them. If needed, a light polishing liquid and a microfiber towel can also help.
While scuffs can be taken care of by most DIY-ers, it is best to leave scratch removal to a professional. This is because in order to remove a scratch you must also remove the surrounding clear coat. The clear coat on most vehicles is only as thick as a post-it note, so caution must be taken when removing any scratch.
Scratches can come in varying degrees of severity. In general, I would classify them into 3 types: light, moderate, and severe.
Light scratches can happen from simple improper washing and drying techniques and can easily be removed with a light polish.
Moderate scratches can happen from a tree branch or cat climbing on your hood for example. They can still typically be removed, but may require a more aggressive compounding liquid to remove.
Severe scratches are those that are beyond repair without repainting a panel on your vehicle. They are either too far into or all the way through the clear coat. There is no way to remove them because there is no clear coat left to remove.
While we all would love to have a perfect mirror-finish vehicle, the reality is that scuffs and scratches will likely happen. Some may easily be removed and some you may have to live with. The most important thing is to protect and preserve the clear coat that is on your vehicle. Don’t get too caught up in chasing scratches.
cody boss
boss auto detailing
nashville, tn
