Light scratch

A light scratch usually sits in the clear coat only, not the paint underneath. In most cases, we can polish it out on-site with no paint or clear coat needed.

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Before & after

Here's what the fix looks like

Every one of these is a real job we did somewhere around Summerville or Charleston.

Close-up of car tire and scratched grey car fender with black scuff marks and paint damage.

Before

Close-up of a fixed area on a vehicle's light gray fender above the tire.

After

Deep scratches

2 hours

250$

Car hood covered with water spots and light reflections of sky and clouds.

Before

Glossy black car hood with a Raptor badge and reflections of trees and a lamp post.

After

Water spots

2,5 hours

300$

Close-up of white vehicle's front left fender with black scratches near the headlight and tire.

Before

Close-up of a white vehicle's front tire, black fender, orange side marker, and headlight.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Close-up of a black car's fender with visible scratches and scuff marks above the tire.

Before

Close-up of the front left wheel and fender of a black vehicle on a gravel surface, showing tire tread and part of the headlight and indicator light.

After

Paint transfer

2 hours

270$

Reflection of a person wearing a blue visor and black shirt, crouching and holding a phone, seen on a glossy surface with a long scratch across it, with a beige house door and siding in the background.

Before

Reflection of a man taking a photo with a smartphone, kneeling next to a black toolbox with red latches on a gravel surface in front of a white house with a door and window.

After

Deep scratch

1 hour

140$

Close-up of the driver's side of a black car with visible scratches and scuff marks on the door near the handle and lower panel, parked on a gravel surface with grass and trees in the background.

Before

Close-up of the side of a black car with a large dent on the rear door panel, parked on a driveway in front of a garage, with reflections of nearby house siding on the car surface.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Light scratch

What you need to know

A clear picture of what you're dealing with makes the next step a lot easier.

Don't let it sit

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

How to tell if it's a light scratch

  • Your fingernail glides over it. If your nail moves smoothly across the mark with no catch, it likely hasn't reached the paint.
  • It's the same color as the surrounding paint. No grey, silver, or white shows at the bottom of the mark.
  • It showed up from something soft. Keys, branches, shopping carts, and tight parking spots are common causes.
  • Washing or waxing seems to fade it slightly. Light scratches often look less noticeable after a good wash, though they don't disappear on their own.

Why it's worth fixing now

  • It's an easy fix while it's still light. A light scratch left untreated can pick up dirt and grime, making it more visible over time.
  • It affects how the paint reflects light. Even shallow scratches break up the clear coat's shine, especially under direct sun.
  • It's one of the more affordable repairs available. Because there's no paint or primer involved, light scratch repair is usually quicker and less costly than deeper damage.

Simple process

How we fix it

Once you know what you're dealing with, here's what happens next.

//01

Cleaning the area

The section is washed and dried so no dirt gets trapped during polishing.

//02

Assessing the depth

We test the scratch to confirm it hasn't reached the paint or primer.

//03

Machine polishing

A cutting compound gently levels the clear coat around the scratch.

//04

Finishing and protecting

The area is polished to match the surrounding shine and can be topped with a protective sealant.

FAQ

Questions we get a lot

Chances are, someone's already asked what's on your mind. Here's what we tell them.

Will polishing remove the scratch completely?

Can I just buff it out myself at home?

Does polishing remove any of my clear coat?

How long does light scratch repair take?

Will the shine match the rest of my car?

Get started

Get your free quote

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

A man wearing sunglasses, a blue visor, black t-shirt, and gray shorts kneels on a driveway holding a vehicle buffer polisher while smiling at the camera, with a white SUV and toolboxes containing car care products nearby.