5 Easy Steps to Fix Scratches on a Car

It’s easy to fix clearcoat scratches on a car. In fact, all you need to do is follow this simple five-step process:

1. Wash It
2. Tape It
3. Sand It
4. Polish It
5. Wax It

Better yet, each step can be done at home and cost you just a few dollars. Read on and clearcoat scratches will never bother you again.

5 Simple Steps to Car Scratch Repair

1. Wash It: Grab a clean microfiber towel and some soapy water, then wash down the scratch and surrounding area to get rid of any dirt and debris.
2. Tape It: The scratch will be tough to see once you start removing it, so run tape parallel to the scratch, about half an inch to the top and bottom. Make sure the ends of the tape match the ends of the scratch.
3. Sand It: If the scratch is deep, use 3,000-grit sandpaper — if not, 5,000-grit will be fine. Wrap your sandpaper around a sponge to ensure pressure is even, spray down the area and the sandpaper with soapy water, then start sanding up and down against the grain. When the scratch is gone, move the tape up and down another half inch and use 5,000-grit sandpaper in a circular motion.
4. Polish It: You’ll be left with a hazy area, so it’s time to make it shiny again. Apply fine polish to a clean section of microfiber cloth, then rub it in using circular motions. You should apply a touch more pressure than you did with the sandpaper.
5. Wax It: Your car should now look good as new, but you still need to add some wax for protection. It’ll fill microscopic scratches invisible to the human eye and protect your clear coat. Paste wax works better than liquid wax, so grab some and work it in.

Scratch Repair is Easy as Pie When You Understand the Right Steps

Here at CarHop, we understand how to remove scratches and leave cars in pristine condition, and we can also help you with other DIY tasks like windshield chip repair with resin or clear nail polish or dent removal. Just come check out our pre-owned cars to see for yourself. We have locations across the country and offer Buy Here Pay Here financing.