Paint chips and scratches on your car’s paintwork can ruin the glossy and polished shine. It can be caused by stone chips, road debris, or minor collisions. These imperfections not only affect the look of your vehicle but can also lead to rust if left untreated.
Timely repair of paint damage helps protect your car from corrosion and keeps it looking as good as new, maintaining its factory-finish appearance.
In this guide, we’ll explain about the car paint chip and scratch repair services. What services can you expect from a professional car body shop? Let’s dive into the details that will help you make a better decision.
Highlights
- Car Paint Chip Repair Process Explained
- Learn How Light or Deep Car Scratches are Repaired
- Smart Repair vs. Full Respray: When to Choose What Service
Stone Chips
Stone chips are a common issue that occurs when loose gravel, road debris, or small stones strike your car’s surface at high speed. These impacts can crack or chip the paint, leaving behind small but noticeable spots on your car’s paint
If left untreated, these chips can expose the metal beneath, increasing the risk of rust and further damage.
To fix the cracks, you’ll need the expertise of car body repair professionals who will fix the chipped area through a series of precise steps.
Scratches
Scratches on car paint are very common and vary in size and depth. Some scratches are surface-level, while others are deep and may require filler and touch-ups to the paint. Just like paint chips, deep scratches often need expert attention to restore the finish and protect the bodywork.
There are generally two main types of scratches on a vehicle:
- Surface-level Scratches (Minor)
- Deep Scratches
Technicians check if the panel is still in its original shape. If there are any minor dents, a professional paintless dent removal (PDR) service may be needed. This method uses specialised tools to gently push or pull out minor dents from the inside of the panel, restoring the shape without affecting the paintwork.
Minor Scratches
These scratches only affect the outermost layer, known as the clear coat. If the scratch hasn’t penetrated the paint layers beneath, then no filling or repainting is necessary
These light scratches and swirl marks can often be removed or reduced using polishing or compounding techniques.
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Deep Scratches
Deep scratches are more severe and can go beyond the clear coat, cutting through the paint layers and sometimes exposing the bare metal of the car.
Here are important factors about dealing with deep scratches and why they need professional repair:
- Risk of Rust and Oxidation: When the scratch exposes the metal bodywork, it becomes vulnerable to oxidation and rust over time. This type of damage needs prompt attention to prevent long-term issues.
- Paintwork Required: If the scratch has penetrated the paint and clear coat, a paint repair is essential to restore the look and protect the surface.
- Larger or Extensive Scratches: Many car body repair specialists recommend a full panel respray if the damaged area is large, or affects multiple parts of the panel. This ensures a smooth, even finish that blends perfectly with the rest of the car.
How to fix the paint chips and deep scratches
Papering:
Before any repair work begins, the damaged area is carefully marked out. Surrounding panels and surfaces are masked using specialist masking tape and protective paper.
This step ensures that no sanding dust, paint, or clear coat affects other areas of your vehicle. Precision masking is crucial for a clean, sharp finish and helps maintain a high-quality, factory-standard repair result.
Why it matters:
A rushed or poorly executed masking job can lead to overspray or uneven repair, which becomes clearly visible under certain lighting conditions.
Sanding
With the area safely masked, the damaged section is sanded using fine-grit sandpaper (usually 600–1500 grit, depending on the damage).
This step:
- Removes loose paint, oxidation, or surface rust.
- Smooths sharp paint edges around chips or scratches.
- Creates a smooth, textured surface that allows primer and paint to bond correctly.
For larger or more severe scratches, technicians may sand the entire panel to ensure an even finish in the final finish.
Why it matters:
Sanding isn’t just about smoothing; it’s about creating a fine base for the new paint to grip onto, which is essential for long-term durability.
Layering (Paint Application)
Once the sanding is complete, the area is carefully inspected to check if the primer is needed. For minor chips (typically under 2-5 cm in size), a few layers of touch-up paint are often enough to fill in the gaps in paint.
Primer Application
If the chip or scratch has reached the bare metal, a rust-resistant primer is applied to prepare the surface for the paint. This seals the surface and helps the paint adhere correctly.
- A high-build primer may be used to fill any minor indentations before painting.
- Each layer is cured before the next is applied, ensuring strength and longevity.
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Touch-Up Paint Application
Once primer is applied, layers of colour matching paint are applied using fine-tipped tools or spray guns, depending on the size of the damaged panels.
- Paint is applied in thin, controlled coats, gradually building up to the original paint thickness.
- Colour-matching is done using either the car’s paint code or digital tools to ensure a seamless blend.
Why it matters:
Even a slight mismatch in paint shade or texture will stand out. Professional colour matching and controlled application are essential for an invisible repair.
Blending Paint Edges
After applying touch-up paint, slight ridges or raised edges may appear where the new paint meets the original surface. These painted edges can make the repair visible if not properly blended.
To smooth them out:
- Wet sanding with ultra-fine sandpaper (like 2000–3000 grit) is used gently around the edges. This helps flatten the paint without damaging the surrounding area.
- Once the surface is level, the area is cleaned and then a clear coat is applied to seal the repair.
- Once the clear coat cures, compounding and polishing eliminate haze, revealing a smooth, even finish.
Why it matters:
Blending gives it a factory-finished appearance. Without it, even a well-painted section might look like a patch.
Clear Coat Application
A clear protective coat is sprayed over the new paint layers to seal the repair and restore the glossy finish of your vehicle.
This is a vital protective layer that:
- Restores the shine to match the original factory finish.
- Shields the paint from UV rays, rain, road salt, and minor scratches.
- Prevents moisture from penetrating and causing rust underneath.
High-quality clear coat provides added protection against moisture, wear and hairline cracks
Compounding (Surface Refinement)
Once the clear coat cures, the surface may still show slight haze or texture differences. That’s where compounding comes in.
- A fine abrasive compound is used with a polishing machine to refine the surface.
- It removes tiny imperfections, blends the newly coated section with the existing paint, and flattens any inconsistencies.
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Polishing (Final Finish)
Finally, a professional-grade polish is applied to enhance shine and clarity.
- This step brings out the richness and depth of the colour.
- It leaves the surface slick, smooth, and virtually indistinguishable from the rest of the car.
Why it matters:
The final polish not only completes the cosmetic repair but also ensures the car leaves the workshop looking like new.
For a complete guide on professional polishing and detailing, visit our other blog.
| Step | What it Does | Why it Matters |
| Papering | Masks off the surrounding area | Protects undamaged paint |
| Sanding | Prepares and smooths the surface | Ensures adhesion and removes rust |
| Layering | Applies matching paint in layers | Rebuilds surface and colour |
| Blending | Smooths paint transition | Invisible finish |
| Clear Coat | Seals and protects | Prevents damage and adds gloss |
| Compounding | Refines texture | Blends old and new surfaces |
| Polishing | Final shine and smoothness | Professional finish |
Frequently Asked Questions
Small chips can be fixed with touch-up paint, while larger chips are often fixed with a respray.
If not fixed in time, car paint chips can spread further and expose the metal, making it vulnerable to rust and corrosion, which can be more expensive to repair.
Touch-up paint on a car can be noticeable if the surrounding paint is old or faded.
AVX Auto Repairs: Best Choice for Fixing Paint Chips or Scratches
Whether it’s a minor stone chip or a deep scratch, car owners have access to professional services designed to restore your car’s paintwork and protect it against further damage. From simple paint touch-up to full panel respray, the AVX team offer expert services to keep your vehicle original look.
If you spot paint chips or scratches on your car, don’t wait for small damage to turn into costly repairs. Book your professional paint chip and scratch repair with AVX today and bring back your car’s original glossy shine.
