Despite the bliss of purchasing a brand new vehicle, there is one thing on car owner’s minds – the first scratch.  And in all reality, the first scratch is inevitable. When this does happen, the solution to repairing the scratch can be confusing. There are home repair kits, profeesional service, and various techniques available.  Choosing the right solution really depends on the scratch; no two scratches are the same.

The first thing to know is that eliminating scratches involves two things: the paint and the clearcoat layer atop the paint. While clearcoats keep cars looking better longer, they can magnify scratches. There are two directions you can take when it comes to a scratch:to hide them, or to remove them. You can polish over them and fill in the scratch — the problem with that is the first wash wipes the polish out of the grooves. If you opt for removal, the only way to do it is to lower the level of the paint surrounding the scratch to the depth of the bottom of the scratch, until the area is flat and smooth.

Here is are some general figures of what to expect to pay to restore your vehicle to a new-like paint job.  Light scratches done with self repair will range between $25 and $75. Light to medium scratches that must be fixed at an auto body shop could be as low as $50, but as high as a few hundred dollars. Lastly, deep scratches requiring repainting body panel can cost $500 and up.