How To Touch Up Nicks and Scratches in Your Car's Paint

Publish date: 2024-04-15

Introduction

Over the years, your trusty vehicle has probably acquired its fair share of scratches and dents with flaking paint. These dings are pretty much inevitable when you use public parking lots and drive on freeways where debris flies around.

If you're like most people, you've ignored all those blemishes. But they may be already rusting or soon will, and that's when the problems really start.

By investing a little time over several days, you can stop the rust in its tracks. Learn how to touch up car paint and get your vehicle back into reasonable shape, all for less than $100.

As a retired spray painter, let me caution you: Keep your expectations realistic. You won't get body shop-quality results in your driveway with auto touch-up paint. But these techniques will make the blemishes less noticeable and delay the onset of rust-through.

Before we get to the how-tos, let's address some frequently asked questions:

Do touch-up pens work on cars?

Yes. They hide small scratches as long as the color is a perfect match. The fix is only temporary, but will last longer if you apply clear coat over it. You may find it difficult, if not impossible, to perfectly blend the repair with the rest of the paint.

Does WD-40 remove scratches on a car?

I've never tried to repair scratches with WD-40, but Auto Detailing Pro says it works if the scratches are light. It fills the depression and leaves a film that can hide the scratch and prevent rusting. But the film may also attract dirt, making the scratch more noticeable. Moreover, being a petroleum product, WD-40 may damage the car paint, so use it sparingly.

Can you spray paint a car to touch up scratches?

Yes, if you can find an exact match for your car's color. There's one potential problem, though. It's hard to feather in the edges to match the car's paint, so be prepared to do some wet-sanding with fine-grit sandpaper and cover the repair with a clear coat.

When should I call a pro?

If you don't have an exact color match, you may need a pro's experience and trained eye to help you find one. Even if rust has eaten a hole in the car's body, you can usually fix that yourself with auto body filler. But if there are a lot of holes, you're better off leaving the repairs to someone with expertise and the right equipment.