How Much Does It Cost To Fix Scratches On a Car? 2024 Update
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Nowadays, most people cannot imagine their life without a vehicle, and most car owners want their cars to look great. Unfortunately, car scratches are pretty standard, and it seems as if they appear out of the blue sometimes. Car scratches can ruin the overall appeal of your car and make your car paintwork less durable and prone to rust, so it’s best to fix them as soon as possible.
Of course, since car scratches are so common it can be pricey to fix them, so we wanted to provide more insight into the potential costs you could face. You can expect to pay between $150 and $2500, depending on the severity of the damage.
Keep reading to learn more about how much it costs to fix scratches on a car this year.
The Importance of Fixing Scratches On Your Car
Although scratches might not seem like a big deal, they can lead to even more damage to your vehicle. A small scratch could easily turn into a deeper one, causing the paint to peel and revealing the metal parts of your car that could later rust and cause more issues. That means you’ll eventually need to spend even more money on the repairs, so that’s why you need to act quickly and try to fix car scratches as soon as you notice them.
Different Types Of Car Scratches
Before we get into the costs, we need to mention the types of car scratches as they will be crucial to determining the fixing price.
- Clear-coat scratches and scuffs: The simplest scratches for fixing. They are only surface scratches that you can easily repair yourself.
- Paint layer scratches: These scratches will damage the paint, so they will cost more since you’ll need to re-paint the area.
- Deep paint scratches: Scratches that reveal the metal sections of your vehicle that can easily rust and cause more damage.
The smaller the scratch, the lower the cost of repair, so clear-coat scratches and scuffs will be the cheapest, while deep paint scratches will be the most expensive.
How Much Does Fixing a Scratch On a Car Cost?
Although the price can vary depending on your location and the vehicle you have, here are the average lowest and highest prices you can expect for fixing scratches through a professional, though you can also fix some scratches yourself.
| Scratch type | Price range
|
Costs if you fix the scratch yourself |
| Clear-coat scratches and scuffs | $150–$300 | $50–$80 |
| Paint layer scratches | $400–$1,000 | $150–$300 |
| Deep paint scratches | $800–$2,500 | Best left to a professional |
How Do I Repair a Scratch On My Vehicle?
Most simple scratches don’t require professional care, so you should be able to fix them yourself.
- Toothpaste: Although this might sound strange, applying toothpaste on scuffs and clear-coat scratches can cover them up and remove the scratch. The process is straightforward, and all you have to do is apply toothpaste to the damaged area in circular motions by using a pad or a cloth. The scratches should disappear in no time.
- Use a scratch-removal product: Many stores sell scratch-removal products that you can use for fixing light scratches. However, we don’t recommend using these products on deep scratches where the metal is showing. For this removal method, you need to apply the product to the damaged area and rub it with a cloth in circular motions until the scratch is gone.
- Paint over deep scratches: This method works only for scratches where metal components of the vehicle are visible. It’s a more challenging process as you need to sand the paint layers before applying new paint layers. After you finish and the paint layers dry off, simply wax the vehicle to seal the paint.
Does Car Insurance Cover Fixing Scratches?
Car insurance can cover fixing car scratches, although that will depend on your insurance policy. There are certain situations in which car insurance will cover all the costs of your scratches.
- Theft
- Vandalism
- Natural disasters
- Falling objects
- Water
- Fire
A comprehensive car policy also covers damage caused by car accidents, as long as you’re not the one responsible for it. The downside is that the insurance company might take some time to inspect the causes of the scratches on your vehicle, so you will need to wait before you fix them.
How To Prevent Scratches On Your Vehicle
Unfortunately, there’s no way to prevent scratches on your vehicle completely. Still, there are specific preventive measures you can take to reduce them.
- Try to park your car away from moving objects and other vehicles
- When you wash your car, do it carefully and don’t rub the surface too hard
- When driving, try to keep a distance from other vehicles
- Don’t place rough objects on your car
In Summary
Car scratches are a common problem that many people deal with daily. It’s best to prevent them as much as possible, but you should invest in a car insurance policy and keep some cash aside, just in case something happens to your vehicle. If you’re handy, you can deal with some of the scratches yourself, but for deeper ones, go directly to your mechanic.
Featured Image Credit: PixieMe, Shutterstock
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