Do I need to repaint the entire fender for a minor scratch?

[AustinMarie]

For a minor scratch on the fender, it is not necessary to repaint the entire panel. You can use touch-up paint or a paint pen for repair. Unless the damage is severe, avoid repainting the whole area. Vehicle painting refers to applying a layer of paint to the car's surface to protect it, typically done through baking spray painting, which is generally used when the vehicle has scratches. The fender is the outer body panel that covers the wheel, named for its resemblance to a bird's wing in older car designs. Depending on the installation position, fenders are categorized into front and rear fenders. The front fender is installed near the front wheel and must ensure sufficient space for the wheel's maximum turning and bouncing limits.

[DiElizabeth]

I just dealt with this situation a couple of days ago. For a fingernail-sized paint scratch on the fender, there's really no need for a full panel repaint. Spot touch-up and filler techniques are quite advanced nowadays—if the master technician gets the color matching right, the repair is virtually undetectable. After my silver car was touched up, even my friend couldn't spot the repair point from just ten centimeters away. A full repaint would actually require sanding off the entire original factory paint layer, which professional vehicle inspectors can identify during resale, potentially depreciating the value by at least five hundred. However, if the scratch reaches the bare metal, remember to apply rust-proof pen treatment before touch-up to prevent rust issues. Nowadays, a complete touch-up pen kit costs around forty bucks, while local body shop spot repairs typically run about two hundred.

[SanAlina]

As a mechanic with ten years of experience, my advice is to check the depth of the scratch. Run your fingernail over the scratch—if it catches in a groove, the base coat is damaged. Car paint consists of four layers: electrocoat, primer, color coat, and clear coat. If only the clear coat is affected, polishing with scratch wax in circular motions will restore it. If the color coat is damaged but the metal isn’t exposed, a touch-up pen can prevent rust. The worst case is when the metal layer shows through, requiring a repaint. Nowadays, spot repairs use mini spray guns, saving three times the time compared to repainting the entire fender, and the car can be picked up the same day. A full repaint involves removing door handles and emblems, and may later result in overspray or orange peel texture. Remember not to wash the car for three days after repainting to allow the clear coat to fully cure.

[StCaden]

Last month, while reversing, I scraped against a tree stump, leaving a 10-centimeter white scratch on the right fender. The 4S shop insisted on a full repaint, quoting 1,200 RMB, but I later opted for a spot repair at a quick repair shop. The technician used a specialized color chart to mix the paint, sanding only an area the size of a coin. After the repair, the damage was completely invisible from half a meter away, and most importantly, the original factory paint thickness was preserved. A full repaint is not only expensive but also risks cracking over time. Especially for new cars, avoid full repaints—even the best 4S shop work can't match the original factory baking process. After the touch-up, remember to ask the technician to apply a ceramic coating to the repaired area to ensure uniform gloss.