How to Deal with Scratches on New Car Paint?
2 Answers
Scratches on new car paint can be addressed through three steps. Here are the detailed steps: 1. Clean the scratched area: For fresh scratches, first use a towel to clean the area thoroughly, wiping several times to remove dust and paint fragments, then apply a touch-up pen. For older scratches or chipped paint, tools are needed to clean off rust, dirt, and grease before repainting. Use a very fine wet sandpaper dipped in water to gently remove rust spots, ensuring complete removal to prevent rust from spreading. Clean dirt and grease with car wash foam before painting. 2. Paint repair: First, cover the undamaged paint around the scratch to avoid accidentally painting over it. Shake the touch-up pen vigorously more than 30 times to mix the paint evenly. Unscrew the cap, take out the pen, and scrape off excess paint at the bottle opening. Carefully apply the paint to the scratch, filling it evenly. Apply a thin first layer, wait 5 minutes for slight drying, then repeat the process two or three times until the painted area is slightly higher than the surrounding paint. 3. Paint sanding and polishing: Wait three days to check if the paint is level with the surrounding area. If it's higher, soak 2000-grit sandpaper in soapy water for 20-30 minutes to soften it. Clean the surface dust, secure the sandpaper with a sanding pad, and gently sand the painted area with water until it's level with the surrounding paint.
A few days ago, I just dealt with the scratches on my new car. Although it was heartbreaking, the steps weren’t difficult. First, carefully examine the scratches: shallow ones can be fixed by gently rubbing with toothpaste or polishing compound; deeper scratches require buying a touch-up pen or finding matching paint at an auto parts store and applying it yourself; if the primer is damaged, it’s best to head straight to a professional repair shop or 4S store—they have the equipment to spray paint and match the original color, with costs ranging from a few hundred to several thousand depending on the damage area. I usually pay attention to parking away from narrow lanes and wax the car after washing to protect the paint and reduce secondary damage. Most importantly, don’t delay—address it quickly to prevent rust, prioritize safety, and your mood will improve.
