Is it necessary to go to a 4S shop for new car scratches?

[DelJuliette]

New car scratches can be repaired outside. For vehicle scratches, paintwork, sheet metal, and decorative parts repairs, as well as replacements, installations, and modifications, it is not recommended to go to a 4S shop. Not only are their charges high, but some services are not up to standard. More importantly, repairs like paintwork and decorative parts generally do not affect vehicle performance, such as the engine, braking, electrical circuits, and steering systems. Here are some details: When the scratch is shallow: If the primer is not damaged. In this case, you can choose not to repaint, as such scratches are barely noticeable unless closely inspected, and not damaging the primer has little impact on the car. Simply applying wax to the scratch can effectively reduce its appearance. When the scratch is deep: But the scratched area is not a metal part. In this situation, the impact is still minimal because losing a layer of paint on plastic components does not matter; if the scratched area is a metal part, repainting is necessary. Once the protective paint layer on the body steel plate is lost, exposing the steel to air can easily lead to corrosion and rust, causing rapid aging of the paint and severe damage to the appearance.

[AdelineFitz]

It's indeed heartbreaking to see a brand-new car get scratched, but whether to take it to a 4S dealership for repairs depends on the situation. If it's just a nail-sized paint chip on the bumper, you can actually handle it yourself with a touch-up pen or visit a nearby quick repair shop—it’ll only cost around 200-300 RMB. At a 4S shop, repainting a bumper would cost at least 700-800 RMB, and you’d have to wait in line for two or three days. However, if the door is dented or the primer is exposed, especially if the metal body is damaged, I’d recommend going straight to the 4S dealership. They have dust-free paint booths and can match the color precisely to the factory standard, avoiding any color mismatch later. Keeping 4S dealership repair records for the first two years of a new car can also help maintain higher resale value.

[MacDamian]

Last time my new car's door handle got deeply scratched by a tree branch, I didn't go to the 4S dealership but chose a chain auto service center instead. Personally, I think minor scratches don't necessarily require a special trip to the 4S shop unless it's in a critical area or affects the frame. Although 4S shops guarantee genuine parts, repairs often take 3-5 days with labor costs 2-3 times higher. Regular quick-service shops can usually return your car the same day, and the results are equally good as long as you choose one with a proper paint booth. Just remember to keep all repair invoices and records - these are important for proving maintenance history during used car transactions, which significantly impacts resale value.

[VonAubree]

Should I take my newly scratched car to the 4S shop? It depends on two factors: the location of the scratch and your budget. If it's just plastic parts like the rearview mirror housing, a regular repair shop can fix it perfectly. However, if the metal surface of the front hood is damaged, you must go to a 4S shop for professional anti-rust treatment. The key to repairing a new car lies in color matching—special coatings like pearl paint are prone to color discrepancies if not handled by a 4S shop. I recommend having the 4S shop assess the damage first; they use professional instruments to measure paint thickness and determine if the primer is affected. If the repair cost exceeds 3,000 yuan, it's advisable to file an insurance claim, while minor scratches are more cost-effective to pay out of pocket.