Is It Necessary to Repair Minor Scratches on a Car?
4 Answers
For areas on the vehicle where the scratches have not exposed the primer and won't cause metal rust, there's no urgent need to repair them. Here are some relevant details: 1. Touch-up Paint Pen: Using a touch-up paint pen can cover up some finer and lighter scratches, making the marks less noticeable. Although there is still a certain gap compared to the original factory paint (color difference), and the durability is certainly not comparable to the original paint, after all, the touch-up pen is only for localized paint repair. 2. Paint Scratch Repair Agent: As the name suggests, the paint scratch repair agent is also used to repair paint damage. It works similarly to toothpaste, with a grinding effect that can quickly repair the damaged part of the paint. Of course, this can only repair minor marks.
I think minor scratches and dents on a car don't necessarily need to be repaired. As long as they don't affect driving, it's fine. My car has been running for several years with a few unnoticeable small scratches on the side door and bumper, and I've never bothered to fix them, saving both money and time. The key is to check the depth of the scratches. If it's just the surface paint that's scratched and the primer isn't exposed, it generally won't rust, so leaving it is okay. However, if the scratches are in areas prone to water accumulation or on metal parts, prolonged exposure might lead to rust spreading, making repairs more troublesome and expensive later. For new cars or high-value vehicles, fixing them to maintain aesthetics is good, but for ordinary family cars, covering minor scratches with stickers or doing a DIY touch-up with some paint is sufficient—there's really no need to spend a lot of money taking it to a professional shop.
I'm particularly concerned about the appearance of my car. Even a minor scratch needs to be fixed, or it'll bother me. The car is like my face project—small scratches feel like blemishes on my skin, making me uncomfortable just driving it. Last time, I backed into a small pole and immediately went to the shop for polishing. It cost a few hundred bucks, but the paint was restored to like-new condition. It’s not too much trouble; you can even ask the mechanic to fix minor scratches during routine maintenance to save money. Here’s a little tip: If the scratch is shallow, you can use a touch-up pen or apply some wax to cover it—it works decently. For deeper scratches, professional repainting is necessary; otherwise, rust could spread and affect both aesthetics and safety. Don’t put it off—fix it once and drive with peace of mind.
Whether minor scratches need repair depends on the location and severity. I once left a small scratch on the car door untreated, and after six months, it rusted and expanded into a large corroded area, costing more to fix and compromising safety. For metal parts or areas near the chassis that frequently get wet, even small scratches can allow water seepage leading to internal rust—it's best to touch up the paint quickly to prevent spreading. Scratches on plastic parts are usually harmless and can be covered with a sticker or ignored. For daily driving, keep an eye on minor damage; regular car washes help spot changes. If it's not serious, DIY fixes can save money.
