Should Car Scratches Be Repainted?

[DeArcher]

Whether car scratches should be repainted mainly depends on the car owner's preference. Reasons not to repaint car scratches: It's difficult to restore the original appearance. Repainting a car is not simple. The vehicle has its original factory paint, but achieving an exact match to the original is challenging for many cars. While owners can repaint, the biggest risk of paint loss is exposing the underlying metal. Cost considerations for repainting car scratches: The cost is relatively high. At best, you can only apply paint that closely matches the original color, achieving a result that's unnoticeable unless closely inspected. Deep scratches and large areas of exposed primer can lead to rust, so timely repair is necessary. Nowadays, using touch-up pens can effectively repair various scratches, including deep ones.

[VanJulia]

It depends on the location and severity of the scratch! If it's a minor scratch on plastic parts like the bumper, you can leave it alone since plastic won't rust. But if the scratch exposes the primer on metal parts like doors, you must repair it, otherwise rainwater will seep in and the metal will corrode. I just went through this - I thought a nail-sized scratch was no big deal, but half a year later, it bubbled up and rusted badly, costing me over 2,000 yuan for repainting. Early treatment would've saved money. For white cars especially, repair promptly as color difference from oxidation becomes very obvious. Oh, and make sure to find a reputable shop for painting - cheap paint jobs fade easily.

[KevinRose]

I personally think it depends on how much you care about your car's appearance. My neighbor's car door got a 30cm scratch from a bicycle, but he didn't mind and kept driving. But someone like me with OCD couldn't stand it and got a partial touch-up the next day, spending 800 yuan just for peace of mind. Actually, small-area touch-ups don't affect used car prices much, but leaving large areas untreated will make buyers aggressively bargain down the price. Also, note that factory paint is much more durable than aftermarket touch-ups, so avoid full-door repainting unless necessary. For new cars, it's recommended to go to a 4S shop as they have color card data for more accurate matching.

[DelMiguel]

There are three practical approaches depending on the severity. For light hairline scratches, applying scratch wax does the trick—I buffed them out myself last month using a $2 wax. For exposed white marks without primer damage, opt for localized spot spraying at around $50. If the silver metal layer is visible, immediate repair is mandatory—ignore those online nail polish fixes; they won't survive the rainy season. My uncle ended up replacing an entire door due to rust spreading from a tiny untreated spot, a classic case of penny-wise and pound-foolish. The most cost-effective method? Have technicians touch up paint during routine maintenance.

[Marvin]

It's advisable to decide based on the car's age. My old car is ten years old, so I didn't bother fixing the scratches on the front bumper—saving the money for new tires was more practical. However, if a new car's scratches expose bare metal, the manufacturer's warranty might become void, especially for paint damage near the electric vehicle's battery. I once saw a forum post where an owner was denied coverage for circuit issues due to rust caused by scratches. For metal part scratches, temporarily seal the wound within 48 hours—I've used clear nail polish as an emergency fix, which worked well. Always address such issues before long-term parking.