Should I touch up the paint if my new car has a minor scratch?
2 Answers
Even for a new car, the severity of paint damage varies, and whether to touch up the paint depends on the situation. If the metal is exposed, it will definitely rust. However, in most cases, the metal isn't easily exposed, and what you might see is the primer. If it's just a minor scratch where the surface paint is scuffed without damaging the primer, you can wait and touch it up later along with other scratches. Here are some additional details: 1. Minor scratches: If it's just a minor scratch where the surface paint is scuffed without damaging the primer, you can wait and touch it up later along with other scratches. If you don't want to repaint but have OCD, you can buy a touch-up pen online and do it yourself. 2. Severe scratches: If the scratch is severe and the metal is exposed, you should touch it up as soon as possible. Because the car painting process is complex, what you see is only the top layer of paint. If the exposed metal isn't touched up in time, prolonged exposure to wind, sun, and time will cause rust in that area. Later touch-ups may also result in cracks or fissures.
For a new car with a bit of paint scratched, it depends on how deep the damage is. Small scratches on the surface that don’t reach the primer can be left alone—just wash and wax to cover them. However, if the metal layer is exposed, moisture can seep in and cause rust, corroding the body. Last time my car door got scratched, I thought it was minor, but rust spread within two months, costing me an extra thousand bucks to fix. Keeping the paint intact on a new car preserves its value, making it worth more during resale assessments, so it’s best to address it early. A professional shop can do a spot repair for a few hundred bucks—don’t wait for small damage to become big. Taking care of your car is about long-term maintenance; regular checks prevent bigger issues, and healthy paint means peace of mind on the road.
