What to do if the car is scratched a little and the person cannot be found?

[MaggieMarie]

Installing a dash cam is essential for defense. You can use the footage from the dash cam to find relevant information and seek help from the police. You can also contact the parking lot administrator, who can retrieve the parking lot's surveillance footage, making it a simple matter to identify the person responsible.

[LeBenjamin]

Last month, my white SUV got a 10-centimeter scratch in the supermarket parking lot, exposing the black primer. Experience tells me the first step is to secure evidence—take photos of the scratch and surrounding environment from multiple angles with my phone, especially checking if there are any paint fragments from the other vehicle on the ground. Next, check the surveillance footage by requesting the recording from the mall security. If the responsible party can't be identified, filing a report with the traffic police to obtain an accident certificate is crucial—this document is key for insurance claims. For small scratches, there's no need to repaint the entire door panel; a professional body shop can perform spot repairs for around 300–500 RMB, preserving the factory paint. Remember to confirm the paint code with the repair technician to avoid color mismatch. After the touch-up, park the car under sunlight to check—the color difference is barely noticeable.

[GarrettDella]

Just got a new car and found a door scratch—blood pressure skyrocketing! If the primer is exposed, fix it ASAP to prevent rust. First, try using scratch wax at a car wash to cover light scratches. For deeper ones, DIY with a touch-up paint kit in three steps: sand down burrs with wet sandpaper, fill the dent with putty using a toothpick, then apply 3-4 thin layers of paint after drying. Pro tips: compact the putty firmly, maintain a 30cm distance when spraying, and wait 20 minutes between coats. For perfection, visit a body shop for spot painting starting at ¥300. Warning: don’t use nail polish as a substitute—its corrosive nature worsens the damage.

[KennedyRose]

As an automotive repair professional, it's recommended to first assess the severity of the scratch. Minor surface scratches can be treated with polishing compound; for damage reaching the color coat but not exposing the metal layer, a touch-up pen can be used. If the metal substrate is exposed, it must be addressed within 48 hours. We often encounter car owners using toothpaste as a temporary fix, which can lead to oxidation. Important notes: Clean the surface with degreaser before repainting, and avoid water contact for 24 hours after repair. Light-colored paint tends to show color discrepancies more easily, so full panel spraying is preferable. A pro tip from repair shop technicians: Request multiple paint sample cards of the same color and compare them under both sunlight and shade for the most accurate color match.