Will Black Paint Transfer to a White Car in a Minor Collision?
3 Answers
Black paint can transfer to a white car in a minor collision. Below are specific details about touch-up paint: 1. Minor paint damage: Slight scratches on a car are unavoidable, as even flying stones on the road can cause them. This type of minor scratch may leave a mark, but wiping it with a wet towel a couple of times might remove it. If the scratch isn't very noticeable, simply applying wax is sufficient—even non-abrasive gloss wax works well. 2. Slightly more severe paint damage: After wiping with a wet towel, noticeable scratches may remain that cannot be washed off with water. In this case, waxing is recommended. Options include water wax or soft wax with abrasives, available in both solid and liquid forms. Alternatively, a touch-up paint pen can be used. 3. Moderate paint damage: Professional repair at a maintenance shop is necessary to prevent damage to the primer.
Last year, while driving my black car to work, I accidentally scraped against my neighbor's white car parked on the roadside. As a result, a noticeable white line appeared on the side door of my black car, which looked particularly glaring. I immediately got out to inspect and found that the paint from the white car had rubbed off and stuck to my black car. This happened because the car paint surface has a transparent clear coat layer, which is prone to damage upon friction, causing the underlying color paint to transfer. Dark-colored cars like black show white paint marks easily, whereas white cars might get black paint marks that are less noticeable. I took my car to the repair shop, where the technician spent 20 minutes using professional cleaning agents to remove the marks. He also recommended regular waxing to protect the paint surface. Every time I recall this incident, I remind myself to park slowly, leave enough space, and preferably install a reversing radar in the neighborhood.
As a car enthusiast, I often study automotive paint structures. It typically consists of three layers: primer, basecoat, and clearcoat. The heat generated during friction can soften these paint layers, causing color transfer. Therefore, when a black car and a white car rub against each other, it's highly likely that white paint will transfer onto the black car, especially with slightly stronger force or uneven surfaces. For example, I've seen tests online where two cars scraped at low speed, resulting in white paint particles sticking to the black car body. In real-world driving, minor collisions can produce the same effect. If not cleaned promptly, the stains can penetrate and damage the paint surface. I recommend paying more attention to road conditions while driving, maintaining safe distances, and applying scratch-resistant films or ceramic coatings for protection.
