Volkswagen vehicles are popular for their advanced performance, functional designs, and great finish. Many owners try to move carefully with their vehicles to avoid scratches, but they are almost unavoidable as even the best-maintained car accumulates scratches as they age.
The good news is that no matter how bad your car’s scratches are, you can restore your car to its old, untouched look through specialized scratch repair. In this guide, we will introduce you to the various types of car paint scratches, and the best tips for an effective scratch repair. Read on to learn more!
Types of Car Paint Scratches
Scratches on a car vary as they depend on the cause of the scratch, and the level of damage done. You need to understand what type of scratch your car’s paint job has to determine the best way to fix it. Here are the common types of paint scratches for vehicles;
1. Clear Coat Scratches
Also called a surface scratch, this is the least complicated type of paint scratch on a car. A clear coat scratch only affects the topmost layer of your car’s paint (which is the first point of contact between the outside world and your car’s paint). You can detect this scratch by running your fingers across your car’s body. If you can barely see the scratch but can feel it with your fingers, it is a clear coat scratch.
2. Paint Scratches
The second common type of scratches on a car’s body is a paint scratch, also called the base coat scratch. If the scratch goes beyond the clear coat layer, and you begin to see white or discolored paint, then you have a paint scratch and it is more difficult to fix than a clear coat scratch.
3. Primer Scratches
This is also called deep surface scratch, and as the name implies, it is a more complicated type of scratch than the above-mentioned types. For a primer scratch, the damage goes deep into the primer layer or the metal body of your car. They are usually easy to identify and are caused by accidents of significant contact with heavy-body materials.
Tips to Repair Your Car’s Body Paint Scratches
As soon as you notice a scratch in your car’s body paint, it is important to find a solution immediately as ignoring a scratch can cause more extensive damage that could be costly to repair. Here are some tips to help you fix your car’s scratches;
- Assess the area to determine the type or depth of damage. This will help you determine the best step to take for repair as a clear coat scratch does not require the same level of effort as a primer scratch.
- Before taking any further action, wash your car to remove dirt, dust, or other contaminants that could affect the repair process. Use a mild soap along with a microfiber cloth to prevent further scratches.
- Some VW models come with a specialized touch-up kit, and if your car has one, you should use it for minor or clear coat scratches. In some cases, a touch-up kit could also be effective for a paint scratch.
- If your car has a clear coat scratch, you can apply a car polish compound to remove the damaged layer and apply a coat of wax to give it a shiny finish.
- If your car has a deep surface scratch, you may be able to fix it on your own by using sandpaper to smoothen the area surrounding the scratch before applying a new layer of paint. However, this can go the other way if not properly done.
- The most important thing to do with car paint scratches, especially when there is extensive damage, is to get your car to a professional.
The Best Auto Shop in Texas for Your Car’s Scratch Repair
Handing your car over to a professional 
to fix damaged body paint helps you avoid further damage while ensuring that your car has a clean finish. DIY projects could leave your car with marks or more scratches, so it is best to let your experienced technicians handle it.
Ames Collision is your best bet when it comes to dealing with any of your paint scratch issues, whether you need to fix minor scratches or major damage from collisions, we are available to help. Our experience in color-matching technology and our state-of-the-art paint booth make our scratch repair work pristine.
If you are in or around Addison, Flower mound, Irving, Highland Park, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Lewisville, University Park, or Dallas, TX, you should bring your car down to us and we will have it returned to you looking brand new!
