How to Remove Scratches from a Car: Here’s How You Can Do It

Author: Jeo George•Published on: 12/24/2025•5 Minutes

Overview:Whether a feather-light crease or a deep gouge, scratches on a car are frustrating and result in unnecessary hassle and additional expenses. If not treated promptly, such scratches can even cause rusting or impact the car’s resale value. While removal of some scratches requires professional assistance at a workshop, there are scratches that you can fix yourself at the convenience of your home. Whatever the type of scratch, you will need the right tools and techniques to repair it. Here, we present an ultimate guide on how to remove scratches from cars and restore them to their original finish.

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Key Highlights:

Knowing if it’s a clear coat, paint, or primer scratch helps decide between DIY and professional repair.
Minor clear coat scratches can be fixed with toothpaste or a scratch removal kit.
Paint and primer scratches need sanding, touch-up paint, and polishing for proper repair.

Types of Car Scratches

There are three types of car scratches, which are differentiated based on the extent of damage they cause and the complexity of the repair processes. These are as follows:

Clear Coat Scratches

The most basic and minor form of scratches, these are shallow and affect only the outermost layer of the car's exterior surface. Such scratches are formed due to washing, wiping or dusting using rough or dirty cleaning cloths.

Paint Scratches

A deeper form of scratches, these damage the layer of paint by penetrating through the clear coat of a vehicle. These scratches are caused by sharp-edged minor objects, such as keys, other cars’ doors, stones or shopping carts.

Primer Scratches

Such scratches are usually caused by more significant impacts from other moving objects and cause damage not only to the clear coat and paint, but also to the primer and even deform the metal surface. These are the deepest form of scratches, which require professional assistance.

Components Required for the Scratch Removal Process

Nowadays, scratch removal kits are available in the market as DIY kits, allowing you to remove minor clear coat scratches by yourself. Such kits include microfiber cloths, detergent solution, polishing wax compound and a sponge applicator. However, some minor scratches can be removed with even toothpaste. The more complex scratches require rubbing compound and polish, sandpaper, touch-up paint, and clear coat for removal.

How to Get Rid of Scratches on a Car: A Step-by-Step Procedure

Step 1: Know the Kind of Scratch

Determine the type of scratch by a visual inspection. If these scratches are minor or too light, you can remove them yourself at home using DIY scratch removal kits or simple objects like toothpaste and soap. However, in case of paint and primer scratches, seek professional help at a workshop.

Step 2: Removal of Minor Scratches

To remove the minor clear coat scratches, first clean the affected area using car wash soap and a microfiber cloth. After letting it dry, apply a small amount of toothpaste using the microfiber cloth and rub in a circular motion for around a minute. Wipe the affected area using a clean cloth and witness the magic.

For more moderate clear coat scratches, you can use scratch removal kits, which contain items such as a rubbing compound, polishing pads and a sponge applicator. Follow the same process mentioned above, using the same items but replacing the toothpaste with the rubbing compound, followed by applying car polish to retain the original shine.

Step 3: Removal of Paint and Primer Scratches

The removal of these scratches is more effective at workshops, where professionals treat them by cleaning and drying the scratch area, followed by application of fine-grit sandpaper to smooth the edges.

After the sanding process, the scratch is treated with a touch-up paint using a fine brush or pen, and then the repainted area is left to dry. A clear coat is then applied to the affected area, and the repainted area is buffed and polished after 24 to 36 hours.

The Road to a Scratch-Free Finish

No matter how much you take care of your car, car scratches become an inevitable part of your car ownership experience. What’s more important is to treat these scratches in a timely and effective manner, which can be achieved by first identifying the scratch's magnitude and then using the most suitable method, either independently or by seeking professional assistance.

FAQs

1. How to remove car scratches yourself?

To remove minor clear coat scratches, start by cleaning the affected area with car wash soap and a microfiber cloth. Then, apply a small amount of toothpaste and gently rub it in using a microfiber cloth. You can also use a rubbing compound in place of toothpaste for more moderate, evident coat scratches.

2. How do professionals remove car scratches?

Professionals remove paint or primer scratches using processes such as sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, followed by application of paint using a fine brush or pen, a clear coat over the affected area and then polishing it after letting the affected area dry for 24-36 hours.

3. Can car scratches be removed permanently?

Yes, car scratches can be removed permanently using a toothpaste or rubbing compound for minor clear coat scratches and sanding, repainting, and compounding for paint and primer scratches.