How Repair Shops Fix Paint Scratches

Whether a rogue cart hit your car or you got too close to a drive through counter, accidents happen in Santa Monica and sometimes they result in a scratch on your vehicle. A scratch on your car’s paint is not only an unsightly cosmetic issue, but it can also cause car paint oxidation or rust to form on the body of your vehicle if it’s left unrepaired. The cost to repair a scratch depends on the extent of the damage and how many scratches there are. For this reason, car scratch repair can cost anywhere from $150 to $3,500. Read below to see how repair shops fix scratches and how much you can expect to pay when you bring your vehicle in for scratch repair. You can also read our quick collision repair facts for more information on our repair process.

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Types of Car Scratch Repair

Your vehicle faces a lot of hazards in Beverly Hills, and just about anything can cause a scratch on your vehicle’s paint. However, the type of scratch your vehicle has will determine how hard or easy it is to repair, and how much it will cost. Typically, repair shops have three categories for scratches: clear coat scratches, primer scratches, and deep scratches. The deeper a scratch is, the more it will cost to have it repaired. Read about the differences between a clear coat scratch vs. a deep scratch and primer scratches below:

Clear Coat Scratches

• Clear coat scratches and scuffs stay on the top layer of your vehicle’s paint. These are the easiest and cheapest types of scratches to repair since they’re only affecting one layer.

Primer Scratches

• Primer scratches reach below the clear coat to the primer layer or the paint layer but don’t expose the metal body. Since primer scratches can affect multiple layers of paint, they are more expensive to repair.

Deep Paint Scratches

• Deep paint scratches go all the way to the metal of the car, leaving the body of your vehicle prime for damage from the environment and rust. These types of scratches are the most expensive to fix since multiple layers of paint need to be repaired and the vehicle’s body may need to be repaired as well.

How Car Paint Scratches are Repaired

While there are many DIY approaches to fixing a scratch on your vehicle, it is not recommended you repair it on your own. When done properly, scratch repair is a multi-step process that takes time and an experienced technician. Doing a poor DIY job could leave your vehicle looking worse for wear and may lead to rust forming underneath the paint. 

When you bring your vehicle to a professional repair center like Eli’s, you can have peace of mind knowing that your vehicle is being worked on by experienced technicians who are familiar with all types of scratch repair. Depending on the type of scratch you have, the paint repair process will vary. However, these are the standard steps repair shops take when fixing a car scratch: 

1. The area is cleaned of dirt, grime, or debris.
2. Technicians will sand, prime, and fill the scratch as needed.
3. The undercoat is applied and allowed to dry.
4. New paint is applied in layers, with time left in between for drying.
5. The paint is then buffed to integrate with the existing paint.
6. A clear top coat is applied for shine and as a final layer of protection.

How Much Does it Cost to Repair Car Paint Scratches?

The cost of repairing a scratch on your vehicle will depend on the severity of the scratch, how many scratches there are, and the amount of time it takes for the shop to complete the repair. The deeper the scratch and the more damage your vehicle has, the more time and materials it will take to repair it. Costs will also vary depending on the shop you go to in Mid Wilshire. We’ve listed out a broad range of prices for scratch repair below: 

• Clear Coat Scratch: $150 – $300
• Primer Scratch: $500 – $2000
• Deep Paint Scratch: Up $3,500

You don’t have to commit to a single shop on the spot. Take advantage of free estimates to shop around for a good repair price and take your time to make sure the repair shop you’ve chosen meets your expectations. 

Have Your Car Repaired at Eli’s Collision Repair

If your vehicle needs scratch repair, bring it to one of our many Eli’s Collision Repair locations in California to have it inspected, repaired, and driving like new in Downtown LA. Read more about our certifications and expertise, then contact our team to arrange a time to bring your vehicle in for an estimate. We look forward to restoring your vehicle and getting you back on California roads!