How To Fix a Dent in a Car

Most of the scratches that you’ll encounter on your car are clear coat scratches and can arise from pets, car washes, and other debris that you’ll encounter in the course of your Newton drive. Scratches on your clear coat can be cleared up in a jiffy with tools you can find at home or at the local hardware store. Here are a few easy steps that explain how to fix scratches on your car:

1. Run your fingernail over the scratch. If your nail doesn’t catch, the scratch isn’t deep. If it does catch, you’ll still be able to fix it if it’s in the clear coat.
2. Use soapy water and a towel to clean the area.
3. Tape off the scratch so you know exactly where it’s located. Fixing the scratch might make it harder to see.
4. Spray down some sandpaper with water. If you’ve got a deep scratch, use 3000 grit sandpaper. If the scratch is fine, you’ll want to use 5000 grit sandpaper. Go against the grain of the scratch to smooth out the general area.
5. Keep spraying and sanding (with minimal pressure) until the scratch is gone. If you started using 3000 grit sandpaper, move on to 5000 grit and blend the scratch into the area around it.
6. Clean the surface one more time before using a clean microfiber towel to swirl some compound into the area. After you compound the area, use a microfiber towel to remove any excess and give a light buff to the surface. You may wish to repeat this step with a finer polish if the paint is still hazy.
7. Put on some wax to protect your clear coat and put a protective layer on your paint.