Car Scratch & Paint Scuff Repair Service Near Me
While most DIY-ers can handle scuffs, scuff removal is best left to a professional.
That’s because to remove a scratch, you’ll need to remove the clear coat around the scuff. Most vehicles have a clear coat that’s as thick as a Post-it note. So, if you’re going to remove any scuff, it’s best to do it professionally.
Tap the button below to book a paint scuff repair service.
At this time, Autodetail DMV is only able to address paint scuffs and moderate to light scratches. If your fingernail can catch the depth of the scratch, we will be able to minimize the defect but likely not 100% make it disappear.
Please contact a body shop for complete refinishing if you require extensive body work.
Read about our exterior paint correction packages here.
I've always detailed my own cars myself and used to do this as a side hustle in the past. That being said; if I was going to have someone else detail my car, I was going to make sure their work and reviews looked high quality. I decided to have a full interior and exterior detail on my car in addition to sealant and a polish job. I think the photos speak for themselves but I was very satisfied and impressed with all aspects of the service from Erick. Punctuality, communication, quality of services, and costs for offerings. I would 100% recommend him to anyone; whether you are looking for touch up wash, or a full on detail and paint correction; you will NOT be disappointed!
The service was fantastic. I had my car detailed in anticipation of proposing to my (now) fiancée. He arrived right on time at my work and had everything finished just in time for me to leave at the end of the day. Amazing quality, and he went above and beyond! Totally worth it, and would do it again.
Erick had world class customer service and did an amazing job on fixing the scratches in my car. He was quick, efficient and cost efficient. He came right to my house and performed the work. Highly recommend
Erick and his team did a fantastic job on the interior of my husband’s large SUV! It needed some serious TLC and they were able to have it looking as close to brand new as possible. Booking was quick and easy and they were very responsive. 10/10 highly recommended. Thank you so much Erick and team!
My car needed some TLC after several years of neglect and a recent collision repair. Erick applied his deep knowledge of paint and interior materials to help me choose the highest value services, and then executed them with great care.
Auto Detail DMV rocked the full detailing and paint repair for my 17-year-old car. Highly recommend—solid communication and deeply knowledgeable of the craft. Whatever you need to read here to convince you to give them a shot, pretend you’re reading it now.
Great job on our 2 cars! They sparkled when he was done. I found Erick’s service online, not a referral, so I was a bit hesitant. Glad we took a chance on this enterprising young man! Erick gave me prices upfront with the caveat that he may need to adjust when he saw the cars. One didn’t need interior detailing and the other just needed minor interior cleaning, to include removing some light blue jean bluing from the drivers seat. He adjusts his prices based on the work needed; not a “one price fits all” like car washes. He did not try to up-sell us services. We will definitely use him for our cars again and again.
I am very happy I hired Erick for washing and detailing my wife's car. The car came out looking great and it was conveniently done at our home. It was not hard to get a convenient appointment. But most importantly Erick is a very friendly and hardworking guy who cares about a job well done. He is very easy to work with. I highly recommend!
I had not used a mobile detailing service before and had read about other people's bad experiences with some firms. However my dealings with Erick were straightforward and very professional. HIs services were clearly listed on the website as well as in the proposal, and it was easy to make an appointment and communicate via text and email. Erick arrived at exactly the promised time and met a schedule constraint that I had. The car (large SUV) looked great and Erick also pointed out some minor scratches that he could repair in the future if I acquired a paint kit from Toyota. All in all a very satisfying first experience and I will consider his services again on my other vehicles.
Erick was extremely professional and prompt in the initial communication and was very happy to answer all my questions and doubts. On the day of the appointment he was extremely punctual and he a did a fantastic job of detailing the interiors of my car. Before the service there was lots and lots of pet hair in the car and whilst I expected them to be taken care of, what I finally got was more than I had expected. I would strongly recommend Erick for car detailing. He is also very flexible and reasonably priced.
Erick was extremely professional and prompt in the initial communication and was very happy to answer all my questions and doubts. Erick did a great job detailing my vehicle! It had been a while since I'd gotten my car cleaned and it was not in the best condition. Erick told me it's take about 2 - 3hrs to finish the job and he was right on target. My car looks brand new and smells great. He took out strains I thought would never come out of my car and has a good eye for detail on what needed to be done. Would definitely recommend and would definitely hire again for another detailing.
Erick was extremely professional and prompt in the initial communication and was very happy to answer all my questions and doubts. Erick did a fantastic job! My husband’s truck was difficult to drive because it was such a mess 🙂 The typical mess from a large dog, hiking, fishing, road trips, etc. We traded vehicles for a bit and I immediately scheduled a detail. 90% of the dog hair is gone. There’s no evidence of dirt or grime. Every inch of the interior is clean! I can drive to work without fear of being covered in dog hair now! Erick was friendly, on time, efficient and professional! I will certainly use Erick again in the future.
Erick was extremely professional and prompt in the initial communication and was very happy to answer all my questions and doubts. With being a Mom of two, and one on the way. I needed my vehicle detailed very badly. We are always on our way to some sort of sports so we literally live in our vehicle some weeks. It was a wreck. Erick came and saved the day. He did AMAZING! My carpets were shampooed as well as the seats. He was able to clean the center console and it looked BRAND NEW. He even detailed the third row seating! Overall, my husband and I were so impressed we're gonna get the rest of our vehicles done by him as well. Very thankful for Erick's help with this nesting Mama 🙂
Scuffs vs. Scratches
Scuffing is superficial because it’s on top of your clear coat. It’s also sometimes called “paint-transfer” as a general term. For instance, if your car bumps against your garage while backing out, you’ll usually have the paint from your garage transferred onto your clear coat. The same goes for rubber or plastic. A recycling bin or another car’s tire can also bump against your vehicle and leave a scuff or transfer.
Light scratches are caused by poor washing and drying, and can be easily removed with a mild polish. Moderate scratches are caused by things like a tree branch, using a dirty cloth to wash your car, or a cat climbing up on your hood. They can usually be removed, but they may need a more powerful compounding liquid. Severe scratches are ones that are permanently damaged and cannot be repaired without repainting your vehicle’s panel. They’re either too deep or completely embedded in the clear coat, and there’s no way to get them out because there’s nothing left of the clear coat to remove.
How to repair a paint scuff yourself
1.To effectively address a paint scratch on a vehicle, start by thoroughly cleaning the affected area with a pH-appropriate detergent and water to remove any dirt or debris.
2.Once the area is clean and dry, assess the depth of the scratch to determine the best course of action.For shallow scratches, you can use fine-grit sandpaper to gently buff out the scratch. Be sure to sand in the direction of the scratch to avoid causing further damage to the paint. After sanding, use a rubbing compound to further smooth out the area and restore the paint’s shine.
3. If the scratch is through the clear coat, body work is required. If it hasn’t gone through the base coat, you may be able to get a great result with a touch-up repair application.
Apply touch-up paint to fill in the damaged area within the cavity using a pin-point paint applicator or a syringe. Match the paint color as closely as possible to ensure a seamless repair. Allow the touch-up paint to dry completely before applying a clear coat to protect the area and blend it with the surrounding paint.
4. Finally, once the repair is complete, wet sand accordingly and use cutting fluid to buff the level out the texture and restore gloss.
Types of Car Scratches
Clear Coat Scratches
A clear coat scratch is usually considered to be light or superficial. However, it is important to note that improper polishing will make matters worse and could exponentially increase the labor cost involved. While some people can remove these scratches themselves, many owners prefer to have even these light scratches removed by professionals.
Primer Scratches
Second on the list are primer scratches. These are the scratches that reveal your vehicle’s primer. The primer is the layer of paint underneath the clear coat that protects your vehicle. If you notice a primer scratch on your vehicle, we strongly suggest getting it removed as soon as possible. Contact a body shop to get this deeper type of scratch removed.
Metal Scratches
Paint scratches through bare metal are considered the worst types of scratches that require the most major work. These scratches can occur on most panels of the vehicle except for the front and rear bumper. Some filler (touch-up paint at the least) must be applied to the scratch to prevent rust when the metal is exposed. These scratches often occur when a sharp or rigid object obstructs the vehicle’s exterior. For extensive scratches like these, please contact a local body shop.
Glass Scratches.
Addressing glass scratches can be a complex task. The difficulty depends on the severity and depth of the scratches. Minor surface scratches can often be polished out using specialized glass polishing compounds and techniques. However, deeper scratches may require more extensive measures such as glass resurfacing or replacement. For this reason, Autodetail DMV does not provide this service. Contact a local body shop to repair a glass scratch