keep car scratch repair costs low
Ford KA Car Scuff and Scratch damage before and after repair
If you're like most car owners, the thought of car scratch repair costs makes your heart sink. It's not an inexpensive process, but it's worth undertaking if your car has any scratches or scuffs on its paintwork. In this blog post, we'll discuss some ways how to keep car scratch repair costs low, as low as possible.
Whatever type of scratch, whether it be on your bumper, door, or wheel arch, we will help you understand the options available to you.
We will share helpful tips on how to keep your scratch repair costs low & what to do if you get a scratch to protect your pocket and your car body. We’ll also help you with how to repair the car body scratch yourself which will ultimately protect your pocket.
Scratch Details
So let's go to the start. What happened? Was your car involved in a collision accident with another vehicle? Do they have a Car Body Paint damage insurance policy? If they do, you need to claim on their insurance. If they don’t have this type of insurance cover then you will need to start to get quotes for the cost of that scratch repair.
Are you ready to do the scratch repair yourself?
So first you need to work out what type of job you are wanting to price up. Take into account the size of the area that has the damage. If the area is small, you can do this yourself (if minor), or if it's larger than you think you can cope with will need to take it to a car body repair shop.
If you decide to repair the scratch yourself this will help to reduce the scratch repair cost but there is a big possibility that it won't look invisible then depending on the size of the area, it may reduce your car’s value. Look close and see if the scratch has gone through layers of paint. If it has, then you will need more help here as it's a more serious type of job.
So what's next?
You can get a quote from your local Car Dealership to see exactly how much it will be for the scratch to be repaired but this will be expensive. They may have their own in-house team or they may get outside car body repair companies to complete the repair.
However they do it, it's surely going to work out expensive. It's best to google your local Body Shop to see what they are about then take your car to them.
Depending on the size and deepness of the car scratch will depend on the amount of the quotation. They will always be cheaper than the Car Dealership.
The cost of the Car scratch depends on how bad the damage is. Some car body repair Garages will give you an approximate quote via email or you can call them and they will give you an approximate quote.
You want an accurate quote so you will need to take it to them so that they can see how bad the damage is in the flesh.
Volkswagen car scuff before and after repair
Search Locally
Firstly is to do a google search of your local area for Paint technicians who will repair your paint scratch. You will want to keep the Car scratch repairs quote low so it's good advice for you to take your car to a car body repair shop.
It's always best to compare quotes and check out their labour & material charges - always ask the question, is there a possibility of your car scratch repair cost rising before it is completed?
Car Scratch Insurance
You can call your Insurance company and see if they will add Insurance repair cover to your insurance policy and see how this works out over the year. Or you can go directly to the middle man, your local Body Shop, or then call us for a quote, compare them all and see what you think. We are here to help!
Car Scuff Paint repair in Liverpool Body Shop
And what if?
You may not want to pay the cost of having your car scratch repaired? By repairing it yourself, you may get away with this but if it is a deep long scratch then water mixed with steel and left open to the elements will cause rust and this rust can start to run deep and cause the worst damage. If this is the case then you need to get your Car Body Repairs repaired as soon as possible.
How is paintwork made up?
There are 4 layers to your car’s paintwork. You can’t see this when you generally look at your car. These 4 layers consist of the bare metal, undercoat primer layer and the paint layer itself then the top layer is the clear coat varnish that protects everything below it.
So you can imagine that the size and spread of the scratch also affect the cost of your Car Paint Repair. All scratches are different and their prices will vary too depending on how bad the damage is.
Clear coat (top layer) scratch
These are minor scratches and easy to repair yourself as they will have only scratched the top surface layers of the car, so the paint layers below aren’t damaged.
You can purchase a scratch remover kit in any good auto body shop for approximately £20 each.
Paint layer scratches
If the damage has penetrated the paint layer but you can’t see the bare metal below it, then that’s not too bad. These scratches are harder to remove than the clear coat layer scratch but they can still be repaired. All you will need is a buffing tool, a car paint pen, and some car clear varnish coat.
If the scratch isn’t deep then it should be quite easy to repair. Watch how-to videos on YouTube beforehand to ensure that you have the right technique
Base layer scratches
If your scratch is so deep that you can see the bare metal of the car body, these are the worst ones you can get. I don’t advise you to repair this yourself, go to your nearest car body repair shop as soon as possible to avoid it rusting and getting much worse and more costly. It's important to minimize your Car Scratch Repair cost to protect the money in your pocket.
Top Lacquer Layer
This is the final and protective layer. This protects the paintwork below from the elements of air and water. It will keep the metalwork from rusting and stop corrosion. At the first sign of damage, consult with your local Body Shop
Volvo Car Scuff and scratch before and after repair
DIY temporary & Quick Car Scratch Repair
If you don’t have time to repair the scratch right away, you can place tape over it to protect it from the rain until it can be professionally repaired. This way at least protects it from the elements to a certain degree.
Car Scratch Repair Kit: if your scratch isn’t too deep or wide, it is possible it can be fixed with this repair kit, just follow the instructions with the kit.
The scratch can be blended into the rest of the car paintwork so there is no need to colour match the paint. It won’t be perfect but it will be sealed and look better than previously.
Repair the scratch yourself:
To do your own Car paint scratch repair yourself you will need to go to a Car paint shop to get a matched paint to your car make and model.
Steps:
Clean the area of damage, and lightly sand the area down with fine-grade sanding paper. Apply a primer this forms a bond between the old paint and the new touch-up paint being applied. Ensure that you apply the touch-up coats immediately.
Apply a couple of coats of the touch-up paint to the damaged area and allow enough time in between coats for this to dry.
Lightly sand this area then wipe clean then apply a new clear coat, this will protect the car paint that you have just applied.
Once it is clean and dry, apply wax and buff the area up. You should have a half-decent car paint repair done at a fraction of the cost.
Always remember that this won’t be completely invisible depending on the color match, or how careful you’ve sanded and applied the touch-up paint. Please watch Youtube videos before attempting a diy job.
If the touch-up job has not gone well then we are here to help you in your time of need!
Advice
Keep in mind the following items to help you prevent the need for a Repair:
Keep your car clean so that you can keep a keen eye on the condition of the car's paintwork
Be careful when parking your car and always ensure that you haven’t squeezed your car into a tiny space. This avoids anybody banging your car with their doors or damage by supermarket trolleys or prams
Be careful driving & parking & don’t accidentally squash up against a bush that will scratch your car's paintwork. Also, be aware of lamp posts, etc when reversing your car to avoid dents
The Do's and Don'ts of Car Scratch Repairs
DO:
- try to repair the scratch as soon as possible to avoid it rusting
- use a car paint pen for small scratches
- use car clear varnish coat for bigger scratches
- place tape over the scratch if you can't repair it right away
DON'T:
- delay going to a car body repair shop if the scratch is big and you can see the bare metal
- use a car paint pen for big scratches
- place tape over the scratch if it's deep
- try to repair the scratch yourself if it's deep
If you follow these simple tips, you'll be able to keep your car scratch repair costs low and avoid rusting and other damage. Do you have any car scratch repair tips that you swear by? Let us know in the comments.
How to protect your car from future car scratches?
The best way to avoid car scratches is to be careful when driving and parking your car. Always park in a well-lit area and try to avoid tight spaces where other car doors could hit your car. When driving, be aware of your surroundings and be careful not to accidentally brush up against a bush or lamp post. If you do end up with a car scratch, the best way to avoid rusting is to repair it as soon as possible. You can use a car paint pen for small scratches or car clear varnish for bigger scratches. If the scratch is big and you can see the bare metal, it’s best to go to a car body repair shop right away. Thanks for reading and I hope these tips help you keep your car looking new.
Have you ever had to deal with a car scratch? How did you repair it? Let us know in the comments below.
If you have any car questions, feel free to ask us in the comments or visit our other blogs below for more car scratch repairs advice and guidance.
Go to a Car Body Repair Shop
You are best finding your local Body Shop and if your in Liverpool, try searching for car scratch repairs in Liverpool or car scratch repair near me. The search result will provide you with a list of local Body Shops.
CPR Car Body Repair Liverpool - The service that we provide
We’re the experts when it comes to car scratch repair. Our team of specialists knows how to restore your car’s paint job and have it looking as good as new in no time. So if you want to avoid the high cost of car scratch repair, don’t hesitate to call us today at 0151 909 3457. We offer a free consultation and estimate so you can see just how affordable our services are. With our help, your car will be looking better than ever in no time!
We provide an honest, reliable, and professional service to our customers in the Liverpool area. Our work is 100% guaranteed which means that if you are not happy with your Car Scratch Repair then we will correct this.
Alongside our professional car body repair services, we also provide a drop and shop service. This is where you drop your car with us and we will drop you in Liverpool City Centre. Then you can relax and shop until your car is ready and we will pick you up to collect your car. For further information, see our website page CPR - Scuffs & Scratches Paint Repair. You are also welcome to send an email quotation via the form below and keep updated on our news via our newsletter form below.
With over 24 years of experience trading in this field and a combined experience of almost 56 years, we most certainly know what we do. Our customers return time and again.
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