A scratch can be a surface mark that polishes out or a gouge that has reached bare metal. Capital SMART repairs scratched panels and bumpers on drivable vehicles, refinishing the area with professional colour matching.
Car scratch repairs that restore the finish
Scratches happen in car parks, from keys, branches and other people’s bumpers. Vehicle paint is made up of layers, typically primer, colour and a protective clear coat. A light scratch in the clear coat can often be polished or refinished locally. A scratch through to primer, metal or plastic needs to be sanded back, filled if necessary, primed and repainted.
The goal of a scratch repair is to remove the damage, protect the metal or plastic underneath, and refinish the area so no one can see where it was. Capital SMART repairs scratches as a private repair, with a free quote from photos, or as part of an insurance claim through our partnered insurers.
Scratches and scuffs we repair
Clear-coat scratches and swirl marks
Light surface marks that haven't reached the colour. Worth assessing before they are polished by hand.
Key scratches and deep gouges
Deep scratches through to primer or metal, sanded, filled, primed, refinished and blended into the panel.
Bumper scuffs and paint transfer
Scrapes on plastic bumper corners, often with another car's paint transferred onto yours.
Scratches with dents underneath
Side-swipes usually leave both a scratch and a dent. Both are repaired in the one visit.
Stone chips and chipped edges
Chips on bonnets and leading edges that have broken through the paint and need protecting.
Scratched doors, guards and quarter panels
Longer scratches across more than one panel, repaired and blended so adjacent panels match.
How we repair a scratch
Assessing the depth
Our estimators check depth, length and location, whether the panel is metal or plastic, and any dent underneath. Private repairs can be assessed remotely from uploaded photos.
Preparing the surface
The area is cleaned and sanded back to a sound surface. Deeper scratches are filled and levelled, then primed to protect the base material.
Colour matching and refinishing
Your vehicle's colour is matched and applied, then blended into the surrounding panel with no visible line where new paint meets old. A clear coat completes the finish.
Quality check and collection
The repair is inspected against the rest of the vehicle before we notify you to collect it. Every repair is backed by our warranty on all repairs.
See the result
Drag the slider to compare a Nissan Qashqai front bumper bar and front guard before and after repair. For more examples of our work, visit our before and after gallery.
Before you reach for a scratch remover
Polishes and touch-up pens have limits
Off-the-shelf scratch removers remove a thin layer of clear coat, which can help with very light marks. Used on anything deeper, or rubbed too hard, they can dull the area. Touch-up pens fill a chip but rarely match the surrounding paint once dry.
Metallic, pearl and multi-stage colours
Metallic and pearl paints get their depth from the way base and clear coats are layered, so a scratch in these colours can't be hidden by touching up to a hard edge. The repair relies on blending new paint into the surrounding area.
Scratches on bumpers with sensors
A scuffed bumper corner often sits right over a parking sensor or radar unit. Repairing it properly means checking those sensors and, where required, recalibrating them. We identify this during assessment and coordinate it as part of the repair. Learn more about ADAS calibration.
Small scratch, private repair
Minor scratch repairs can cost less than a policy excess, so compare a private quote before you claim. You can request a free quote online, choose a centre and time, and pay by card before work begins. OEM parts are available on request.
Related repair services
Car Spray Painting
Repainting a whole panel or bumper when a scratch is too extensive to spot repair.
Dent Repairs
Dents and dings that often sit under a scratch, repaired in the same visit.
Paint and Refinishing
Colour matching and blending for a seamless, high quality finish.
Front and Rear Bumper Repairs
Scuffed, scratched and cracked bumpers repaired and refinished.
Mirror and Trim Repairs
Scratched mirror caps and trims repaired or replaced.
All accident repair services
Explore the full range of accident repair services we offer for drivable vehicles.
Common questions about scratch repairs
Can a car scratch be buffed out?
Only if it is confined to the clear coat. Light marks and swirls can often be polished. A scratch you can feel with your fingernail has gone into the colour or primer and needs to be refinished rather than buffed.
How much does it cost to repair a scratch on a car?
It depends on the depth and length of the scratch, whether the panel is metal or plastic, whether there is a dent underneath, and how much of the panel needs refinishing to blend the repair. We don’t publish fixed prices. Upload photos for a free quote.
How long does scratch repair take?
Most minor repairs, including scratches, are completed within days. Scratches across several panels, or repairs that also need parts or sensor recalibration, can take longer. We confirm an estimated timeframe once your vehicle has been assessed.
Will the new paint match the rest of my car?
Yes. We colour match to your vehicle and blend the new paint into the surrounding panel rather than painting to a hard edge, so there’s no visible border between the repair and the original paintwork.
Can you repair a scratch on a plastic bumper?
Yes. Plastic bumper covers are sanded, repaired and refinished in much the same way as metal panels. If the scrape has also cracked the bumper or broken mounting tabs, we’ll assess whether the bumper should be repaired or replaced. See bumper repairs.
Should I repair a scratch through insurance or privately?
Compare a private quote with your policy excess. For a single scratch, paying directly is often the simpler option. For extensive damage, an insurance repair through one of our partnered insurers (AAMI, GIO, Apia, Shannons Insurance, Vero, Bingle and Suncorp Car Insurance) may suit you better. We currently only accept insurance repairs from our partnered insurers.
