Published October 20, 2026
Scratches and scuffs are the most common body damage there is: garage walls, parking pillars, keys, branches, bikes, even the family dog. Some disappear with polishing; others need paint. Knowing which is which saves time and money.
How car paint is built
Modern factory paint is layered: primer on the metal or plastic, then the color coat, then a clear coat on top that gives the gloss and protects the color. How deep a scratch goes through those layers decides the repair.
The fingernail test
Run a fingernail gently across the scratch.
Nail glides over it
The scratch is probably only in the clear coat. Light scuffs like this can often be polished out, restoring the gloss without new paint.
Nail catches
The scratch has reached the color coat, primer or bare material. It needs to be filled, refinished and blended so the repair does not show.
Common kinds of scratches
- Bumper scuffs: transfer paint and scuffs on bumper corners from garages and posts. Transfer often polishes off; gouges in the plastic need repair and refinishing.
- Pet scratches: claw marks around door handles and on doors, usually in the clear coat.
- Keyed paint: long, deep scratches that usually reach the color or primer and need refinishing.
- Roof and cargo scratches: from loading bikes, kayaks and luggage.
- Rock chips: small, deep impacts on the hood and front bumper that can rust if they reach bare metal.
How a scratch is refinished
The damaged area is sanded smooth, filled if needed, primed, and painted with color mixed from your vehicle’s paint code and adjusted to its current shade. Clear coat goes on top, and the new paint is blended into the surrounding area so the eye cannot find an edge. Read more about paint and refinishing.
Don’t ignore deep scratches and chips
Once bare metal is exposed, rust can start, and rust spreads under the paint around it. A scratch that is a simple repair today can become a much bigger one later. Plastic bumpers do not rust, but gouges collect dirt and the damage grows more visible over time.
Send photos of the scratch (one close, one wider) and we will tell you what it needs. If the scratch came with a dent, see dent removal too.
Frequently asked questions
Will a touch-up pen fix my scratch?
Touch-up paint can seal a small chip against rust, but it rarely looks invisible on a longer scratch. For a repair that does not show, the area is usually refinished and blended.
My dog scratched the paint around the door. Can that be fixed?
Usually. Claw marks are often only in the clear coat and can be polished out. If they reach the color coat, that area is refinished and blended.
Do I have to repaint the whole panel?
Not always. Paint is often refinished in the damaged area and blended into the surrounding paint. Some damage, or some colors, make refinishing the whole panel the better repair.
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October 27, 2026Plastic Bumper Repair or Replacement: How to DecideBumper covers, hidden damage behind them, and when to repair or replace.