How to do basic car paint repair at home

No matter how careful you are with your vehicle, scratches and nicks are inevitable. However, no matter how small, you should repair these damages as soon as possible. This is because they can become entry points for moisture and cause rust to accumulate.

If you're concerned about the cost or don't want to go to the shop for a tiny scratch, it's possible to repair the paint job yourself. With the right tools and tips, you can get results comparable to that of a professional car paint repair.

Assess the damage
Inspect your car thoroughly and note all the problem areas. You could also paint faded rubber trims while you're at it. Here's a handy guide on how to paint rubber.

Assessing the damage also helps you identify what materials you'll need. If it's just small chips and scratches, it might be more convenient to use touch-up pens. For larger areas, you'll need spray paint.

Clean your car
Start with a clean surface so the paint can adhere better. Wash your car thoroughly with soap and a microfiber towel. Ensure it's completely dry before you begin. If rust has begun to build up in the scratch, use 400-grit sandpaper to remove the rust.

Protect your garage and the rest of the car
If you're only repairing thin scratches, you may not need to do this step, but if you're dealing with large scrapes, that means you'll be using spray paint. In this case, it's wise to lay down plastic sheets or newspaper to make cleanup easier. Drape protective material over the rest of your garage too to prevent paint droplets from settling on the rest of your garage or your other vehicles. Use masking tape and newspapers to cover the undamaged sections of your car.

Prepare the area for painting
To make the transition between the original paint and the new paint smoother,    you need to rub fine sandpaper along the scratch to remove the jagged edges. Clean the area with alcohol to remove the dust generated by the sanding.

Colour match
Purchase paint or touch-up pens that match your vehicle's colour. There are stickers on the driver's side door that indicate the paint code of your vehicle, and car paints will also have these codes on their label. Just to be sure, apply a small amount of paint to your car to check if it's the right colour. When painting, use thin coats for best results, waiting for the surface to dry before each additional layer.

Buff and polish
Use wet 800-grit sandpaper to blend the edges of the repaired paint into the rest of the paint job. Apply a clear coat, smooth everything down with wet 3000-grit sandpaper then wet 5000-grit sandpaper. Finally, polish the entire area to make a seamless transition.

Professional paint repairs can cost between $150 to $800, depending on the extent of the damage, but if you do it yourself, you may not even spend $100. To avoid making the damage worse, practice first on small chips before tackling larger areas.