Scratch Repairs in Tyne and Wear

Car paint is built in layers: primer on the metal, then colour, then a clear lacquer on top. A scratch can be in the lacquer only, go through to the colour, or reach the primer or bare panel. Each depth needs a different repair, and the wrong one leaves a mark that stays visible or lets rust start.

At Banks of the Tyne in Hebburn we repair scratches as part of our accident and body repair work. This page helps you judge what you are dealing with, and what the repair involves.

Judging how deep it is

A simple test is to run a fingernail gently across the scratch. If it does not catch, the damage is likely in the lacquer only. If your nail catches, the scratch has probably gone through into the colour layer or deeper. Colour showing through that is different from your paint, such as grey, white or bare metal, means primer or the panel itself is exposed.

• Nail does not catch: likely lacquer only
• Nail catches: likely through to colour or primer
• Grey, white or shiny metal visible: deep
• Brown marks nearby: rust may have started

How the different depths are treated

Light marks in the lacquer can often be improved by careful abrasion and polishing, levelling the surface so the scratch stops catching light. Deeper scratches need the damaged area filled or primed, sanded smooth and repainted in matching colour, followed by lacquer.

Where a scratch is long or runs across a whole panel, repainting the full panel often gives a better finish than a spot repair, because the new paint blends into a natural edge. We recommend whichever route suits the damage, and we explain why.

What affects the result and the cost

Depth, length and position of the scratch are the main factors, along with the paint colour. Solid colours are generally easier to match than metallic or pearl finishes. Scratches on plastic bumpers behave differently to those on metal, and the repair method varies.

Age matters too. Paint fades slightly over time, so matching existing paint takes skill. We cannot promise how a repair will look until we have examined the scratch in good light.

When to act sooner

Scratches that expose bare metal should not be left for long, especially through winter. Moisture and road salt can start rust within the scratch, and rust spreading under the paint turns a small job into a larger one.

If the scratch came from an incident involving another vehicle, take photographs and speak to your insurer before work begins, as the way it is handled can affect a claim. If you are unsure, bring the car in and we will assess it.