Scratch repair may not seem like a particularly sophisticated form of auto body repair. It’s true that other types of collision repair, such as a transmission overhaul or a frame alignment, are more complex. But that doesn’t mean scratch and dent repair are some basic, never-changing automotive services.

In fact, there’s a lot that goes into scratch repair. From the necessary knowhow of the auto body repair technicians to the advanced tools they use, scratch repair is often far from simple. And it’s not static either; the way collision repair techs fixed scratches 100 years ago is not what they do now. And it’s going to keep changing, too.

The importance of scratch repair

You can’t drive your vehicle without a battery or if your engine doesn’t work. And you really shouldn’t drive it if your brakes are faulty or there’s a big scratch on the windshield that impairs your sightlines. But you can drive it if there are scratches, dents, and other imperfections on the body of your vehicle. So why are scratch and dent repairs important at all?

You don’t have to rush to the collision repair shop every time you see a scratch or a dent. But you also shouldn’t ignore them. Some scratches are little more than superficial blemishes that don’t pose any threat. But many scratches can allow moisture to seep underneath the protective coat on your vehicle.

When this happens, corrosion often follows. The corrosion eats away at the car panel, making it weaker. This means the body of your vehicle may not be able to protect you in the event of a collision. Furthermore, it will probably be more expensive to replace an entire panel, or multiple panels, as corrosion can spread across panels than it is to fix one or more scratches.

How scratch repair works

If you go to an auto body repair shop today seeking repair for one or more scratches, you can expect one or more of a few standard procedures. Here’s what scratch repair involves:

1. Cleaning and inspection

Collision repair technicians begin by washing and inspecting the scratch and the area around it. They must determine if the scratch has only damaged the clear coat or if it has penetrated into the color coat—or even cut through to the primer or metal.

2. Sanding or buffing

If the scratch is superficial (in the clear coat only), the auto body repair technicians may buff it out with polishing compound or lightly sand it with very fine sandpaper before polishing to restore the shine.

3. Filling and leveling

If the scratch cuts into the paint or primer, the techs may apply a fine body filler or glazing putty ‌to level the surface. Once cured, they sand it smooth, so the panel is flush.

4. Priming

For scratches that expose bare metal or plastic, primer is necessary to protect against rust and ensure proper adhesion of new paint. The technicians would then sand the primer smoothly once it dries.

5. Colour application

An important part of scratch repair is automotive paint matching. You want to go to a collision repair shop that can perfectly match your vehicle’s colour and then apply that matching paint to the repaired area. Depending on the severity and size, this may involve spraying with a spray gun or using a touch-up system.

6. Clearcoat application

After the colour coat is dry, the technicians spray a clear coat over the area to restore the protective layer and give the surface gloss. This also helps blend the repair into the rest of the panel.

7. Polishing and blending

Once the clear coat cures, the techs may wet-sand the surface and polish it to remove any minor imperfections. This step blends the repaired area into the surrounding finish, so it looks consistent.

8. Final cleaning and inspection

Every good auto body repair shop finishes with a final cleaning and close inspection.

Emerging innovations and future trends in scratch repair

Here are some technologies and practices that could become commonplace for scratch repair in the next 5–10 years:

More advanced self-healing surfaces

“Self-healing” may bring to find futuristic nanobots that repair the vehicle panel, but it refers to polymers or coatings that can autonomously repair deeper scratches. They activate when triggered by heat, light, or even mechanical stimuli.

Smart coatings and adaptive paints

These are coatings that can change properties depending on the environment, e.g., temperature, humidity, UV level, to protect better in harsh conditions. We may also see coatings that can adjust gloss or which have different optical properties based on viewing angle to hide minor defects.

Laser and light-based polishing

Laser polishing effectively re-melts the surface of a vehicle. This is already a known process in metals and some ceramics. For auto body repair, this might enable refinishing of scratch damage without mechanical abrasion. Furthermore, UV-curable coatings and resins that can harden rapidly upon light exposure may enable quicker repair cycles.

Augmented reality (AR) and automation for diagnosis

AR tools can help technicians see exactly where scratch depth extends and which layers are affected. The AR could also provide suggestions for which techniques to use. Similar technology is already being used by some intrepid collision repair shops for services such as frame alignment.

Preventative coatings and overlays

We will likely see more widespread use of paint protection films with self-healing or scratch-resistant top layers. Transparent coats integrated into factory painting (e.g. clear, durable films or coatings) could help avoid scratches in the first place.

Environmental and sustainability improvements

We are already seeing less reliance on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in solvents, and more waterborne or even solvent-free coatings. This includes materials from non-petrochemical sources or recyclable coatings.

As you can see, scratch and dent repair is not as straightforward as it may seem. And if you want to learn more, you can always ask a professional auto body repair shop about their techniques and technologies.