Deep scratch repair
If your fingernail catches in it, polishing alone won't fix it. We level the scratch, restore the clear coat, and blend it so you can't find where it was. Without a repaint.
- Professional results
- Reliable service
- Dealer & retail solutions
- Mobile service, we come to you
At a glance
$80 – $120 clear coat only
$100 – $180 paint and clear coat
- Usually one to two hours on site.
- Price depends on depth and length, confirmed in person before we start.
- Key scratches, shopping-cart scrapes, branch scratches, parking-lot rubs.
- Through to primer or metal? We'll say so and recommend touch-up or a body shop.
Why repair scratches with Recondition Works
Repair, not repaint
A body shop repaints the panel and often blends into the next one. For scratches still inside the clear and color, we fix the scratch itself. A fraction of the cost, same day, in your driveway.
Depth checked before we quote
Paint has layers: clear coat on top, color underneath, primer, then metal. We check which layer the scratch reaches and price it honestly.
Blended so it disappears
A spot repair that's shinier than the panel around it is still a visible repair. We feather the edges and match the surrounding finish.
Deep scratch repair
- Scratch assessment: fingernail test and paint-depth reading at the site
- Surrounding area wash and decontamination
- Precision wet-sanding or spot leveling as needed
- Multi-stage compound and polish to restore clarity
- Blending into the surrounding panel so the repair disappears
- Clear-coat-only tier, or paint-and-clear tier when color is affected
- Honest call on scratches through to primer or metal
- Final inspection under multiple light sources
- Protection applied to the repaired area
- Care and maintenance instructions
Scratch repair pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Deep Scratch Repair (clear coat only) | $80 – $120 |
| Deep Scratch Repair (paint & clear coat) | $100 – $180 |
| Touch-Up Add-On (for sections through to primer) | $55 / panel |
| SiO2 Ceramic Spray Protection (add-on) | + $50 |
Within a range, longer scratches and multiple panels land higher. Several scratches on one panel are usually priced as one repair.
Which layer is the scratch in
| What you see and feel | Layer | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Thin white line, nail glides over it | Top of clear coat | Polishes out, often part of a correction |
| White line, nail catches slightly | Deep in clear coat | Deep Scratch Repair, clear-coat tier, $80–$120 |
| Nail catches, you can see color is affected | Into the color coat | Deep Scratch Repair, paint & clear tier, $100–$180 |
| Gray or white base showing, or bare metal | Primer or metal | Touch-up to seal and fill, or body shop for large areas |
The scratch repair process
Assess
Fingernail test, paint-depth reading, and a look under the inspection light. We tell you the tier and the price before starting.
Level
Fine wet sanding or spot compounding brings the surrounding clear coat down to the bottom of the scratch.
Refine
Compound removes the sanding marks, polish restores clarity, and we feather outward to blend.
Inspect and protect
Checked under multiple lights and from several angles, then sealed with spray wax or SiO2.
Questions about scratch repair
Will the scratch be completely gone?
Clear-coat scratches: yes. Scratches into the color: almost always, with a small chance of a faint trace at certain angles that we'll show you before you decide. Primer or metal: no, those need paint, which is the touch-up service.
Why does a body shop quote $500 or more for the same scratch?
A body shop repaints the whole panel and usually blends the next one, because that's how a repaint is done well. We repair the scratch inside the existing paint. For scratches that haven't reached primer, that's the better fix.
Can you fix a key scratch?
Usually. Key scratches are often deeper in the middle and shallow at the ends. We level what's in the clear and color, and touch up any section that reached primer.
Does it weaken the paint?
We remove a very thin layer of clear coat in a small area, measured first. Modern clear coats have enough margin for a repair like this. We won't proceed if readings say otherwise.
How soon can I wash it?
Avoid washing the repaired area for 24 hours so the protection cures. After that, normal hand washing is fine.