A deep scratch has removed coating, not simply marked its surface. Polish cannot put that material back. The useful decision is whether a local touch-up will meet your expectations or whether the panel needs professional preparation and refinishing.
Check what the scratch has exposed
Wash and dry the area before judging it. A light-coloured line can be a scuff, primer, exposed plastic or a reflection. Use close-up photographs and daylight; colour alone is not enough to identify the layer.
| Observation | Likely repair consideration |
|---|---|
| Mark is superficial and colour remains intact | A suitable polish may improve an intact gloss finish. |
| Colour is missing in a narrow line | A colour touch-up can reduce its visibility, with system-specific preparation. |
| Bare metal, rust or a gouge is visible | Substrate repair and suitable primer are needed before colour. |
| Long, wide or multi-panel damage | Professional refinishing is often the better route to a consistent result. |
A fingernail catching in the line suggests a groove, but does not prove which layer is damaged. Do not keep cutting back sound lacquer to reach the bottom.
Set the right expectation
A narrow touch-up can make a scratch less obvious from normal viewing distance. A line may still be visible close up, particularly across a metallic panel or on a body crease. A nearly invisible repair may require preparation and colour blending over a wider area.
Get an assessment first for rust under lifting paint, a dent, cracked plastic, matt or satin paint, or a vehicle needing an agreed lease-return standard.
A sensible process for a small local scratch
- Record the damage. Photograph the whole panel and the close-up before working. This helps show the scale and whether there is a dent or crease.
- Check the paint reference. Find the code or give our team the vehicle information. Mention any respray or replacement panel and test the dried colour separately.
- Remove contamination. Clean as the selected coating system requires. Keep cloths clean and do not introduce wax or silicone before painting.
- Assess the base. Rust, loose edges and deep grooves must be dealt with properly. Use filler or primer only when it is appropriate for the substrate and coating system.
- Use the smallest suitable applicator. Practise on a test piece, then place a small amount of colour into the lost-paint line. Avoid a broad stripe over undamaged paint.
- Build thin applications. Follow the supplied recoat times rather than trying to fill the whole groove with a single wet coat. Complete the specified lacquer stage where required.
- Allow curing before refinement. Do not wet-sand or compound soft paint. If levelling would require cutting into surrounding lacquer, seek advice before continuing.
Choose a pack by contents
The bottle, primer and compound pack is useful when those three products suit your local repair. It does not include clear lacquer. The aerosol full kit includes colour basecoat, primer and clear lacquer for a suitable spray repair. Neither pack includes structural repairs, specialist plastic filler or every preparation material.
For a cost comparison, read DIY versus professional scratch repair. If you are unsure which layer is exposed, send photographs before ordering.
Products for this job
- Fine-tip touch-up pen — controlled application to a fine missing-colour line.
- Bottle, primer and finishing compound — brush bottle, primer and compound; check the required lacquer stage separately.
Choose the products that suit the damage and coating system. Pack contents vary; compare the current paint packs before ordering.
Find my car paintAsk about my repairCommon questions
Can toothpaste repair a deep scratch?
No. It cannot replace missing colour or repair exposed material. Use a coating repair or professional refinishing appropriate to the damage.
Can I just spray over it?
Sprayed paint does not reliably hide a groove, corrosion or loose paint. The base must be sound and correctly prepared.
Why does the repair look darker?
An excessive paint deposit, an incorrect or untested colour, the effect-pigment orientation and the coating sequence can all affect appearance. Stop and compare a dry test sample before doing more.
Related guides
Updated 8 November 2026. Follow the instructions supplied with each product; coating systems and drying conditions vary.
