How to Touch up a Small Paint Scratch on a New Car

That scratch in the paint of your new car doesn't have to mean an expensive repair bill at your local body shop. With a few materials and some elbow grease, you can fix it yourself at home in an afternoon. You can determine how big the problem is by running your finger over the mark. If you don't feel a small indentation in the paint, it is just a stubborn mark that will come off by cleaning with a solvent, such as acetone. If you do feel a mark, it's time to head to the auto parts store for supplies.

• 1

  Wash the scratch area with soap and water. Allow it to dry.

• 2

  Rub a material of contrasting color, such as black shoe polish, on a light-colored car or White Out for a dark-colored car, into the scratch. This will be your guide mark in the sanding process.

• 3

  Use soapy water to wet a piece of ultrafine sandpaper of 2,000 to 3,000 grit. This will help improve its grip on the car.

• 4

  Lightly sand the scratch at alternating angles. Go slow and sand until your contrasting material disappears.

• 5

  Use rubbing compound and a buff or soft cloth to clean the area. Polish in a circular motion. Then polish again with a clean, dry towel.

• 6

  Make any necessary paint repairs with touch-up paint. Let it dry for several hours.

• 7

  Wax the car. Use the wax sponge to rub on the wax and the cloth towel to wipe it off.