What Can I Do If Someone Scratched My Car? Fix the Mysterious Scratches

Have you ever experienced mysterious scratches on your car after coming out of a store? And you wondered where did this appear from, considering there wasn’t any when you parked your car. We are sure you must have. Every car owner must have. No matter how safely you park your car, there is always someone to scratch your car intentionally or unintentionally.

And nothing is more horrible than having scratches/swirls on a car for the car’s lover. It is in a man’s nature to have affection for his car, whether it is a second-hand or brand new car. So, even a minor scratch on the car makes him uncomfortable and forces him to remove it.

Experiencing mysterious scratches on cars has become a routine matter for every person. So, you need to know how to fix the scratches on a car to prevent its paintwork from rust attack or peeling. Here is the detailed guide about what I can do if someone scratches my car?

What Can I Do If Someone Scratched My Car?

There are a number of ways for your car to get scratches from someone intentionally or unintentionally. No matter where you park in the parking lot of a store, or a market, or even your school, there is always someone to slam their car door against it, or to hit it with a shopping cart, or to take a wrong turn with their vehicle, scratching your car in the process. 

Or, if you live in a neighborhood where kids often play outside then this is something unavoidable for you. There is always gonna be a notorious kid scratching your car with a bat, or a key, or anything in his hand to pass his time.

What To Do If Someone Scratched My Car?

Well, whatever the case. You cannot just let it go every time. You have to take immediate action to treat your car with insurance. That could either be the defaulters or yourself. But that isn’t something very easy.

First what you need to do is to gather as much evidence as you can of your scratched car. Ask the bystanders for they might have seen something and they can tell you about the real culprit. Check the video footage of the parking lot, ask the security guards, or ask the people sitting inside their cars to get to know the whole of the situation.

Once you find the real culprit, file a police report and submit all the collected evidence so that your car can be repaired with the insurance money of the culprit. If there were any witnesses present at the scene then ask them to give their statements as well for that would help you to get the insurance money. 

In case, if you find any culprit then ask him/her to pay for the damages of your car with his insurance. If not, then you can claim for the money from your own insurance on the basis of solid evidence that you collected. But, if you are unable to get the money by all means then don’t waste more time because the scratches on your car could not wait much as it could easily damage the exterior of your car. 

You need to remove it as soon as possible to prevent it from losing its high value. If you don’t fix the scratches on the car, a rust attack will damage your car’s paintwork and start peeling.

Now, you can either go to your detailer’s shop but considering how costly it is, we would not suggest that. Or you repair it by yourself with ease.

Suppose you don’t know how to repair or fix the car scratches, no need to be worried. Here, we have provided you with the best method to repair the scratches according to their nature.

When Should You File an Insurance Claim for Car Scratches?

You should consider filing an insurance claim based on the severity of the scratch and the cost of repairs. If the repair cost exceeds your deductible, filing a claim may be worth it. Keep in mind, frequent claims could increase your insurance premiums, so it’s best to reserve claims for significant damages. If the damage was caused by someone else and you can provide proof (such as witnesses or video footage), you might be able to make a claim against their insurance.

How to Repair The Car Scratches? To Do it Yourself

First, before repairing the car scratches, It’s necessary to know about their nature, whether they are deep or minor scratches. It is important to know because it decides which is the suitable method regarding the nature of scratches.

Types of Scratches:

There are two main types of scratches, whether they are on the body of a car or glass (windows or windshields).

1. Deep Scratches

The scratches that penetrate the car’s primer paint are called deep scratches. The simple way to recognize it is to put a fingernail in scratch; if it can get caught in it, it is deep.

Such scratches are caused by severe accidents or pointed objects such as nails and hammers.

2. Minor Scratches

Minor scratches don’t penetrate the car’s primer paint. These scratches are normally caused by tree bushes, dirt particles, and abrasive material rubbed against the paint.

If your fingernail doesn’t get stuck in scratches, it is minor scratches. Minor scratches are easier to repair than deep scratches.

Let’s first discuss how to repair deep scratches.

How to Repair Deep Scratches on the Exterior of a Car?

Deep scratches are a little bit difficult to repair. But don’t worry; here we will cosmetically repair the deep scratches as automotive experts do. Moreover, you can save hundreds of dollars by doing it yourself in a home garage.

Step-By-Step Instructions to Repair Deep Scratches:

Step 1:  Use rubbing alcohol to remove any leftover wax over the scratch. Due to the deep scratch’s severe depth, only Touch up paint will not be much efficient for filling in the crater.

Step 2: To fill the deep area of scratch, apply glazing spot putty on it. Squeeze the bit of putty on the scratchy area. Use the squeegee to spread it into the scratch. Allow it to dry for three to four minutes.

Step 3: When the putty dries, the next is to wrap a shop towel around the foam sanding block. Apply a liquid paint leveler to the towel. The leveler will remove the extra putty surrounding the scratch.

Step 4: Wipe the towel across the putty with medium pressure to remove a small section of it at a time. When you remove all the putty around the scratch, the scratch should look like a thin red line.

Step 5: Apply Touch Up paint with a very fine brush on the red line. Dap the paint onto the red putty, cover the area with a thin coat of paint, and allow it to dry for a few hours. You have finished your Task. Next, move toward a solution for minor scratches.

How To Remove The Minor Scratches on The Exterior of The Car?

Minor scratches are comparatively easy to remove than deep scratches. You just need to follow a few instructions to do your job great.

Procedure to Remove The Minor Scratches:

Step 1: First, clean the scratch area with soapy water to remove all the dirt and debris.

Step 2: Use 5000 Grit Sandpaper for minor scratches. Wrap sandpaper around the kitchen sponge for an effective sanding job. Spray soapy water onto your sandpaper and start sanding the scratch down. Keep continues Sanding the scratch until it gets removed. When the scratch is removed, wipe the soapy water residue with a towel to clean the surface.

Step 3: After removing the scratch, you need to polish the affected area to give it a shiny look like the rest of the car. Before applying polish to the area, wash the area with soap water to remove any dirt particles. Apply Scratch X Polish onto the microfiber towel and rub the towel in a circular motion on the targeted surface. Apply two to three coats of polish according to the need. After polishing, you can see the desired results.

Step 4: Apply Meguiars wax on the targeted area. The wax will fill any microscopic scratches and also protect the clear coat.

Tips for Preventing Scratches on Your Car

While it’s hard to avoid scratches entirely, some preventive measures can minimize the chances of your car getting scratched:

• Use a Car Cover: Covering your car can help protect it from scratches caused by debris or contact with other vehicles or objects.
• Avoid Parking Near Trees: Branches and debris can fall on your car, causing scratches.
• Use a High-Quality Car Wax or Ceramic Coating: These coatings act as a protective layer on your car’s surface, preventing minor scratches from causing long-term damage.
• Park in Less Crowded Areas: Parking away from crowded spots, especially in public lots, reduces the chances of door dings or accidental scratches.

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