Did you recently notice a scratch in your vehicle’s perfect paint job? Frustrating, right? If you’re short on time, you’ve probably considered cutting a corner and fixing the damage with a DIY scratch repair kit rather than taking your vehicle in for auto body repairs. Unfortunately, though, not all commercially available scratch repair kits are created equal. And if you don’t know what you’re doing or you choose a low-quality kit, you could end up doing more harm to your ride than good.

If you’re weighing your repair options right now, take a look below for what you need to know about do-it-yourself repair kits and whether using one is a good idea.

THE PROBLEM WITH MOST DIY REPAIR KITS


The vast majority of do-it-yourself scratch repair kits on the market are only designed to repair shallow scratches, not the kind that actually break through your vehicle’s clear coat. So unfortunately, if the scratch in your ride’s paint is fairly deep — which most noticeable scratches are — a DIY kit simply won’t fix it.

Another glaring problem with DIY kits is that they don’t allow for precision color matching. Obviously, since consumer kits are designed to be a panacea of sorts for minor scratches, they can only come in so many shades. But when it comes to automobile paint, there can be several different shades mixed together in a single vehicle’s paint job. So no matter how hard you try to match a DIY kit’s paint with your vehicle’s paint color, it’ll never be an exact match.

If you’re fine with having a noticeable repair on your vehicle, then yes, you may want to opt for a DIY kit so long as you choose a high-quality product. But if you’re like most people who really care about the exterior appearance (and long-term value) of their vehicles, you won’t want to jeopardize either of those things by opting for a DIY repair.

DO SCRATCH REPAIR KITS ACTUALLY WORK? WHICH ONES ARE GOOD?


Yes, certain DIY scratch repair kits will work to repair very minor scratches only. But you won’t find those kits in your local big box store, and the ones you see on infomercials aren’t a safe bet either.

Your best bet for finding a quality scratch repair kit is your local auto parts supply store. However, even the higher-quality kits sold at those types of stores won’t be able to repair any damage beyond the most minor scratches.

WHAT’S YOUR BEST OPTION FOR PAINT SCRATCH REPAIRS?


If you want a quality scratch repair job that you won’t be able to detect, the only place you’ll get that kind of workmanship is at an auto body repair shop. Precision paint color matching will ensure your vehicle’s touch-up paint is an exact replica of its existing paint since auto body repair shops use specialized technology to create a perfect match.

The technicians will use your vehicle’s paint code to mix various paint colors together and then buff out the finish to ensure you won’t be able to tell there was ever a scratch in the first place. A bad scratch repair can reduce your vehicle’s value, so think twice before you cut corners because you could be doing yourself a disservice in the long run.

NEED AUTO BODY REPAIRS NEAR PLYMOUTH, MN?


Need a few scratch repairs? Looking for a quality auto body repair shop to restore your ride after a major collision? Need a dent pulled out of a door panel? Don’t hesitate to contact our team at Minnetonka Collision! We’re true automobile fanatics and strive to provide the highest-quality auto body repair services in the Twin Cities area.

To get a service quote or learn more about how we can help you, feel free to call our Plymouth shop today at 763-230-7805 or request an estimate, and we’ll be in touch.