Key marks, barrier scrapes, and surface paint damage are our specialty. We blend, fill, and refinish the affected area so precisely that the repair becomes invisible. Every scratch repair is color matched to your vehicle's exact shade - accounting for fade - using our computerized paint system.
Scratch damage falls into several categories, each requiring a different approach. Clear coat scratches that have not broken through to the color layer can often be corrected by polishing alone. Scratches that penetrate the color coat require spot refinishing. Deep scratches that reach bare metal or primer require priming, color, and clear coat. Scratches involving panel deformation require body repair before paint. We assess the depth and extent of the scratch at your free estimate and recommend the appropriate repair.
For scratches requiring paint, we begin with surface preparation - cleaning, masking, and sanding the affected area to create a proper adhesion surface. We then apply primer if needed, followed by a color coat matched to your specific vehicle using spectrophotometer analysis. Clear coat is applied and blended into the surrounding area. The panel is polished to a uniform gloss. Done correctly, there is no visible boundary between the repaired area and the original paint.
Key scratches that run along a panel or across multiple panels are among the most frustrating types of paint damage. If the scratch does not deform the metal and the paint coat is intact beneath the scratch, repair is straightforward. If the scratch has gone through all paint layers to bare metal, we prime the exposed area before refinishing to prevent rust.
Paint fades over time. A color code match from a factory database will often be visibly different from the paint on a vehicle that is more than a few years old. We measure the actual paint on your vehicle using a spectrophotometer and mix a formula that accounts for how your specific paint has aged. The result blends with your vehicle - not with a factory specification from years ago.
All refinishing work at Englewood Auto Body carries a lifetime paint warranty valid for as long as you own the vehicle. If any paint we apply fails, peels, or fades abnormally, we correct it at no charge.
Schedule your free estimate today. We will inspect your vehicle, document the damage, and handle your insurance claim from start to finish.
Everything you need to know before you bring your vehicle in.
Most scratches can be repaired with a spot repair to the affected area rather than a full panel repaint. However, if a scratch runs to the edge of a panel or affects a large proportion of the panel surface, blending may require extending the paint to the panel edge. We assess this at the estimate and explain exactly what the repair will look like.
Run your fingernail lightly across the scratch. If your nail does not catch, the damage is likely limited to the clear coat and may be correctable by polishing. If your nail catches, the scratch has gone through the color coat. If you can see bare metal or a different color beneath, the scratch has reached primer or metal. The appropriate repair depends on the depth.
Not when done correctly. We use spectrophotometer color matching to account for the actual color of your existing paint, including fade. The repaired area is polished to match the gloss of the surrounding surface. A properly executed scratch repair is invisible under normal inspection.
It depends on the cause. Scratches from a collision are covered under collision insurance. Scratches from vandalism - including key marks - are covered under comprehensive insurance. Scratches from normal wear and accidental contact with barriers or bushes are typically not covered. We can help you determine whether filing a claim makes sense given your deductible.
Simple scratch repairs involving one small area of one panel can often be completed same-day or within 24 hours. More extensive scratch damage across multiple panels or that requires panel removal takes longer. We give you a specific estimate of time and cost before any work begins.
Yes. Scratches on painted plastic bumpers and trim panels are repaired the same way as metal panels - surface preparation, color matching, and refinishing. Flexible primer is used on plastic components to prevent the paint from cracking. Unpainted plastic trim scratches are a different category and may require trim replacement or plastic restoration techniques.