Short answer: a shallow scratch in the clear coat can often be polished out — we give the price after inspection, because it depends on the area and the condition of the paint. A scratch your fingernail catches is deeper than the layer that can safely be sanded: that means a local respray, starting at 5,000 CZK.
First do the fingernail test
Run your fingernail across the scratch, at right angles to it. If the nail glides over, the damage is only in the top clear coat and can be polished out. If the nail catches, the groove has gone through the clear coat into the colour or down to the primer — polishing won't remove it, it will only round the edges.
Three depths of damage and what to do
| Depth | How to tell | Solution | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear coat | The nail glides over; the scratch disappears when wetted | Polishing the area | Price after inspection |
| Into the colour | The nail catches; a different shade shows in the light | Local repair and paint | from 5,000 CZK |
| Down to primer or metal | You can see a grey or metallic groove | Preparation, filling, panel paint | from 5,000 CZK (bonnet and roof from 8,000 CZK) |
Why polishing doesn't work on deep grooves
Polishing doesn't add anything — it removes. It takes off a thin layer of clear coat to bring the surrounding area level with the defect. Factory paint thickness is limited, and we measure it because every further correction reduces it. On a deep scratch you'd have to remove so much material that the paint would stop protecting the metal — which is why such an area gets painted.
When only part of a panel can be repaired
A local repair makes sense with contained damage in the middle of a panel — a scratch on a door from a handle or a garage pillar. The paint is mixed to the car's code and the transition is faded into the surface so no edge shows. The problem is edges and corners: there the paint has nowhere to fade out, and it's cleaner to paint the whole panel.
When respraying the whole panel is cheaper
- the damage is longer than your palm or crosses a panel edge
- there are several scratches in different places on one panel
- the paint has faded and a local repair would show as a fresh patch
- the scratch runs across a seam onto two panels
Price isn't only about the length of the groove
The shade matters too. White or black mix easily; three-stage pearls and metallics need a test panel and more work on the blend. Access for removing the panel plays a part as well — sometimes it's quicker to take the panel off than to mask it on the car.
Frequently asked questions
Can I tell with my fingernail whether polishing is enough?
Yes, it's the most reliable quick test. If the nail catches, the damage is deeper than the layer of paint that can safely be removed, and it becomes a paint job.
How many times can paint be polished?
It depends on the paint thickness, which we measure before starting. Every correction takes part of the layer away — on a car that has already been polished several times we'd recommend protection rather than more sanding.
Does the whole panel have to be painted?
Not always. With contained damage in the middle of a panel a local repair is enough. Across edges and seams the whole panel is painted, otherwise the transition would show.
Will the repair last, or will the paint yellow over time?
With proper preparation and booth spraying, a repair lasts as well as factory paint. We give a 5-year warranty on the work carried out, under the terms set out in our warranty conditions.
How long does it take?
It depends on the scope. Polishing an area is a matter of hours; painting a panel needs preparation and curing pauses — we give you the date upfront.
What to do now
Photograph the damaged area from two distances — the whole panel and a close-up from 30 cm — and send them to us. From the photos we'll give a preliminary price and say whether the scratch can be solved without painting. The binding price is confirmed in writing after inspection.
