Drivers should check their car regularly for even small signs of damage
Motorists have been issued a warning to regularly inspect their vehicle’s condition as the true impact of neglecting this was spelt out. Even small wear and tear on your car could lead to a large repair bill.
Experts from Auto Express are encouraging drivers to look out for scratches on the paintwork, as even minor damage can drastically depreciate your car’s value. Tom Jervis, consumer editor with Auto Express, said: “You don’t just risk a visual hit from a car that’s been scratched and scraped over time.”
“You could also lose out financially when it’s time to sell your car, because a scuffed or damaged car won’t be worth as much as one that’s in pristine condition.” He highlighted a particular situation where you should check your car to avoid a large bill: “This is especially worth bearing in mind if you lease a car or have bought one through finance.
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“The car’s predicted value at the end of the agreement will be dependent on what condition it’s in. If the scrapes and scratches are particularly bad, you could face hefty repair shop bills, too.”
If you discover a scratch but the damage is minor, only affecting the clear coat top layer or base layer of the paintwork, you may be able to fix it yourself using a scratch repair kit or a car care product such as T-Cut. Mr Jervis offered a handy tip to assess the extent of the damage, saying: “A quick test you can do to determine the severity of the damage is by running the tip of your thumb or fingernail over the scratches.
“If your nail doesn’t feel the scratch, you should be able to remove it by using scratch removers or T-Cut. If your nail can feel the scratch or scuff, then the damage runs a few layers deeper, affecting the primer coat or plastic or metal bodywork.
“The likelihood is you’ll require the services of a professional garage or paintwork technician.” If you’re able to mend the damage yourself using a scratch remover, there are several steps you need to adhere to, including doing some preparation before applying the product.
You will need to give your car a thorough wash to get rid of any surface contaminants or road grime, so you don’t rub any grit or debris into the paint surface, causing further damage. It’s crucial to read the instructions on the scratch remover as this will inform you if you need any specialist buffing or polishing tools for the job.
In most instances, you will have to apply a small dollop of the solution, about the size of a 10p coin, onto a cloth or buffing tool, spreading it over the cloth so you can apply it evenly. You can then apply the solution to the area, using a circular motion.
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Mr Jervis explained: “Remember, you’re essentially removing layers of paint, so you don’t want to go too deep; only apply light amounts of pressure and move in one direction. If your cleaning cloth starts turning a different colour, that means you’re down to the paint layers, and you’ve removed the protective lacquer on top of it.
“Once you’ve finished working on one area of the scratch, buff any excess product off with a clean microfibre cloth – because some scratch removers can damage the paintwork if they’re left to dry.”
You may need to do this again to further remove the scratch but make sure you read the instructions and be careful not to over-apply the product. Once this is finished, you can polish your car’s paintwork to add an extra layer of protection.
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In cases where the damage is only very light, such as from a stone chip, you may be able to use touch-up paint pens to cover it over. Again, the first step is to wash your vehicle. Then you will need to shake the pen for a few minutes to the paint pigments are mixed correctly, so they dry evenly when you apply it.
You should apply the paint in layers, waiting around 15 minutes between each layer to give the paint time to dry. Once it’s done, you’ll need to wait another hour to allow the paint to cure before applying a clear lacquer to seal it.
For more severe damage, like scraping a wall or post and damaging the colour coat or exposing bare metal or plastic, you may need a more extensive solution. Fortunately, there are DIY kits available for such repairs, which typically include a range of polishes, treatments, and brushes.
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Some kits are even specifically designed for your car’s exact paint colour. You may be able to find out the colour by checking the vehicle’s paint code found on the VIN plate.
Mr Jervis explained: “To work with a kit, you generally follow the same procedure as for scratch removers: clean the affected area, paint in the damaged section with a brush, allow the paint to dry, then polish the area down so it’s smooth with the rest of the paint. After that, you can clean the car with wax to give the damaged area some additional protection.”