Rogue shopping carts, parking lot door dings, and even your fingernails can leave unsightly scratches covering your car. You can live with them, or you can make them disappear by using a car paint scratch remover. These automotive scratch repair products have small abrasive polymers in their formula that smooth out your car’s clear coat, making those unsightly scratches disappear. The best scratch remover for cars is easy to apply and far more affordable than hiring a professional detailer to fix those scratches.
But, as with most car care products, there are many brands to choose from, which makes choosing one a challenge. In this guide, we’ll review some of the best car scratch removers and provide tips on how to use them.
Our Top Picks
Also In This Article
How We Picked the Best Car Scratch Removers
Car scratch removers are one of those products that depend a lot on the user to get the best results. Most people don’t know how to apply them or simply lack patience. Keeping that in mind, we chose car scratch removers that are easy to use with clear instructions and, in some cases, online tutorials. Most of our selections have one-step applications, and many don’t require a machine polisher (a tool most people probably don’t own). Of course, a car scratch mover that’s easy to use wouldn’t be much use if it didn’t work. With that in mind, we scoured dozens of customer reviews to find car scratch removers that are not only easy to apply but also effective at removing scratches.
Best Overall Car Scratch Remover
Meguiar’s Scratch Eraser Kit G190200EU
Meguiar’s scratch remover is effective and simple to apply thanks to a design that works with a tool that you probably already have in your home workshop, an electric drill. It includes an applicator that allows you to turn your drill into a machine polisher, giving you more scratch-removing power than you’ll ever get out of your arm. Application is easy. Simply apply a dab of the scratch remover to the pad, run it back and forth over the scratch to remove the blemish, and finish by wiping away excess residue with the included buffing cloth. Meguiar’s may be pricier than other scratch removers, but its smart design makes it worth the extra investment.
Pros
- Comes with attachment that turns your drill into a polisher
- One-step application makes it quick and easy to use
- Includes both an application pad and buffing cloth
Cons
- Pricier than other scratch removers
Key Specs
- Size: 14 ounces
- Steps: Single
- Application: Power (included drill attachment)
Price: $21.99
Best Deep Car Scratch Remover
Chemical Guys VSS Scratch & Swirl Remover COM_129_16
Chemical Guys VSS scratch remover has a higher concentration of abrasives in its formula, which makes it capable of taking out deeper scratches, swirls, water spots, and scuff marks than most other scratch removers available. It’s also surprisingly easy to use thanks to its one-step design and video tutorial. Simply dab a few drops over the area, apply the product using a dual action or rotary polisher, then wipe away the residue with a soft cloth. If using a scratch remover on your ride makes you nervous, you can head online and view a Chemical Guys’ detailed video that walks you through how to use the product. And since Chemical Guys VSS scratch remover comes in a large 16-ounce bottle, you get more scratch-removing bang for your buck than with most other removers.
Pros
- Takes out deeper scratches than other scratch removers
- Online video tutorial demonstrates how to use it
- Comes in a large 16-ounce bottle
Cons
- Requires a machine polisher for best results
Key Specs
- Size: 16 ounces
- Steps: Single
- Application: Machine polisher
Price: $22.49
Best Car Wax for Removing Scratches
Formula 1 Scratch Out Car Wax Polish Liquid 615011
Formula 1 is a fraction of the cost of other scratch removers, making it a good choice for those looking for an affordable alternative to some of the pricier car scratch removers. Along with being affordable, it’s also easy to apply thanks to a one-step design. Simply apply with a pad or soft cloth and work the remover into the scratch using a circular motion. As with other scratch removers, Scratch Out is powerful enough to eliminate moderate clear coat scratches and swirl marks while helping restore the luster of your vehicle’s finish. You can even use it to brighten up worn-out taillights and headlights. Plus, you don’t need to invest in a machine polisher as you can get good results with Formula 1 using just elbow grease.
Pros
- More affordable than most scratch removers
- Works well without the need for a machine polisher
- Can use it to brighten hazed-out headlights
Cons
- Only effective for light scratches and scuffs
Key Specs
- Size: 7 ounces
- Steps: Single
- Application: Manual
Price: $6.99
Best Scratch Remover for Black Cars
Turtle Wax Hybrid Solutions Ceramic Acrylic Black Polish and Wax 53448
Few car colors look as stunning as a freshly cleaned and waxed black finish. Unfortunately, black also shows scratches and swirl marks more than any other color, making removing them challenging. This ceramic acrylic polish from turtle wax makes doing so easier. It’s formulated with black tinted polymers that fill those unsightly scratches and blemishes while helping to restore the vehicle’s paint job. It features a simple one-step application, which you can do by hand or with a machine polisher. And since it uses carnauba wax in its formula, it leaves a high gloss finish and a layer of protection that repels water and future scratches. Just keep in mind that this product will only take out light scratches and swirl marks. You’ll need black touch-up paint for scratches that go deeper than the clear coat.
Pros
- Waxes, restores paint, and removes scratches in one step
- Can apply manually or with machine polisher
- Provides layer of protection against rain and scratches
Cons
- Only works for minor scratches and imperfections
Key Specs
- Size: 14 ounces
- Steps: Single
- Application: Machine or Manual
Price: $21.49
Best Auto Scratch Repair Kit
Turtle Wax Premium Scratch Repair Kit T-234KT
This auto scratch repair kit isn’t easy to use and requires patience and diligence, but if you’re willing to put in the work, it will reward you with the best results of any scratch remover out there. Its application involves using a series of polishing pads of descending grit levels along with a spray lubricant to make blemishes disappear and restore your car’s paint to near pristine condition. It also comes with a scratch repair pen you can use to fill deeper scratches that have pierced the car’s clear coat. If you’ve got deeper scratches to repair and are willing to put in the work to remove them, then this scratch remover kit will yield better results than the easy-to-apply one-step options out there.
Pros
- Comes with repair pen for deep scratches
- Produces better results than single-step scratch remover
- Great value given what the kit includes
Cons
- More time-consuming process than a single-step kit
Key Specs
- Size: N/A
- Steps: Multiple
- Application: Manual
Price: $18.25
Best Scratch and Swirl Remover
Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound M10508
A single-step application and multiple ways of applying it make Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound perhaps the easiest option for removing scratches from your car’s finish. You can apply it manually and expect to get very similar results to machine polisher applications. Megiuar’s also provides a higher degree of scratch-removing capability than other scratch-removing polishes. It’s effective at removing light to moderate scratches, swirl marks, and even smashed bugs and bird droppings. What’s more, it also functions as a polish, leaving a mirror finish behind. And it happens to be one of the more affordable scratch removal products out there, so you won’t spend a lot of money to restore your car’s paint job.
Pros
- Produces good results with a manual application
- Very effective at removing small scratches
- Leaves a high-gloss finish
Cons
- Won’t work on deeper scratches
Key Specs
- Size: 8 ounces
- Steps: Single
- Application: Manual
Price: $13.79
Best Heavy-Duty Scratch Remover
3D One Car Scratch & Swirl Remover 3DO_Parent
This powerful car scratch and swirl remover uses a mix of finishing polish and rubbing compound to create a formula with a higher amount of abrasives in it than most. This means it will cut through and smooth the rough edges caused by scratches and swirl marks better than other types of scratch removers. As a bonus, it leaves a high gloss mirror-like finish. Just keep in mind that its higher abrasive content requires more care than other products. 3D One uses a one-step process and can be applied manually for smaller scratches or with a machine polisher for larger ones. If you’re looking for max scratch removal power, this is it.
Pros
- Higher concentration of abrasives than other scratch removers
- Easy to apply one-step process
- Can be applied manually for small areas or with machine for larger scratches
Cons
- Requires more care when applying since it has a higher concentration of abrasives
Key Specs
- Size: 8 ounces
- Steps: Single
- Application: Manual or machine
Price: $29.99
Best Car Scratch Remover Pen
Dupli-Color Scratch Fix All-in1 Automotive Touch-Up Paint EAFM04130
This all-in-one paint pen offers the best solution for touching up scratches that go beneath the clear coat layer to the paint finish. The formula includes a mix of paint and clear coat, so there’s no need to apply a separate finish. There’s a fine tip end that’s ideal for hairline scratches and a brush end for wider scrapes and scuffs. We also like the fact that the paint is easy to match up to your car. That’s because Dupli-Color lists paint codes on its color options, making it easy to match its paint pen color options to the paint color code inside of your vehicle’s door. And since its collection of paint colors covers most of the major car manufacturers, you shouldn’t have a problem finding a color match.
Pros
- Compatible with most car makes
- Dual tip design for treating small scratches and larger chips
- Formula includes both paint and a clear coat
Cons
- Paint is thin, making it challenging to work with
Key Specs
- Size: 0.5 ounces
- Steps: N/A
- Application: Manual
Price: $24.99
Best Easy-to-Use Car Scratch Remover
Carfidant Scratch and Swirl Remover CARF-C305
Carfidant’s car scratch remover is one of the easiest car scratch removal products to apply while still producing excellent results. Plus, it conveniently comes with a buffer pad. Application is easy. Apply a few dabs to the pad and work it into the scratches using a circular motion to smooth them out and make them disappear. You can use either a machine or your arm to apply Carfidant scratch remover. This car scratch fixer works to remove clear coat scratches, scuff marks, water spots, and paint transfer, and it has the added benefit of brightening up dull paint finishes. While its application process makes it one of the easier car scratch removers to use, it’s also one of the pricier options out there.
Pros
- Simple one-step application makes it easy to use
- Simultaneously polishes paint finish while removing scratches
- Comes with a pad applicator
Cons
- Pricier than other paint scratch removers
Key Specs
- Size: 8.4 ounces
- Steps: Single step
- Application: Manual
Price: $24.99
Best Car Scratch Remover Buying Guide
Types of Car Scratch Removers
Polishing Compounds
Polishing compounds use a mildly abrasive formula for removing scratches, watermarks, oxidation, and minor imperfections on your car’s clear coat. Along with removing these blemishes, it will also return the finish to a shiny luster by polishing the clear coat. While polishing compounds work well for removing small scratches and brightening up dull paint, they won’t remove scratches that have penetrated a clear coat and damaged the paint layer.
Paste Compounds
Don’t confuse polishing compound with rubbing compound, which has more abrasives and is used for correcting severe oxidation, fixing paint transfer, and taking out deeper scuffs and scratches. Since rubbing compounds have more abrasives in them, you should use them with care to avoid removing your car’s clear coat and damaging the paint below.
Pens
Scratch removal pens don’t remove paint scratches but rather fill them with touch-up paint. These pens come in a variety of colors to match the paint finishes of various vehicle makes and models. They have fine pen-like tips or small brushes that allow you to fill chips or scratches that have reached the paint layer of your car’s finish. You can purchase paint pens separately or with a scratch removal kit that includes a pen.
Scratch Severity
Surface Scratches
Scratch removers are designed to handle mild to moderate surface scratches that have not penetrated the vehicle’s clear coat. Not sure what kind of scratch you have? Run your fingernail across the scratch. If your fingernail catches in it, then the scratch has penetrated the clear coat and damaged the paint layer.
Deep Scratches
Deep scratches are those that have penetrated your car’s clear coat. Since regular scratch removers are designed to repair damage done to the clear coat, they won’t be effective at removing deep scratches. The only way to repair a deep scratch that’s reached the paint layer is to fill it using touch-up paint.
Compatibility with Your Car’s Finish
Clear Coat Compatibility
Paint scratch removers are designed specifically for repairing damage that occurs to your car’s clear coat, which is the transparent finish that functions as a topcoat to the painted surfaces of your car’s exterior.
Paint Color Match
If you’re fixing deeper scratches that have made it through the clear coat to your car’s paint, you’ll need to use touch-up paint. When purchasing touch-up paint, you’ll want to get a touch-up paint pen. Touch-up paint pens usually have a color code that you can use to match the code located in the door well of your car. You can also purchase touch-up paint from the parts department at the local dealership for your vehicle’s make.
Ease of Application
Steps
Paint scratch removers come in single-step and multi-step varieties. Single-step scratch removers are the easiest to apply. Simply apply a dab of the scratch remover to a pad or cloth and work it into the scratch to smooth out the clear coat and remove the blemish.
Multi-step products are more labor intensive. These kits involve working the scratch with different grit levels of abrasive pads to remove the scratch. While single-step applications are easier and less time consuming, they usually aren’t as effective as multi-step removers.
Machine vs. Manual
Removing scratches involves using very fine abrasive materials to smooth out rough edges that create the scratch in the clear coat. While you can apply scratch remover manually using elbow grease, a polishing machine is a far easier method and usually yields much better results. If you don’t want to invest in a car polisher, you can also find affordable polishing attachments for sanders, drills, and even angle grinders.
Price
DIY vs. Pro
Car scratch removers offer an affordable alternative to having scratches to your car professionally removed. A bottle of car scratch remover will cost you between $10 and $20. You can expect to pay between $150 and $200 to have surface scratches removed by a professional repair shop.
Removing Scratches: Step-by-Step
Make sure to closely follow the scratch remover’s instructions to get the best results. If you’re uncertain about how to use a scratch remover, look for a brand that offers an online tutorial that allows you to watch a demonstration of the product.
- Start by thoroughly washing the car.
- Identify any scratches in need of repair as you dry the car.
- Run your fingernail over the scratch. If it catches, it may be too deep to repair without the use of touch-up paint.
- Apply a small amount of remover to a pad or microfiber towel and work it into the scratch using a circular motion while applying moderate pressure.
- Resist the urge to apply a lot of pressure as doing so could damage the surrounding clear coat. If you have one, use a power polisher for this step as it will save you time and produce better results.
- After working the remover into the scratch, use a cloth to wipe off the product and check to see if the scratch is gone. You may have to repeat the process multiple times before it disappears.
Preventing Further Damage
Protecting Your Car’s Value
Short of keeping your vehicle in the garage 24/7, there’s no way to completely protect your car or truck’s finish from scratches. However, there are precautions you can take to reduce the number of scratches it suffers.
- Avoid parking too close to another car, inviting door dings.
- Wash and wax your car regularly to maintain a protective layer over the finish.
- Use non-abrasive cleaning products whenever you wash your car.
- If possible, park your car in the garage to minimize its exposure to rain and the sun’s damaging UV rays.
- Avoid closely following trucks and other large vehicles that can kick stones at your car.
Safety Considerations When Using a Car Scratch Remover
While car scratch removers don’t produce fumes that have high toxicity, some do put off an unpleasant chemical smell that can be irritating to some people. If you’re sensitive to strong odors, then use scratch remover outdoors where you’ll have plenty of ventilation to carry those odors away as opposed to inside a garage. It’s also a good idea to wear gloves while using scratch remover to prevent it from coming into contact with your skin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Car Scratch Removers
Can car scratch removers work on all types of scratches?
Car scratch removers can’t fix all types of scratches. They’re limited to repairing only scratches and scuffs that damage the clear coat. Scratch removers won’t repair deep scratches that have reached the paint. You’ll need to use touch-up paint to repair deeper scratches.
Do car scratch removers damage the car’s paint?
A car scratch remover won’t damage your car’s paint. Car scratch removers are made to smooth out the clear coat layer of your car, so they never actually reach the paint layer.
How often can I use a car scratch remover?
There’s no limit to how often you can apply scratch remover. In fact, in some cases, you may need to apply it several times over a single scratch to remove it.
Can car scratch removers fix deep scratches?
Car scratch removers can remove deep scratches as long as they haven’t breached the finish’s clear coat layer. Keep in mind that you may need to make several applications to smooth out and effectively remove a deeper scratch.
Why Trust Pro Tool Reviews
Ever check out a “review” site and you can’t tell if the author has any real experience with tools or if they’re just “recommending” the Amazon top sellers? That’s not us. We won’t recommend anything unless we’d use it ourselves. It’s all about giving you a legitimate recommendation and our honest opinion of each product.
We’ve been in business since 2008 covering tools, writing reviews, and reporting on industry news in the construction and lawn care industries. Our Pro reviewers work in the trades and have the skills and experience to know whether tools can perform well in the field.
Each year, we bring in and review more than one hundred individual products. Our team will put our hands on hundreds more at media events and trade shows throughout the year.
Pro Tool Reviews consults with innovators in the technology and design of tools to gain a broader grasp of where these products fit and how they work.
We work with more than two dozen professional contractors nationwide who review products for us on real job sites. We consult with them extensively on testing methods, categories, and practical applications.
Our site will provide several hundred pieces of new content this year absolutely free for our readers. That includes objective evaluations of individual tools and products.
The result is information you can trust because of the editorial, scientific, and real-world professional experience we collectively utilize each and every time we pick up and test a tool.
