Cars are one of the most significant investments a person can make, and it’s important to keep them in good condition to maintain their value. One of the most common issues that car owners face is scratches and chips on their car’s paint. However, with the right steps, you can easily protect your car’s paint from scratches. In this blog post, we will discuss a step-by-step guide on how to protect your car paint from scratches.
Why protecting your Car paint is important?
Protecting your car’s paint is crucial for several reasons. Some of these reasons are:
- Value: Usually, a used vehicle at a dealership for sale is expected to have a few scratches and chips, and these don’t have any effect on the vehicle’s value. However, if these scratches aren’t minor and are all over the vehicle, then it would lose its value.
- More Attractive: A car with scratches and chips can make it look unattractive, which can be a source of embarrassment for the owner. With proper protection, your car’s paint can last for a longer period of time while maintaining its exterior appearance.
- Corrosion: As small as that scratch or chip may be on your car, there is a possibility that it may lead to corrosion, which may cause severe damage to the car’s body. Therefore, it’s essential to take the necessary steps to protect your car’s paint.
So, what are these steps? We’ll take a look at the steps to follow in the next section.
How to protect your car's paint from scratches?
Step 1: Wash your car regularly.
Step 2: Use a Clay Bar
After washing your car, it’s a good idea to use a clay bar to remove any contaminants that the wash might have missed. A clay bar is a tool that can remove contaminants like tar, tree sap, and bug residue that can damage your car’s paint. To use a clay bar, spray the clay lubricant on a small section of your car, then gently rub the clay bar over the lubricated area. The clay will pick up any contaminants, leaving the paint smooth and clean.
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Step 3: Apply a Protective Coating
After cleaning your car’s paint, the next step is to apply a protective coating. A protective coating will create a barrier between the paint and any contaminants that might scratch it. There are several types of protective coatings available on the market, including wax, sealant, and ceramic coating.
Wax is the most common type of protective coating, and it’s easy to apply. However, wax lasts for a shorter time compared to other protective coatings. For a more durable coating, you can look at using sealants; these can last up to six months and leave your vehicle covered for that duration. Another option is to use a ceramic coating. It is the most durable protective coating and can last up to two years. However, ceramic coating is the most expensive option.
Step 4: Avoid parking near trees and bushes.
Learning how to prevent your car paint from scratches involves avoiding trees and bushes, as they can be a significant source of scratches and chips on your car’s paint.
Therefore, it’s essential to avoid parking your car near trees and bushes. Tree sap and bird droppings can damage your car’s paint, and branches can scratch the paint. If you have no choice but to park near trees and bushes, use a car cover to protect your car’s paint. In a situation where there are bird droppings or tree sap on your vehicle, be quick to remove them with a clean microfiber towel and a mild cleaner, as they will definitely damage your car’s paint if left for too long.
Step 5: Avoid parking near construction sites
Construction sites can be a significant source of rock chips and scratches on your car’s paint. Therefore, for rock chip prevention, it’s essential to avoid parking near construction sites. Construction sites can produce debris that can scratch or chip your car’s paint. If you must park near a construction site, try to park as far away from it as possible and use a car cover to protect your car’s paint.
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Step 6: Use a Car Cover
Step 7: Avoid Automatic Car Washes
The brushes and other equipment used in automatic car washes can cause scratches, swirl marks, and other types of damage to your car’s paint. Automatic car washes use harsh chemicals that can strip away the wax and other protective coatings on your car’s paint, leaving it vulnerable to scratches, chips, and other types of damage. Some of these chemicals can also be harmful to the environment.
In contrast, hand-washing your car using high-quality car wash soap and a soft, microfiber cloth is a safer and more effective way to protect your car’s paint. Hand washing allows you to be more gentle and careful when washing your car, minimizing the risk of scratches and other types of damage.
Step 8: Drive Cautiously
What to do if car paint is damaged?
When you notice scratches on your vehicle’s paint, the next step is to get them fixed immediately. And to fix this, you have to be sure of your car’s exterior color and color code. How do you get this information? The easiest way to do so is by generating a window sticker with the PremiumVIN window sticker lookup tool.
A window sticker is a label that can be used to gain full access to:
- Vehicle specification
- Interior packages
- Exterior packages
- Color codes
- Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
- Fuel economy
- Mechanical packages, and more
To get your vehicle’s color code, all you have to do is navigate to our window sticker lookup tool and provide your vehicle’s 17-character (or less) VIN number. After filling out the provided form with the required information, select “Get Access Now,” and you will immediately get your window sticker.
After downloading your vehicle’s window sticker, to find the actual color of your car’s paint, examine the top of the document, very close to the vehicle description section, and you’ll find it. With this information, you can restore your car to its original glory.
In conclusion, it’s really easy to protect your car’s paint from scratches, and you must make these steps a habit as it is essential to maintaining its value and appearance. Washing your car regularly, applying a protective coating, avoiding parking near trees and bushes and construction sites, driving cautiously, removing bird droppings and tree sap promptly, and more are all effective ways to protect your car’s paint. By following these steps, you can keep your car’s paint looking new for years to come, and if you already have these scratches and paint chips, you can conveniently determine your car’s color code with our window sticker lookup tool and repaint your car when necessary.
