What is a light scratch on car paint?
A fine light line with your colour still around it is one of two things. A scratch that stopped in the clear coat, or one that just broke into the colour. From the outside they look the same.
What kind of repair does it need?
If it stopped in the clear coat, a machine polish levels it and it is gone. No paint is needed. If it broke into the colour, polishing can make it less visible but cannot remove it. Then a small spot repair or a panel repair is needed.
It depends on whether the scratch stopped in the clear coat. A detailer can usually tell you in a few minutes, before any money is spent.
What to do next
Take it to a detailer first, not a panel shop. A detailer who cannot polish it out has shown you, cheaply, that it reached the colour. A panel shop has no reason to tell you a polish would have done.
Sources
- Chemical Guysproduct seller
Appear as light swirls or spiderwebs that reflect in sunlight but don't feel deep
- Sherwin-Williams Automotivepaint maker
Sand and featheredge damaged areas to remove chips, then refinish
- Standoxpaint maker
Micro/Spot repair or complete refinishing is necessary for true rectification
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