Typical paint scratch repair costs
| Damage | Typical range | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Clear-coat scuff (no depth) | $79–$150 | Machine polish / touch-up |
| Scratch through color, small area | $150–$400 | Spot repair + blend |
| Deep scratch to primer/metal | $400–$900+ | Full panel respray |
| Multiple panels / keyed car | $1,000–$3,000+ | Per-panel respray adds up |
What affects the price
- Scratch depth. The fingernail test: if your nail doesn't catch, it's in the clear coat and buffs out. If it catches, you're into color or primer and need paint work.
- Paint type. Solid colors are straightforward. Metallics, pearls, and tri-coats (three-stage) need blending into adjacent panels to match — tri-coats can nearly double refinish cost.
- Spot repair vs. full panel. Spot repairs are cheaper but have limits; on dark colors and large areas, a full panel respray looks better and lasts longer. A good shop tells you which your damage needs.
- Location. Scratches on edges, bumpers (plastic), and highly visible panels cost more to make invisible.
- Rust. A chip down to bare metal that's started rusting needs the rust treated first. Skip it and the repair bubbles within a year.
The honest truth about touch-up pens
A $15 touch-up pen is fine for hiding a small chip from ten feet away. It is not a repair — it won't level, it won't match metallics, and up close it looks like what it is. For a lease return or a car you care about, pay for the real fix.
Related cost guides
Frequently asked questions
Can a scratch be buffed out?
If it's only in the clear coat — yes, machine polishing removes it for $79–$150. If your fingernail catches in it, no amount of buffing fixes it; that's paint work.
How much does it cost to fix a keyed car?
It depends on how many panels are scratched, but budget $400–$900+ per panel for proper resprays. A car keyed down both sides is easily a $2,000–3,000 job.
Will spot paint repair match my car's color?
On solid colors, usually very well. On metallics and pearls, blending into neighboring panels is what makes it disappear — which is why the honest quote includes blend time.
Should I claim paint scratches on insurance?
For a single $300 scratch with a $790 deductible, no. For a fully keyed car at $2,500+, a comprehensive claim can make sense — weigh it against your premium.