Car Repair EstimatorCar scratch repair cost
Updated 2026-09-29 · By the Car Repair Estimator team
Professional car scratch repair typically costs about $75-$150 to buff out a clear-coat scratch, $150-$1,000 per panel when the color coat is damaged and $400-$1,800 per panel for scratches down to primer or bare metal. A keyed scratch that runs across several panels often costs $2,000-$4,500.
Scratch repair prices by depth
Car paint has layers: a clear coat on top, the color (base) coat under it, primer below that, and then metal or plastic. The deeper a scratch goes, the more layers a shop has to rebuild, and the more the repair costs. Depth matters far more than length.
| Repair type | Typical cost range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Clear coat scratch, buff and polish | $75-$150 | Up to about $300 in high-cost metros |
| Color coat scratch, touch-up | $150-$400 | Small areas where a spot repair blends well |
| Color coat scratch, panel refinish | $400-$1,000 per panel | Full panel painted and blended |
| Scratch to primer | $800-$1,500 per panel | Needs primer, paint and clear |
| Scratch to bare metal | $400-$1,800+ per panel | Should be fixed quickly to prevent rust |
| Keyed car, one panel | $500-$1,500 | Depth decides where in the range |
| Keyed car, several panels or a full side | $2,000-$4,500+ | Blending on each end adds to the total |
| Painted bumper scuff | $300-$600 | Unpainted textured plastic about $100-$250 |
| DIY polishing compound or touch-up kit | $15-$60 | Surface scratches and small chips only |
Ranges come from body shop price guides published in 2025-2026. The higher per-panel numbers come from a Los Angeles shop, where labor runs about $100-$150 an hour, which that shop estimates is 20-30 percent above national averages. Expect lower prices in smaller markets.
What drives scratch repair cost
Depth
A scratch confined to the clear coat can usually be wet-sanded and polished away in an hour or two. Once the color coat is cut, the area must be repainted, and a spot repair only works if the shop can hide the edges. Scratches through primer to metal need the full paint stack rebuilt.
Size and number of panels
Each panel is refinished separately. A 12-inch scratch in the middle of a door is one panel; a 12-inch scratch across the door gap is two. That is why a key line from fender to door to quarter panel costs several times what a single door does.
Blending
To make new paint match under different light, shops usually blend color into the neighboring panels. As one shop explains, a single keyed door can create a line item for the door itself plus partial blending on the fender and the quarter panel. Blending is refinish labor, so it shows up on an estimate even though those panels weren't scratched.
Paint color and type
Solid colors are the easiest to match. Metallics, pearls and tri-coat whites take more material and time, and are more likely to need blending. See cost to repaint a car for how paint type affects price.
Location
Scratches on a plastic bumper are repaired differently from scratches on steel or aluminum panels. Scratches on a door with a side mirror or handle to remove take extra labor.
Keyed car repair cost
Keying tends to be long and deep, often cutting to primer, and usually crosses several panels. Shops we reviewed put one keyed panel at about $500-$1,500 and damage across multiple panels or a whole side at about $2,000-$4,000 or more, with long lines that need blending on both ends passing $4,000. Keying is vandalism, which falls under comprehensive coverage, according to Progressive. Because the repair often lands well above common deductibles, a claim is worth considering. Report the vandalism to police if your insurer asks for a report.
DIY vs professional scratch repair
For light clear-coat scratches, a polishing compound and some patience often work. Touch-up paint in your factory color code can seal a chip or thin scratch that reaches metal and keep rust from starting, even if it doesn't look perfect. Consumer Reports found that scratch repair pens don't work on anything but minor surface scratches.
Go to a pro when:
- Your fingernail catches in the scratch.
- You see primer or bare metal.
- The scratch crosses more than one panel.
- The car is leased or you plan to sell it soon and want an invisible repair.
- There is a dent under the scratch; see paintless dent repair cost for when a dent can be fixed without paint.
Don't wait on deep scratches
A scratch that reaches bare metal lets moisture in, and on steel panels that can turn into rust under the surrounding paint. Rust repair costs more than scratch repair, so even a quick touch-up to seal the metal is worth doing while you collect quotes.
How to get an accurate scratch repair estimate
Photograph the scratch in daylight from a few angles, and include a close-up with a coin or key for scale. With Car Repair Estimator Repair+ you can snap the damage, add a note about depth, scan the VIN, and get an itemized estimate with body labor and refinish hours on separate lines at local rates, including blend time on neighboring panels. Then get quotes from 2-3 shops and compare how many panels each plans to paint. Estimates from the app are informational, not an insurance appraisal or binding quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fix a keyed car?
It depends on depth and how many panels the key line crosses. One panel with color-coat damage is typically $400-$1,500, and a line crossing two to four panels with blending often runs $2,000-$4,500 or more. Vandalism is usually covered by comprehensive insurance, minus your deductible.
How can I tell how deep a scratch is?
Run a fingernail across it. If your nail doesn't catch and the scratch nearly disappears when wet, it is probably in the clear coat and can often be polished. If your nail catches, or you see white, gray primer or bare metal, the scratch needs paint work.
Do scratch repair pens work?
Only on minor surface scratches, according to Consumer Reports testing. They can make a small chip or thin scratch less visible, but they won't produce a factory finish on deeper damage.
Why does fixing one scratch cost so much?
Paint-deep scratches mean refinishing the panel, and shops usually blend color into neighboring panels so the repair matches. Labor for sanding, priming, painting and clear coating is most of the bill.
Sources
- Apex Auto Pros - Car scratch repair cost guide (2025)
- LUXE Auto Body - Keyed car repair cost (2026)
- Painted OEM Parts - How to fix a keyed car (2025)
- Consumer Reports - Car scratch repair pens review
- Progressive - Does car insurance cover vandalism
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