How to Fix a Dent in a Car

Let’s face it—accidents happen. Whether it’s a stray shopping cart, a parking lot mishap, or everyday wear and tear, a small dent or scratch can quickly tarnish your vehicle’s appearance. If you’re wondering how to fix a dent in a car or fix some small scratches, this guide is for you. While major bodywork repairs can be expensive and time-consuming, many minor blemishes can be fixed at home with a little patience and the right tools. Learn how to fix a small dent or scratch on a car with the team at Stingray Chevrolet below.

How to Fix Scratches on Your Car 

Is there a scratch on your vehicle that you don’t think is worth bringing into a dealership or mechanic to buff out? Here is how to fix scratches on a car at home: 

• Candle Wax – This is by no means a permanent solution, but it will hold in an emergency. Gently rub the wax over the cleaned area to seal the scratch.
• Super Glue – Like candle wax, this helps seal the scratch temporarily and blends with the vehicle masking the damage slightly.
• Paint Polish or Rubbing Compound – When correcting a car’s paint, you always want to use the least aggressive solution first, kind of like when you cut hair. If you underdo it, you can always do more. If you overdo it, it can’t be undone. That said, we recommend using a light polish with a less abrasive foam pad first, and working your way up to higher-grit polishes or compounds if you see that scratches remain in your paint. Only if polishing doesn’t remove scratches do we recommend wet-sanding, the next step.
• Wet Sandpaper – Shallow scratches just on the surface can easily be removed after cleaning the area and rubbing over it with 2000-grit wet sandpaper. Once it’s at a point where the scratch is almost invisible, apply a rubbing compound followed by finer and finer polishes, and then a wax or paint sealant for protection. Washing your car before any scratch removal is a best practice, as is waxing the whole car once done.
• Touch-Up Paint: Usually available at service centers like ours, this fix helps hide deeper scratches.

How to Fix a Small Dent in Your Car

Don’t let a dent ruin the curb appeal of your model in Lakeland. Try one of these simple dent fixes at home before bringing in your vehicle:

• Plunger – Whether it’s the plunger from your bathroom or a car dent plunger, using this tool can pop the dent out with several attempts at leveling the dent out.
• Hammer or Mallet – Using one of these on the opposite side of the dent can help knock the spot back into place. Use the hammer for smaller fixes and the mallet for larger dents. Be sure to protect the side you are hammering with a towel or something equivalent to avoid more damage.
• Dent Puller – Only proceed with this if you’re used to using this method as this requires drilling a hole in the dent, lacing the wire through, and pulling the dent back to surface level. You’ll then need to fill the hole, sand it down, and paint.

Schedule Service in Plant City

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or just looking to tackle a small repair, these tips will help you restore your car to its former glory in no time. If you’ve tried to fix scratches on your car with no luck, please don’t hesitate to call us at (813) 704-2102 or schedule an appointment at our collision center near Valrico and Brandon. We’re here to help!