How to Fix a Dent in a Car

It’s never a good feeling when you spy a scratch or dent on your car after leaving a busy Thomasville, GA shopping center. However, you won’t need to stress—or even visit an auto shop—if you have the skills to fix a dent in a car yourself. Our team at the Dale Earnhardt Jr Buick GMC service center is here to teach you how to fix a small dent in a car—and help you to know when fixing scratches on a car is better left to the professionals. Read on to explore the different types of dent and paint scratch damage and the best ways to repair them.

How to Fix Scratches on Car

Thankfully, there are many household items that can be used to fix scratches on a car. If you notice a scratch during your Crawfordville commute, and you don’t think it’s worth bringing to a dealership or mechanic to buff out, try some of these DIY car care tips: 

• Candle Wax – Although this isn’t a permanent solution, gently rubbing wax over a cleansed scratch can protect the scratch in an emergency. 
• Super Glue – Similar to candle wax, superglue isn’t a permanent solution, but it can be used to blend with the vehicle’s paint surface and mask the damage. 
• Paint Polish or Rubbing Compound – To fix scratches on a car’s paint, it’s always a good idea to try the least aggressive solution first. That way, if you see it’s not enough, it’s easier to add more than try to undo it afterwards. That’s why we recommend using a light polish with a less abrasive pad first, and then a higher-grit polish or other compounds if the scratch still remains. If these options don’t fix scratches on a car, we recommend the next option, wet sanding.
• Wet Sandpaper – When the scratch is more shallow, it can easily be removed by using 2000-grit wet sandpaper. When the scratch is almost invisible, apply a rubbing compound along with a finer polish, finishing off with a wax or paint sealant for protection. Be sure to wash your vehicle prior to removing a scratch, followed by a complete waxing once the repair is done. 
• Touch-Up Paint: Contact our service center to find touch-up paint that is used to hide deeper scratches. 

Steps to Fix a Dent in a Car

Whether you’re trying to sell your car around Panama City or you don’t want inconsistencies to affect your curb appeal, learning how to fix a dent in a car can go a long way. Here’s what you can do when learning how to fix a small dent in a car:

• Plunger – It may surprise you, but a plunger can actually be very useful when learning how to fix a small dent in a car. Whether it’s one from your bathroom or a car dent plunger, this tool can level out a dent in a couple of attempts. 
• Hammer or Mallet – If the dent is accessible from the back, using a hammer for small fixes and a mallet for larger dents can get your car looking new again. However, be sure to place a towel between the hammer and your vehicle to protect it from further damage. 
• Dent Puller – This method for how to fix a dent in a car is for more seasoned DIYers, as it requires drilling a hole into the dent. Once a hole is made, lace wire through the hole to pull the dent back to the surface. From there, you can fill the hole, sand it down, and paint it to make it look like new. 

Find What You Need for Car Care with Dale Earnhardt Jr Buick GMC!

If you want to leave fixing the dent on your car to the professionals, the certified technicians at Dale Earnhardt Jr Buick GMC are here to help. Be sure to take advantage of our service coupons to save on your next visit, and if you need any help finding parts for your DIY car care, don’t hesitate to reach out!