Car paint touch up or professional repair?
Car paint touch up suits tiny chips. Scratches and anything bigger than a pinhead need a professional repair. If you can feel the damage with a fingernail or it runs for more than a few millimetres, a professional repair gives a far better result.
When a touch-up pen or kit works
On these, the aim is to seal exposed metal and stop rust. A touch-up will make the chip less obvious from a few feet away, but it won't make it vanish.
When it doesn't
Touch-up paint is a dab of colour sitting on top of the panel. It can't rebuild the smooth surface that was there, so it can't fix the damage below. Our guide on DIY alloy wheel repair kits explains why the same limits apply to wheels.
How to use touch-up paint well
Find your paint code.
It is on a plate in the door shut, under the bonnet or in the handbook. Buy paint for that exact code.
Clean the chip.
Wash and dry the area, and remove any wax or grease.
Treat rust.
If you can see surface rust, it must come out before paint goes on.
Apply thin layers.
Build the colour up in several thin coats, letting each dry. One thick blob stands proud of the panel.
When to get a professional repair
Call us if any of these apply. We prepare the area, mix paint from your paint code, spray it in our booth, cure it with infrared and blend and lacquer the result. Small marks may suit SMART repair. See our stone chip repair and car paint repair pages, and our guide on stone chip repair.
Frequently asked questions
Does car paint touch up work on scratches?
Only very fine ones. Touch-up paint fills a chip but can't level a long scratch, so the line still shows. If a fingernail catches, get it repaired.
Where do I find my car's paint code?
Look for the vehicle identification plate in the door shut, under the bonnet or in the boot. Your handbook may also list it.
Will touch-up paint stop rust?
It can seal a small chip if the metal is clean and any rust has been removed first. Rust that has spread under the paint needs a proper repair.
Can touch-up paint make a repair harder later?
Thick layers have to be sanded off before a workshop repaints the area. That is routine for us, so it won't stop a repair, but a light application leaves less to remove.
How long does a professional chip repair take?
Minor bodywork at our workshop is done within 24 hours. Larger repairs take longer, and your quote says how long.
Get a quote
Not sure if your chip needs more than a pen? Send a photo and we'll tell you within 24 hours. Call or send a photo first so we can book a time. Or call us on 0207 060 3666 Unit 1, 38 Crown Road, Enfield, EN1 1TH · Mon-Fri 8am-6pm · Sat 8am-1pm
Contact
Get a free photo quote
Phone
020 7060 3666
WhatsApp
+447512308716
Address
Unit 1, 38 Crown Road
Enfield
EN1 1TH
Enfield
EN1 1TH