Scratch Repair in Mitcham, South London
Not every scratch needs a full respray. We'll assess the depth, explain the options, and give you a fixed price — before we touch it.
The Frustrating Thing About Scratches
Scratches are one of the most common reasons people bring their car to us. And one of the most frustrating — because they're often impossible to assess accurately from a photo. A scratch that looks deep in a photograph might be a surface-level clear coat mark that polishes out in 20 minutes. A scratch that looks minor might have gone through to the primer and started to rust underneath.
You genuinely need to see it in person. And that's exactly what we do. At IQ Tyres in Mitcham, we assess every scratch before recommending a repair. We'll tell you the depth of the damage, the repair approach we'd use, and the fixed price. If it's something you can address yourself with a touch-up pen, we'll tell you that too.
Our goal is to give you the right information, not to sell you a repair you don't need. If a scratch is clear coat level and polishes out, we'll tell you. If it's reached primer and needs urgent attention before rust sets in, we'll tell you that too — and explain why.
Scratches We See Every Week
- A key scratch running the length of a door that catches the light
- Car wash swirl marks visible across the bonnet in direct sunlight
- A reversing scratch on the rear bumper from a car park post
- Hedge or branch scratches along the side from a narrow lane
- A scratch you've been ignoring because you assumed it was expensive
Understanding Scratch Depth — Why It Changes Everything
Modern vehicle paint is applied in layers. Which layers a scratch has penetrated determines the repair approach entirely.
Clear Coat Only
Low urgencyThe outermost transparent protective layer. Appears white or silver at an angle. Can often be polished out with machine polishing compounds — no paint required.
Colour Coat
Moderate urgencyThe pigmented layer beneath the clear coat. The scratch shows the paint colour on its edges. Requires touch-up paint or a localised respray to repair properly.
Primer
Act soonThe grey or white adhesion layer beneath the colour coat. Primer is porous and absorbs moisture — a scratch to primer will begin to rust within weeks in wet conditions.
Bare Metal
Act immediatelyThe deepest category. Bare metal rusts rapidly, and rust spreads under surrounding paint, lifting it from the surface. A small scratch can become a large rust patch within months.
The outermost layer — the clear coat — is a transparent protective layer that gives the paint its gloss and protects the colour beneath from UV damage and environmental contamination. A scratch that only affects the clear coat appears white or silver when you look at it at an angle, because you're seeing refracted light through the damaged clear coat rather than the colour beneath. These scratches can often be polished out using machine polishing compounds.
Beneath the clear coat is the colour coat — the pigmented layer that gives your car its colour. A scratch that reaches the colour coat will show the paint colour on the edges of the scratch. These require touch-up paint or a localised respray. Beneath that is the primer — a grey or white layer that provides adhesion between the metal and the paint. Primer is porous. Left exposed to moisture, it begins to rust within weeks.
The Scratches We See Most Often
Each type of scratch has a different cause, depth profile, and repair approach.
Key Scratches
Deliberate damage running the full length of a door or panel. Typically reaches colour coat or primer, requiring a localised respray and blending. The length of the scratch means more panel area needs addressing — but the result is clean and invisible.
Car Wash Swirl Marks
Fine swirl marks across the entire painted surface from automatic brushes. Typically clear coat level and respond well to machine polishing. The result is a noticeably improved finish across the whole car, not just the scratched areas.
Reversing Scratches
Concentrated on the rear bumper or corner panels from posts, bollards, or other vehicles. Bumpers are plastic, which behaves differently from metal panels — the repair technique differs but the result is equally effective.
Hedge and Branch Scratches
Multiple fine scratches across the side of the vehicle from narrow South London residential lanes. Often at clear coat level, addressed effectively with machine polishing and localised touch-up for any deeper marks.
Scratch Repair Pricing
Assessed individually. Fixed price before we start. No surprises.
Surface clear coat scratches that can be polished out are priced at the lower end. Deep scratches requiring primer, colour coat, and blending are priced higher. We assess and quote before starting — no obligation.
Repair Approaches:
- Machine polishing for clear coat scratches
- Touch-up paint for minor colour coat damage
- Localised respray for deeper scratches
- Full panel respray for extensive damage
Always Included:
- Free assessment and fixed quote
- Colour match using your vehicle's paint code
- Professional blending into surrounding panel
- Clear coat protection on repaired area
When to Get That Scratch Repaired
Scratches that reach primer or metal don't get better with time — they get worse and more expensive.
Scratch reaches primer or metal
Act immediatelyPrimer absorbs moisture and begins to rust within weeks. Bare metal can develop visible rust within days in wet weather. Every week of delay increases the repair complexity and cost.
Pre-sale or part-exchange
Before valuationScratches reduce trade-in value significantly. A £150 scratch repair can recover £300–£600 in resale value depending on the vehicle and scratch location.
Insurance claim consideration
Get assessed firstMany scratches cost less to repair privately than an insurance excess. Get a fixed quote first — you may find it's cheaper to pay directly and protect your no-claims bonus.
Lease return approaching
Before inspectionLease companies charge for scratches at return at their own rates, which are typically higher than independent repair costs. Sorting scratches beforehand almost always saves money.
The Mistake That Makes Scratches More Expensive
Applying touch-up paint from a pen to a scratch that actually needs machine polishing. Touch-up paint is thicker than the surrounding paint and leaves a visible raised edge that catches the light. Once applied, it's harder to polish out than the original scratch. If you're unsure whether your scratch needs polishing or touch-up, bring it in for a free assessment before doing anything yourself.
Our Approach to Scratch Repair
Honest assessment, fixed pricing, and a result you won't be able to find.
Depth Assessment First
We assess every scratch before recommending anything. If it's clear coat level and polishes out, we'll tell you — and show you the result before you pay.
Exact Colour Matching
We use your vehicle's paint code to mix an exact colour match. Modern metallic and pearlescent paints require precise mixing — we don't guess.
Blending, Not Patching
A repair that's visible is a repair that's failed. We blend every localised respray into the surrounding panel so the transition is invisible.
Ready to Get That Scratch Sorted?
Bring your vehicle to IQ Tyres in Mitcham. We'll assess the scratch depth, explain the repair options, and give you a fixed price — in under 10 minutes. We're easy to reach from Croydon, Wimbledon, Tooting, and Streatham.
IQ Tyres · Mitcham, South London · Mon–Sat 8am–6pm