Guide

Deep scratches and rust: what touch-up paint can fix

An honest look at what you can repair yourself, how to handle bare metal and rust, and when a panel needs a body shop.

2 min readUpdated October 2026

Touch-up paint is made for chips and scratches. It is not a replacement for a body shop on every kind of damage. Here is an honest look at what you can fix yourself and what needs more.

What touch-up paint fixes well

  • Stone chips on the hood, bumper, mirrors and door edges
  • Scratches that reach the color layer, from keys, bushes or bags
  • Small scuffs on door edges and around door handles

For these, a careful repair with the right color is very hard to spot from normal viewing distance.

Scratches down to primer or metal

If the scratch shows grey, white or beige primer, you can still touch it up. Fill it in more thin layers than usual and give each one time to dry. The repair will take longer, but the method is the same.

If you see bare metal, it needs protecting before color goes on. Clean it, make sure it is completely dry, and apply a thin coat of automotive touch-up primer. Then continue with color and clear coat. Bare metal left without primer will rust under the paint.

Rust in a stone chip or scratch

Paint over rust does not stop it. Before you touch up:

  1. Remove the rustUse a fine abrasive pen, a small piece of fine sandpaper or the tip of a blade to take the rust out of the damaged spot until you see clean metal.
  2. CleanWipe away the dust with a cloth and a little degreaser. Let it dry.
  3. PrimeApply a thin coat of automotive primer to the bare metal only.
  4. Color and clear coatContinue as with any small repair: thin layers of color, then clear coat after 24 hours.

If rust has bubbled the paint around the damage, or you can push through the metal, the panel needs a body shop. Touch-up can't fix corrosion under the surface.

When to go to a body shop

  • Dents, creases or cracks in the panel, even if the paint looks fine
  • Damage larger than a coin, or long scratches across several panels
  • Paint peeling in sheets, or clear coat flaking over a wide area
  • Rust that has spread under the paint

Start with the right color

Whatever the damage, the repair only blends in if the color matches. Use your car's paint code: it is on the paint plate, usually in the driver's door jamb. Find your code, then follow our chip guide or scratch guide.

More guides

How to fix paint chips on your carStone chips are the easiest paint repair you can do at home. What you need, the steps, and the mistakes that make a repair stand out.How to fix a car scratch with touch-up paintUse the fingernail test to see how deep a scratch goes, then fix it with the right method: polish, touch-up paint, or more.Paint code vs. VIN: which one do you need?Your VIN identifies the car, your paint code identifies the color. How to use both to order the right paint.