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Best Stuff To Get Scratches Out Of Cars – Editorial note: This content was researched and produced by the expert review team. Links in this article may allow us to earn a commission but do not impact our advice or recommendations. Learn more
Aidan Pounder is a product tester who has written reviews ranging from tonneau covers to roof cargo boxes. If he’s not putting all the effort into the clutch of his 2003 Ford Focus Zx3, you’ll find him up to date with the latest happenings in the world of European football.
Best Stuff To Get Scratches Out Of Cars
Every car probably has a scratch or two from being damaged in a parking lot or scraped by the garage door as you enter it. These scratches can build up and detract from the visual appeal of your favorite vehicle. They can also allow water damage or rust to set in and result in a costly repair bill. With a car scratch remover, you can treat these stains and make your car look like new again.
Car Scratch Remover, 1/2pc Car Scratch Repair Wax 60ml Remove Scratches Paint Car Body Care Liquid
The car anti-scratch products featured in this article have gone through two rounds of reviews. We started by researching the best products from retailers like Amazon, RealTruck, and Advance Auto Parts, looking at factors like application methods, types of remover, customer reviews, and pricing.
Our product testing team then ordered the car anti-scratch products that best met these standards. A team member tested each product on one of our test vehicles, rating how easy the car scratch remover was to use, how effective it was, and whether it left any residue.
One of our team members had scraped his car against a cement pillar in a parking lot before testing. This gave us a perfect test vehicle that simulated the type of damage often seen on daily drivers’ vehicles. The scratch was significant enough to test all five products as there were scratches on the door and corner of the front bumper.
Each car scratch remover product received a 5.0 star rating based on ease of use, effectiveness, and remaining residue.
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Our review team has done extensive research on the most popular car scratch remover products on auto enthusiast discussion forums as well as sites like Amazon. We looked for products with positive customer reviews that are known to easily and effectively remove minor scratches from vehicles.
We then ordered several car scratch removers from different brands and at different prices to test them.
Before testing, we carefully washed the car scratches to remove any dust or residue from the cement pillar. We then used a cordless drill and a single type of polishing pad to test each of the products (except the 3M Scratch Removal System, which came with the pads).
Most of the scratches on our test car were deep. DIY car scratch remover products are only intended to resurface the top layer of clear coat, not to fill deep scratches. You will see that some scratches are still visible after the test. However, the products removed most, if not all, of the minor scratches on the vehicle.
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After using each car scratch remover product according to the instructions provided, we evaluated the ease of use, overall effectiveness of each product, and the amount of residue remaining after use.
Some car scratch removers are easier to use than others. For a particular product, could we easily understand how to use it and apply the correct technique? Did the product require intense rubbing or just a few wrist movements to apply? Simple, fast-acting car scratch removers performed best in this category.
What types of scratches did the product remove and how does the car look afterward? We measured effectiveness by rating how well (or how well) each product hid the scratches. We tested each remover on car scratches of varying depths hoping that these products would not remove deeper scratches.
Car scratch removers tend to leave residue after the polishing process. How much product did it leave behind and make the car difficult to clean? Products that left the least residue or streaks performed best in this category.
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Every year we test more than 350 automotive products on vehicles and in our test laboratory. Our team of product testers thoroughly researches the best products, unboxes and gets their hands on every component, and tests the items on real vehicles before making recommendations to readers.
We publish hundreds of product and service reviews to provide car enthusiasts with in-depth guides to automotive tools, detailing kits, car seats, pet products and much more. For more information about our testing methodology and how we evaluate each product, see our methodology page here.
After testing several options that vary in price, we have determined that Meguiar Car Scratch Remover is among the best options in terms of cost and effectiveness. That said, our other recommendations are also effective anti-scratch products that some may prefer depending on your time, budget, and vehicle.
*As cost data fluctuates, prices shown in the table above are approximate values that our team updates regularly.
Best Car Scratch Removers, Tested By Experts (2023 Guide)
For those interested in learning more, we have provided a detailed review of each of the best car scratch removers in the sections below:
Meguiar Car Scratch Remover takes the top spot due to its versatility and affordability. It removes all kinds of paint imperfections, including scratches and swirls. You can also apply it over any paint finish using your hands, a polisher or a pad.
The product costs about half of what other brands charge. It even comes in an eight-ounce bottle, which means you’ll have enough product to remove several scratches.
We found Meguiar’s to be easy to work with and removed all the small scratches in this area of the car. We tested it in the central area of the photo above. You can see that there are significantly fewer scratches on the door and the remaining scratches are less visible. Again, many of the scratches on our test vehicle were too deep for DIY car scratch removal products to heal.
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Customers are pleased with how Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze Ultra-Cut Compound removes shallow and moderate scratches. Customers even say it leaves cars polished, suggesting it contains wax to match the rest of the car’s shine. However, some reviewers complain that this product is difficult to remove once you’re done polishing it.
This is one of two car anti-scratch kits featured in this review. It comes with a bottle of liquid and a tampon pad. The application process is simple and only requires putting a little liquid on the pad and buffing it over the scratch.
In addition to removing scratches on any paint finish or color, it restores paint, making it look shiny and new.
We found that the Carfidant Ultimate Scratch & Swirl Remover removed most scratches quite well. This product also left a nice shine on the surface of the car. That said, you can see that the product failed to remove all the scratches. Most of these scratches penetrated the paint layer below the clear coat.
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Users say that the Carfidant Ultimate Scratch & Swirl Remover removes light scratches and scuffs. Some customers even say it has exceeded their expectations and softened or eliminated deeper scratches that they thought would require professional work. Some complain that the polish only lasts until the car gets wet. After that, the scratch would reappear.
This 4.0 ounce mini bottle of Shine Armor Revive Scratch Repair & Swirl Remover is perfect for the car owner who only needs to treat a few spots. It treats scratches as well as other imperfections, such as swirls, water spots and oxidization.
This product is also wax and filler free, meaning you can treat the stain just once without having to worry about the repair fading over time.
Ouch. This part of the vehicle suffered the deepest scratches from the cement post, and Shine Armor scratch remover had its work cut out for it. You can see that the gouge goes through all the layers of clear coat and paint to get to the metal underneath.
Remove Car Scratches & Swirl Marks
Overall, Shine Armor Revive Scratch Repair & Swirl Remover did a great job removing small and moderate scratches on the vehicle. For some reason the liquid itself was the easiest to use and squeeze onto the polishing pad. It is possible that the smaller bottle makes handling easier.
Customers say that the Shine Armor Revive Scratch Repair & Swirl Remover removes minor scratches and that deeper scratches are only visible if you look closely. They report that it works best when used with Shine Armor’s Fortify Quick Coat. Some customers say it’s too expensive, especially compared to other car scratch removers that are more effective.
This kit is a little more complicated than Carfidant’s, but it gives you all the necessary tools and detailed instructions to guide you through the process. The 3M Scratch Removal System comes with scratch remover fluid, rubbing compound, two scrubbers, sandpaper and a pad.
This kit is ideal for light damage and will remove scratches, scuffs and other marks on the paint surface.
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Above you can see that the 3M Scratch Removal System has made
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