How to Fix a Dent in a Car

Oh no! A dastardly rock or other debris has caused a small dent, or perhaps a scratch, in your otherwise gorgeous vehicle. Never to worry, the team at Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission is here to help in two ways! On one hand, we’ve got some excellent at home masking and fixes for your small scratches and dents — and on the other, we’ve got you covered with a full service detail department that’s trained to take care of dents and scratches, no problem! Keep reading to discover those tips, or contact us via our online portal if you have any questions.

DIY — How to Fix Scratches on Car

If you have a smaller sized scratch on your vehicle, you may be able to take care of it on your own with some rubbing compound or polish, which we’ll cover last in this section. However, in most cases, to truly disguise a scratch you’ll want the help of a professional like the team at Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission’s Collision Center.

Temporarily Fix Scratches on Car:

• Candle Wax – By no means a permanent solution, a small bit of candle wax will seal a scratch for long enough to get it in front of a professional. Gently rub the wax over the cleaned area to seal the scratch.
• Super Glue – Like candle wax, this helps seal the scratch temporarily and blends with the vehicle masking the damage slightly. If you decide to have the scratch professionally treated later, they should have adhesive remover on hand to remove the superglue.

Advanced Fixes for Scratches on Car:

• Paint Polish or Rubbing Compound – If you’re doing paint correction, such as repairing a scratch, it’s always best to use the least aggressive solution first. Start by using a light polish with a less-abrasive foam pad first, then move on to a rubbing compound if the scratch is still present. ONLY if polishing doesn’t work do we recommend the wet sandpaper step, which we’ll cover next.
• Wet Sandpaper – Shallow surface scratches can typically be removed with a light rubbing of 2000-grit wet sandpaper. Once it’s at a point where the scratch is almost too hard to see, apply a rubbing compound followed by polish, and then a wax or paint sealant for protection.
• Touch-Up Paint: Usually available at service centers like ours, this fix helps hide deeper scratches by using a matching paint color to fill in the missing paint and clearcoat.

DIY — How to Fix a Small Dent in a Car

A ding or dent can be an eyesore, especially in the few days after you first notice it’s there. Get ahead of the problem by trying one of these simple dent fixes at home before bringing in your vehicle for assistance:

• Plunger – Whether it’s the plunger from your bathroom or an actual car-dent plunger, using this tool can pop the dent out with several attempts or so.
• Hammer or Mallet – Using one of these on the opposite side of the dent can help knock the spot back into place.

Trust the Hendrick Chevrolet Shawnee Mission Collision Center

There’s no shame in admitting the need for a little help — sometimes it’s a pain to get paint to come out just right after a scratch or dent, even a small one of either! Give us a call at (913) 305-3320 or visit the online home of our service and repair team to learn more.