Michael Simari is a car driver.
Yeah, uh-oh You might have found a scratch on your vehicle if you’re here. Maybe it was a shopping cart, a bike in the garage, or a tree branch that reached out too far. Don’t worry! There are over-the-counter scratch removers that you can buy for cheap.
A light scratch that stretched along the entire passenger’s side was the result of a bit of foliage. We decided to do a side-by-side comparison of some popular car scratch removal products. How did they fare?
Our Top Picks
Will these products take out all scratches?
It is not possible to say yes. The scratch-remover products are designed to repair scratches. When the clear coat is damaged, these can happen. If a scratch is too deep, it will need a professional fix. If your nail gets hung up in the valley of the scratch, these products aren’t going to take care of the problem.
A scratch removal company uses abrasives to smooth the jagged edges of a scratch, then blends the clear coat together to fill the valley until the scratch is no longer visible. It is possible for heavier-duty scratch removers to get down into the primer coat. The Ram TRX is a loaner vehicle and we wanted the test to be as simple as possible.
We taped off seven sections of the scratch on the TRX to see which car scratch removal was the best. We rubbed each compound for 30 seconds. The majority of the removers required rubbing in the compound with a microfiber cloth. We tested the best car scratch removal products.
The best car vacuums were tested.
It was the best overall.
Meguiar’s Scratch Eraser Kit
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The kit worked so well that we decided to take the sections that didn’t work out so well.
The best results.
Turtle Wax Premium Scratch Repair Kit
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After the third pass, there were audible wows from our testing team.
The best one-step product.
Formula 1 Scratch Out
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This stuff can be used as a one-step scratch removal.
Mentioned as an honorable mention.
Meguiar’s Scratch X
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This bottle can be used as a refill for the Meguiar’s Scratch Eraser Kit.
Mentioned as an honorable mention.
Turtle Wax Scratch Repair & Renew
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The picture shows the scratch is gone but the blemish is still there. It wasn’t easy to get it on the body panel.
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This stuff doesn’t spread out evenly. The inconsistent performance of the Nu Finish Scratch Doctor is a result of the runniness.
Quixx Paint Scratch Remover
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The results didn’t match the amount of steps we had to take.
How We Tested Car Scratch Removers
We taped off sections of a deep light scratch along the passenger’s side of a Ram 1500 in order to test the scratch removal products.
We did three 30-second passes over the section to see the results. Each product’s instructions were followed by us. We observed smells, consistency, and other things.
We took performance, ease of use, speed, and price into account. We are certain that each car scratch removal was judged equally.
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We were asking the same question. Is it a decision? Absolutely! Some. Only in a few instances. It is possible to repair scratches in your car’s clear coat. The one in our test was very light.
What is the best scratch remover for cars?
The Meguiar’s Scratch Eraser Kit is our choice for the best of both worlds. The Turtle Wax Premium Scratch Repair Kit is better for removing light scratches.
Can a detailer buff out scratches?
For a price and occasionally. We wanted to know if these products could remove scratches in our garage. If you don’t want to attempt to remove a scratch yourself, detailers are a good option.
Can I use WD-40, toothpaste, or a Magic Eraser to remove scratches?
Not close to what a scratch removal kit can do. If you try to repair a scratch with household items, you’ll end up spending more money in the long run. We don’t suggest you try it.
Why trust us?
Car and Driver is one of the most influential automotive magazines in the world. With the legacies of Autoweek, Car and Driver, and Road and Track behind us, the Hearst autos gear team doesn’t need to worry about their bottom line. Our picks and recommendations are based on testing and experience.
This test was done in an environment that provided equal testing procedures for each product. We agreed that our test was fair and legitimate, and gave the most complete information we could get for our picks.
You can read more about our evaluation process here.
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