Scratch identification
Scrapes and Multiple Scratches
A scrape may cover one wide patch or several separate lines. Check the whole area before choosing a pen, bottle, or spray.
What am I looking at?
Look for the number of marks, their spread, and any missing color. A broad scuff can look like several scratches in one photo.
How can I check?
Clean the area and inspect each mark in good light. Check whether color is missing and whether the surface feels rough. A photo cannot show the depth of every line.
Can I repair it myself?
Small isolated marks can be manageable at home. A broad panel repair needs more preparation and practice. Ask for help when the area is large, dented, rusty, or hard to judge.
What products and method fit?
A matched pen or bottle kit can suit small separate spots. A wider area may need a spray kit. The listed kits include primer, color, clearcoat, and cutting creme. Check whether your repair also needs cleaner, sandpaper, or masking supplies, and read the directions.
Real examples
Several separate marks in the gallery pen example
What the photo shows: The gallery calls this multiple scratches. This view shows more than one mark, but it does not establish the depth of each line.
What to do next: Check each mark. Small missing-color spots may suit a pen; a broad damaged area may need a different method. Find the paint code before ordering.
Broad area in the gallery spray example
What the photo shows: The gallery calls this a multi-panel respray. The before photo gives a wider comparison for damage spread across an area; it does not confirm every mark is a scratch.
What to do next: A broad repair may call for spray painting and careful preparation. See the spray kit and directions, or ask a body shop when the area is large or uncertain.
Need a next step?
Find your vehicle color before ordering paint. If you are unsure what the photo shows, ask PaintScratch for help.