4 min read
It depends entirely on whether the paint film is intact. Automotive paint is layered: primer, colour, then lacquer. If damage stops inside the lacquer, it can often be corrected without spraying. If it has cut through to colour, primer or bare metal, refinishing is the only lasting fix.
Repairable without paint
- Light scratches you cannot feel with a fingernail — usually polished out
- Scuffs and paint transfer from another vehicle or a wall
- Smooth, shallow dents with unbroken paint — paintless dent removal
- Swirl marks and wash damage
Paint required
- Scratches that catch a fingernail or show white primer or bare metal
- Creased or stretched dents, or dents on a panel edge or body line
- Any damage showing rust — repainting is the only way to stop it spreading
- Cracked or flaking lacquer
Why the honest answer matters
Touch-up pens and polish on damage that has broken through the paint hide the problem for a few months, then moisture reaches the metal and a cheap cosmetic job becomes a corrosion repair.
We will always tell you when a repair can be done without spraying — it costs you less and takes less time. We will also tell you plainly when it cannot.