Will polishing remove scratches?
Quick answer: Polishing can remove light scratches in the clear coat and make deeper marks far less visible by rounding their edges. If a scratch catches your fingernail or you can see primer/metal, polishing won’t fully fix it—touch-up, sanding or repainting may be required. Expect a big improvement, not always perfection.
p>The short answer is yes, but it depends on the type and depth of the scratch. Polishing removes scratches by removing the upper most layer of paintwork which contains the scratches, levelling the surface so the scratch effectively disappears. . Very fine scratches such as a swirl from washing, a bird dropping etch, or someone brushing against the paint with a bag, might only penetrate a few microns into the paintwork, and so if we remove a few microns, the scratches will also vanish.
However, very deep scratches which have penetrated the clear coat cannot be polished out.
But if the scratch has gone deeper — through the clear coat and into the colour layer or even down to the primer — then no amount of polishing will remove it. These will require repair-and-repaint or, at the very least, a cosmetic repair. You can make it less obvious, but the only real fix is touch-up paint or refinishing.
So, polishing is brilliant for the everyday marks that make your car look tired, but it’s not a miracle cure for deep gouges. Knowing the difference saves a lot of disappointment.
Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 05/01/2026 17:09
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Services
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🔥🔷 Car Polishing
We machine polish away wash marks, light scratches and dull paintwork, buffing it to a high shine and making your car look like new, or even better. -
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Restore deep gloss and long-lasting protection with professional ceramic coating for your car paintwork, shielding against swirl marks, UV fading, dirt and winter road salt.