Do ceramic coatings fill scratches?

Ceramic coatings do not fill in scratches. Ceramic coatings are very thin and optically clear, so they do nothing at all to hide scratches.

This is why it is essential to prepare the car before application, polishing away any wash marks and buffing out scratches with paintwork correction. A ceramic coating will seal in the condition of the paintwork as it is, which why we spend so much time making your car's paintwork perfect before application.

Other coatings are thicker, and many waxes contain fillers and diffusers to hide micro-scratches, by diffusing the light, so they aren't so easy to see. But ceramic coatings aren't like waxes, they soak into the porous  surface of the paintwork and coat it with a layer which is only molecules thick. This is extremely tough and\ will help reduce the risk of scratching in the future, so once your car is polished, within reason, it will help it stay looking polished.

What it is

A ceramic coating is a professionally applied, microns-thin, semi-permanent film on your clear coat. It improves chemical and UV resistance and makes washing easier, but it doesn’t add visible thickness or hide defects.

How scratches are really dealt with

There are only two honest outcomes. Light defects are removed by machine polishing that levels the clear coat. Deep scratches that catch a fingernail usually need local paintwork. “Filling” is what waxes and glazes do optically; a ceramic coating isn’t designed to do that.

Where a coating makes sense

• After your installer has corrected the paint, to preserve that finish for years.
• Alongside PPF on high-wear areas if you’re worried about frequent micro-marring.
• When you want easier washing and slower build-up of road film.

What can go wrong – and how to avoid it

• Expecting “scratch-proof”: Marketing myth. Coatings reduce wash marring but don’t heal or fill scratches.
• Locking in defects: Skipping proper correction means the coating seals what’s there. Your installer will perfect the finish first.
• Filler-heavy polishes under a coating: Oils and fillers can hinder bonding; professionals panel-wipe to ensure a clean surface.
• Trusted Brands: Use accredited professionals with recognised systems.

Removal and reversibility

Ceramic coatings are semi-permanent. They aren’t stripped with solvents, caustics or acids. If you ever need to reset the finish, a professional will use abrasion – machine polishing and, if needed, wet-sanding – then re-coat.

Best-practice checklist

• Only choose a trusted, accredited installer and a recognised coating range.
• Prioritise paint correction – that’s what removes light scratches and creates the gloss.
• Follow sensible maintenance methods to minimise new wash-marring.

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 04/11/2025 14:24