Car Paint Correction

A cut and polish is a form of paint correction. The cut removes a thin layer of clearcoat along with the scratches and swirls sitting inside it. The polish then refines the surface to restore its gloss and depth. The cutting process can remove damage, but a clearcoat can only be cut back so many times before the paint itself is damaged. That's why we measure the thickness with a paint depth gauge before cutting.

A polish works on the surface of your car and restores gloss without removing the clearcoat. A cut removes a layer of it to take scratches and swirls out. Sometimes, a polish can do the job and there's no need to cut the paint, which is why an assessment is important.

Yes, paint correction can remove scratches and swirls sitting within the clearcoat, which covers most light marks. Anything that has gone through the clearcoat to the colour underneath cannot be polished out. Our team can assess the paint under multiple light sources first, so you know which of your marks will come out and which won't.

A cut and polish can start from $120 and go up to $800. We include this service in our Ultimate Detail package, which starts from $450 and also covers a full interior and exterior detail plus the engine bay. For most cars, particularly ones being prepared for sale, that package is better value than standalone correction.

Experts generally recommend no more than two cuts and polishes in a car's lifetime. This depends on how much clearcoat the car started with and how much has already been removed. The best way to think about this is to avoid cutting and polishing entirely by installing paint protection.

Usually, yes. Whatever condition the paint is in when it's coated is the condition that gets sealed in, so applying a coating over swirls and scratches preserves them for as long as the coating lasts. How much correction a car needs depends on what's actually in the clearcoat, which we check with a depth gauge and multi-check lighting.

Any scratches that have gone through the clearcoat need more than paint correction. Clearcoat that has peeled or cracked can't be polished back either, and paint that's already thin has to be left alone. Dents and deep chips will also need a panel shop. We're not panel beaters or spray painters, so if that's what your car needs, we'll tell you and point you toward someone who does it. We also have a network of panel shops we work with so we can get the work done as part of our service.

Yes, we have a free loan car for our customers, depending on availability. Please speak to our team for more information.