Recommendations for someone to fix scratch on car door
 

My wife slipped and fell (not hurt, fortunately) and left a lengthy but shallow scratch on on the side of the car from the keys in her hand. I've seen a lot of advertisements for miracle products claiming to fix scratches like that but the reviews on the products are nearly all negative. Can anybody recommend a shop in the area that can fix this without having to do a full paint job on the car?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

The miracle products are not worth buying. And, most dent repair guys only do paintless repairs and don't paint the metal panels. But, any body shop will sand and repaint a single panel on the car, but it won't be cheap. The Car Guys are good. I think they have 2 locations on Rt 441.

If it's a very light scratch , you can buy a small tin of buffing compound and wipe it on and buff it out. That works pretty well. The buffing compound can also be used on older yellowing headlight lenses (since they're cheap plastic and not glass any longer).

If that doesn't work, it'll be like your first reply said, a body shop can paint a panel but probably not as cheap as it should be. I used to work in a body shop and when the manager was out to lunch or wherever, I did quotes. When he complimented me on the accuracy, I told him that I just gave it a real estimate in my mind - then multiplied by 3 !!!

I'm glad you're wife didn't get hurt.

I called the CarGuys for a small repair and they told me they only do insurance work.

Thanks. That must be a new policy. Another option is Phil's in Leesburg.

Try this guy, see if he can help you. He did some work for me about 3 years ago - I don’t know if he is still in business. I was happy and he did the work at my house.

Bumper Man - Marc Lefebvre - 352.753.2240 home. 704.785.7993 cell.

I put myself thru college via my own auto detail shop. If the scratch is shallow like you say; just take a toothbrush and clean the scratch from all debris, if any, and rub automotive COLORED wax from a local Auto Zone or Advance car parts store matching your car color. Unless it is a show car, it should work for an every day commuter. They only have a few colors but the base colors work fine to fill up the little "ditch/scratch".

I forgot. The "miracle products" usually showcased doing half of a car hood in a junkyard are just silicone based liquid which is just like wiping oil of some sort onto a panel which makes it shine until it dries completely and any painting afterward will never stick to it unless you strip to the metal and start all over. Never, never use these.

Try Total Recon in Leesburg, 352-535-0299. They asked me to bring the exact touch up paint for you specific car which you can order at the dealer or online. Since you described the scratch as shallow they should be able to do a good job. My 4" scratch was deep through the clear coat and I can still see the scratch. The cost should be around $100.

Central FL Collision. Belleview. Good work, reasonable $

Also Bo's in Bellevue and Ocala

Watch out for "fake" villagers here recommending their own shops.

I have never had any success repairing minor defects on a car body. Unless the scratches are very shallow and can be buffed out without painting, I don't think you will be happy with the results from someone who comes to your house, especially for a car door. Bumpers are easier to paint because they are plastic and don't have the same kind of shiny finish as the metal panels on a car. Also, over time, a paint repair may fade differently with exposure to the sun. If the car is relatively new, I would spend the extra money and get it done at a real body shop. My opinion.

Community collision in Leesburg

Definitely call the Bumper Man. See prior posting. He made my 2010 mini-van look new. He is reasonable.