Keyed Car Repair Cost: How Much to Fix a Keyed Car?

Finding a long scratch down the side of your car is infuriating, and the first question is usually what it will cost to fix. The answer depends almost entirely on how deep the key went and how many panels it crossed. Here is how body shops price keyed car repair, what you can fix yourself and when it makes sense to call your insurer.

Typical Keyed Car Repair Costs

• Clear coat only (you can't catch a fingernail in it): often $150 to $400 to polish out, sometimes less if it is short.
• Into the color coat on one panel: roughly $400 to $1,000 for sanding, refinishing and blending the panel.
• Down to primer or bare metal across several panels: commonly $1,000 to $3,000 or more, because each panel is refinished and blended, and some vehicles need trim, handles and mirrors removed.

These are typical ranges, not a quote. Color and vehicle matter: pearl and tri-coat colors, matte finishes and luxury or EV models cost more to refinish. A free inspection gives you an exact price; you can also send photos through our online estimate form.

How to Tell How Deep the Scratch Is

1. Fingernail test: run a fingernail lightly across the scratch. If it doesn't catch, it is probably only in the clear coat.
2. Look at the color in the groove: the same color as the car usually means color coat; white or gray means primer; shiny silver means bare metal.
3. Wet it: if the scratch nearly disappears when wet, it is shallow and may polish out.

Can You Fix a Keyed Car Yourself?

Very light clear-coat scratches can often be improved with a quality polishing compound by hand. Touch-up pens can hide small chips but rarely look good on a long key line, and sanding through clear coat at home can make the repair more expensive. Once the scratch reaches primer or metal it should be repaired professionally before it starts to rust. For more, read when you can fix a scratch yourself.

Does Insurance Cover a Keyed Car?

Keying is vandalism, which is usually covered under the comprehensive part of an auto policy, not collision. You pay your comprehensive deductible. If the repair costs only a little more than your deductible, paying yourself may make more sense. Filing a police report helps support the claim. We work directly with insurers through our insurance claim assistance, and our guide on claiming vs paying out of pocket can help you decide.

How We Repair Keyed Cars

1. Measure paint thickness to see how much clear coat is left.
2. Polish out what can be polished; wet-sand and refinish what can't.
3. Read your paint code and computer-match the color, then blend into neighboring panels so the repair can't be seen.
4. Cure in a heated downdraft booth and finish with a final polish.

Our car scratch repair and paint shop work is covered by a lifetime warranty. Visit us in North Hollywood, Van Nuys or Venice.

Related Services & Guides

• Car scratch repair in Los Angeles
• Car paint shop & color matching
• Cost to paint a car in Los Angeles
• Do auto body shops fix scratches?
• Bumper scratch repair costs
• Fix vs replace: car scratches
• Paint & rock chip repair
• Insurance claim assistance

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