What Does It Look Like When Someone Keys Your Car?

Reviewed by

Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Technical Reviewer at CarParts.com

Written by CarParts.com Research Team - Updated on July 4th, 2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes
Summary
  • Deliberate paint scratches will be long and more or less straight, and will feel fairly even with your hand.
  • Compared to clear coat scratches, color coat scratches typically penetrate the car paint a bit more, removing color.
Paint scratch made by keying a car | Image Source: Richard McCuistian

Usually, paint scratch done deliberately will be long and more or less straight and will be fairly even with your hand or will perhaps be on the hood or the trunk.

Color coat scratches are typically visible when someone keys your car. Compared to clear coat scratches, color coat scratches typically penetrate the car paint a bit more, removing color and paint even down to the bare metal.

Because it’s likely that deep gouges can form after your car has been keyed, resolving the issue typically involves sanding the scratched area or applying an abrasive compound.

Once the area has been sanded down, you’ll need to apply touch-up paint, buff and polish the area, and apply a clear coat before proceeding to wax your car.

You’ll also find tons of scratch repair kits that have everything you need to get the job done.

Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.

Pro Tip: If you’re creative, you might even be able to cover the scratch with pinstripe tape, depending on the shape and location of the scratch.

Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.

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Published by
CarParts.com Research Team and Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
Tags: hood