{"id":173620,"date":"2025-07-04T19:06:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-05T02:06:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?p=173620"},"modified":"2025-07-04T19:06:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-05T02:06:06","slug":"what-does-it-look-like-when-someone-keys-your-car","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-it-look-like-when-someone-keys-your-car\/","title":{"rendered":"What Does It Look Like When Someone Keys Your Car?"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column173620_aed708-29{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column173620_aed708-29 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column173620_aed708-29 inner-column-1 qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-51e713  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-2359b6\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading173620_5bac91-0c\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Deliberate paint scratches will be long and more or less straight, and will feel fairly even with your hand.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Compared to clear coat scratches, color coat scratches typically penetrate the car paint a bit more, removing color.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"642\" height=\"303\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/paint-scratch-from-keying.jpg\" alt=\"paint scratch from keying\" class=\"wp-image-173626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/paint-scratch-from-keying.jpg 642w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/paint-scratch-from-keying-300x142.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/paint-scratch-from-keying-640x303.jpg 640w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/paint-scratch-from-keying-150x71.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 642px) 100vw, 642px\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Paint scratch made by keying a car | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/hood\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"hood\">hood<\/a> or the trunk.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/basic-types-of-car-scratches-can-you-fix-them-yourself\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Color coat scratches\">Color coat scratches<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Because it&rsquo;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the area has been sanded down, you&rsquo;ll need to apply touch-up paint, buff and polish the area, and apply a clear coat before proceeding to wax your car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&rsquo;ll also find tons of scratch repair kits that have everything you need to get the job done.<\/p>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column173620_f4a65c-7b kb-section-dir-vertical kb-section-sm-dir-vertical inner-column-1 pro-tip-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:start;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:start;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-md, 2rem);padding-top:20px;padding-right:32px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:16px;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, calc(10% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)))minmax(0, calc(90% - ((var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem ) * 1 )\/2)));}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.00;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d .kt-row-layout-bottom-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d .kt-row-layout-top-sep{height:100px;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{width:100%;}.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d .kt-row-layout-top-sep svg{fill:#ffffff!important;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id173620_5f95ac-3d > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 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.kt-inside-inner-col{min-height:45px;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{row-gap:0px;column-gap:0px;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}}@media all and (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:wrap;justify-content:flex-start;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > *, .kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-image, .kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > figure.wp-block-kadence-image{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;}.kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{flex-grow:1;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column173620_b62e04-d4 kb-section-dir-horizontal kb-section-md-dir-horizontal inner-column-1 pro-tip-item1\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{max-width:45px;width:100%;}.wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d.kb-image-is-ratio-size, .wp-block-kadence-column > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:unset;}.kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d figure{max-width:45px;}.kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d .image-is-svg, .kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d .image-is-svg img{width:100%;}.kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image173620_d4f0c1-7d\"><figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/f_auto,dpr_auto,q_auto,c_pad\/carparts\/blog\/widgets\/protip\/services-icon\" alt=\"\" class=\"kb-img\"><\/figure><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column173620_7d8e5a-27 inner-column-2 pro-tip-item2\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"protip-desc\">\n\t<div class=\"help-tip\">\n\t\t<p><strong>Pro Tips<\/strong> 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.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n    <div class=\"help-caption\">\n        <p>\n            <strong>Pro Tip:<\/strong>\n            If you&rsquo;re creative, you might even be able to cover the scratch with pinstripe tape, depending on the shape and location of the scratch.\n        <\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/blog\/wordpress_assets\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB_Blue\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 2<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>Usually, paint scratch done deliberately will be long and more or less straight and will be fairly even with your&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-it-look-like-when-someone-keys-your-car\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1651,"featured_media":173626,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3746,52],"tags":[151],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":{"0":"post-173620","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-car-body","8":"category-diy","9":"tag-hood","10":"entry"},"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Does It Look Like When Someone Keys Your Car? - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You\u2019ll know when someone just keyed your car when you can spot this indicator. Read on.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/what-does-it-look-like-when-someone-keys-your-car\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What Does It Look Like When Someone Keys Your Car? - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You\u2019ll know when someone just keyed your car when you can spot this indicator. 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