DetailerGildeTreatment
Paint correction. What it is, what it costs and who does it
Paint correction is machine polishing that removes a very thin layer of clear coat until scratches and swirls are gone. It removes, it does not add: without a protective layer afterwards the marks come back.
- From
- € 295
- Up to
- € 1.800
- Time without your car
- 1 to 2 days
How it works
Paint correction: what happens step by step
- 01
Wash, decontaminate, clay
Every particle left behind gets dragged through the paint by the first pass. Fallout is dissolved chemically rather than rubbed away.
- 02
Measure the paint
At several points per panel. Clear coat is usually around fifty microns and every correction takes a few of those. This decides how hard anyone may work.
- 03
Assess under light
With an inspection lamp, in the dark. Fine circles are wash swirls. Straight grooves came from somewhere else and need a different approach.
- 04
Correct
Machine polishing in one or more stages, wiping down and reassessing in between. Working on without checking is how people go through the paint.
- 05
Refine and protect
A finer stage removes the marks left by the correction itself, otherwise you have traded scratches for haze. Then a protective layer.
What it costs
Paint correction prices: what it costs at each level
Every level includes the one before it. The difference in price is not margin, it is the number of steps. All amounts exclude VAT.
- Single stagefrom€ 295to € 550
For paint that is mainly dull, with light swirls and few deep scratches.
Takes 1 day - Two stagefrom€ 550to € 800
For dark paint where the swirls genuinely have to come out.
Takes 2 to 3 days - Three stagefrom€ 800to € 1.800
For a car where the paint has to go back as far as the thickness allows.
Takes 3 to 5 days
Frequently asked
What does paint correction cost in the Netherlands?
A single stage starts at €295 excluding VAT, two stages at €550, three stages at €800 and up to €1,800 for a full car. What you need depends on what is in the paint, not on what you want to spend.
How often can a car be corrected?
Clear coat is usually around fifty microns and each correction removes a few. Three to five times in a car's life is realistic. That is why a specialist measures first and sometimes says no.
Will all scratches come out?
No. If your fingernail catches in the scratch it has gone through the clear coat, and polishing will not remove it. At that point working on is harmful rather than useful, and we say so.
Does polishing protect the paint?
No, and this is the most common misunderstanding. Polishing removes. Without a coating or sealant afterwards the first swirls are back within a few washes.