Detailing & Car Wash
Paint correction near you
Paint correction that machine-polishes swirl marks, light scratches, water spots and oxidation out of the clear coat, then seals the finish.
- Time at the shop
- 6 h
- about
- Mobile service
- Available
- at your address
- Shops in Canada
- 2
- doing this work
- Your price
- You set it
- shops bid on it
You set the budget
Shops near you send their bids
2 shops in Canada do this
Detailing & Car Wash
What paint correction is
Paint correction is machine polishing that removes a thin layer of clear coat to level out the marks in it: swirl marks from automatic washes, light scratches, water spots, bird-dropping etching and dull, oxidized paint. The technician washes and decontaminates the finish, measures the paint thickness, tests pads and polishes on a small area, then works panel by panel, checking under bright light.
Wax only fills; correction removes. One step brings back gloss and clears fine swirls, while two or three steps deal with deeper marks and dark paint. Scratches that catch a fingernail may only be softened, and thin or repainted panels limit how much can be polished. Most jobs take a day, heavy multi-stage work on a large vehicle can take two, and the paint is sealed with wax, a sealant or a coating at the end.
- For cars, EVs, motorcycles, vans and trucks
- Takes about 6 h
- Can be done at your address
What does paint correction cost?
It depends on your vehicle and the shop. Post a job with your budget and compare the bids shops near you send.
Get bids
Name your budget. Shops near you bid.
2 shops across Canada do paint correction.
What to expect
Paint correction, step by step
What the job normally covers, what to mention in your request, and the signs that it is time. Every shop says what its bid includes.
The job
What’s included
- Wash, then iron and tar remover and a clay bar, so no grit is dragged across the paint while polishing
- Paint thickness measured with a gauge on each panel to spot thin or repainted areas
- Trim, rubber seals and badges masked so polish does not stain them
- Test section to choose the pad and polish combination that suits your paint
- Machine polish with a compound, then a finishing polish, for as many stages as the paint needs
- Panels wiped with a prep solution so oils do not hide remaining marks, then checked under LED light
- Wax, sealant or ceramic coating applied to protect the corrected finish, depending on the package
- Walk-around with you to review what was removed and what remains
Checklist
Before you post
- 01Ask how many polishing stages the price covers and what result to expect; no shop can promise every scratch will disappear
- 02Ask whether paint thickness is measured, and how thin, repainted or already-polished panels are handled
- 03Deep scratches and rock chips need touch-up or a repaint; ask whether the shop can price those separately
- 04Confirm what goes on afterwards, wax, sealant or a ceramic coating, and whether it is included in the price
- 05Mobile visit: it needs a shaded or indoor space with power and good light; in winter, ask for a heated shop bay
- 06Ask how to wash the vehicle afterwards; new swirls come from automatic brush washes and dirty towels
Signs
When you need it
- Fine circular swirl marks visible in direct sun or under garage lights
- Dull, hazy or faded paint, especially on the hood and roof
- Water spots or bird-dropping marks etched into the clear coat
- Light scratches and scuffs from parking, door edges or a dirty rag
- Paint that needs preparing before a ceramic coating or film
Sound familiar?Tell shops near you what you need and what you want to spend.
Get bidsHow it works
Get paint correction done in four steps
You set the budget and choose the shop. Posting is free, and you pay the shop you hire once the work is 100% done.
- 01
Post your job
Choose the service, describe the job and your vehicle, and set your budget. It takes two minutes and costs nothing.
- 02
Shops compete
Nearby shops that do the work see your request and send their best offer: price, when they can start, what is included.
- 03
Accept the best offer
Compare bids, ratings and distance, then hire one shop. The others are told, politely.
- 04
Talk and get it done
Your conversation with the shop opens right away to agree on the day. You pay only after the job is complete.
Keep exploring
Related services
Ceramic coating
A liquid ceramic coating cured onto polished paint to form a hard, glossy, water-repelling layer that helps salt, sap and grime rinse off.
Paint protection film
Paint protection film fitted to the front end and other high-wear panels: clear, self-healing urethane that absorbs stone chips, scratches and bug etching.
Car detailing
Car detailing with hand wash, clay bar and wax or sealant outside and a deep vacuum and surface clean inside, for cars, SUVs, vans and trailers.
Collision & Body Work
Scratch repair
Scratch repair for scuffs and stone chips: polished out, touched up or repainted, from light clear coat marks to gouges down to the metal.
Collision & Body Work
Paint repair
Paint repair for faded, peeling or damaged paint on one panel or area: sanded, primed, colour-matched, clear-coated and blended in.
Questions
Questions about paint correction
General answers for drivers in Canada. The shop you hire confirms the details for your vehicle.
What is paint correction, and is it the same as polishing?
Polishing is the method; correction is the goal. A machine and a fine abrasive remove a hair-thin layer of clear coat so scratches, swirls and haze are levelled out instead of filled in. Wax, glaze and cheap scratch removers hide marks for a few washes, whereas correction removes them, provided there is enough clear coat to work with.
Will paint correction remove all my scratches?
Not all of them: it removes what sits in the clear coat. A quick test is your fingernail: if it does not catch, the scratch will probably polish out. If it catches, the scratch has likely gone through the clear coat and can only be softened, with touch-up paint or a repaint as the real fix. A good detailer tells you which marks will remain before starting.
How long does paint correction last?
The correction itself is permanent, because the marks are removed rather than filled. New swirls appear as soon as the paint is washed badly, whether in automatic brush washes, with dirty mitts or by dry wiping. A ceramic coating makes the finish tougher and easier to wash without stopping scratches. With careful hand washing, a corrected finish keeps its look for years.
Does polishing damage the clear coat?
Not when it is done carefully. Each pass takes off only a few microns, and a factory clear coat has enough to allow one or two corrections. The danger is overdoing it on thin paint, sharp edges and repainted panels, which is why a thickness gauge matters. Repeated aggressive polishing over many years wears the clear coat down until the colour coat is exposed.
Should I get paint correction before a ceramic coating?
In nearly every case, yes. A coating bonds to the paint and locks in whatever is on it, swirls and haze included, so the polish comes first. Many coating packages already include a one-step polish; ask which stage of correction the price covers and whether deeper marks are extra.
Something else to ask? Once you hire a shop, you talk to it directly in your request’s conversation.
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