If you were driving along recently and mistakenly scraped the side of your vehicle against a guard rail in trying to avoid to a deer or similar animal that had gotten into your pathway, you will most likely want to make the repairs needed to improve the appearance where impact had occurred. A scrape that removes paint from your auto's body will need to be handled immediately so rusting does not occur. Here are some steps you can follow in an attempt to fix the damaged portion so it is no longer at risk of rusting and to improve the way your vehicle appears.

Gather The Right Materials

• Mild detergent
• Non-abrasive sponge or piece of cloth
• Garden hose
• Paint pen in desired shade
• Sandpaper (medium and fine-grit)
• Paint polish
• Buffing pad

Clean The Affected Area

First, you will need to clean the portion of your vehicle where the scrape is present. This will remove any debris that had transferred to your auto's body so the paint you apply will not have difficulty adhering to the metal. Use a mild detergent to cleanse the area. It is best to use a non-abrasive sponge or piece of microfiber cloth when cleaning the metal so you do not cause further scratching to the paint in the process. Rinse the area well with a garden hose and move your vehicle into a sunny area to dry.

Apply Paint To The Metal

A paint pen in the exact shade of your paint job can be purchased via your auto dealer. When you apply the paint, it is best to overlap the coloring over the edges of any existing paint still on the vehicle. This will blend the coloring so it appears uniform when the job is completed. In most cases, it will take a full day of drying time between paint coatings. Read the instructions on your paint pen to determine how many coats will be necessary to cover the metal properly. 

Sand And Polish The Vehicle

After you have applied the paint to your vehicle, it will be necessary to sand it down to remove any bumpy portions. Start with a piece of medium-grit sandpaper to remove any visible protrusions from the vehicle's body. Switch to a piece of fine-grit sandpaper and sand down the edges of the existing paint job gently, in addition to the newly applied paint. When the paint is smooth to the touch, apply a bit of paint polish to a buffing pad. Apply this to the vehicle using a circular motion so the agent is applied evenly.

If this isn't a process you're comfortable performing on your own, contact a professional like High Point Body & Paint.