Anatomy of Your Car's Paint Job

Whatever kind of car you drive – from an older car to a brand new luxury vehicle – it will always feel more enjoyable to drive if it’s clean.

Even more importantly, your car will retain its value if it’s kept clean and protected with a regular professional wax. Your car’s paint job is the first thing people notice when they see your car. When it’s time to trade in for a new vehicle, a dealer considering taking your car on trade will CERTAINLY notice if the paint looks good.

Not all of us have the luxury of being able to keep our cars in the garage and protected from the elements, and of course, not all car manufacturers have quality paint jobs. However, whatever you drive, you can seriously protect your car if you wash it AND wax it regularly!

Want to see an example of what NOT to do? Check out this photo. This is a 2006 Nissan Xterra that has primarily been parked outside and uncovered. The owners did not maintain the paint job by washing regularly. While many of us prefer to drive newer cars, if you’re a person who likes not having a car payment and keeping a reliable car for many years, it’s even more important that you wash and wax regularly! In this example, dramatic swings in temperature over the years and lack of protection in the form of a regular wash and wax has broken down the clear coat, which has bubbled and begun to peel off the hood entirely. When the owner goes to buy a new car and trade in this one, they will not receive the full value even though the car is mechanically sound.

A well-maintained paint job communicates overall care and attention to detail. Does it shine? Does the surface of the car feel soft to the touch? Is it lustrous? All these factors can impact your car’s value.

There are varying degrees of scratches – from the surface level scratch to the clear coat all the way down to a scratch impacts the primer below the actual paint color.

A scratch that goes all the way to the primer may not be fixable without filler. Get it taken care of as soon as possible so that the paint is not exposed to the elements leading to greater risk of rust and corrosion.

Surface level imperfections in the paint job can be greatly improved visually by regular washing and waxing (and maybe a professional buff job once a year). The good news is that it’s relatively easy avoid bigger problems later on. Check out our Monthly Wash Passes to get started! Our monthly wash passes start at just $12.95 per month!