Paint Correction in Los Angeles
Swirl marks, light scratches and water spots dulling the paint? We polish them out of the clear coat in 1, 2 or 3 stages, from $300.
- 794 Merchant St
- In-house
- drivers served
- 1,000+
- Google rating
- 4.9★
Paint Correction
What Paint Correction Is
Paint correction is machine polishing that levels the clear coat to remove the defects in it. Instead of filling scratches with a glaze or wax that washes off in a few weeks, correction removes a very thin layer of clear coat until the bottom of the defect is gone and the surface is flat again. Flat paint reflects light evenly, which is what makes it look glossy and deep.
Correction only works on defects in the clear coat. It doesn't add paint, so it can't fix damage that has gone through to the color or the primer.
Paint Defects We Remove
Most cars in Los Angeles show the same handful of defects, and they are easiest to see on dark paint in direct sun or under a gas station light at night.
Swirl marks:
fine circular scratches from improper washing and automatic car washes
Holograms:
buffer trails left by a rotary polisher used the wrong way, often from an earlier detail
Light scratches:
marks from bags, keys, branches or fingernails around door handles that haven't gone through the clear coat
Water spots and etching:
mineral deposits and acid rain damage etched into the clear coat, in LA often from sprinklers and hard tap water
Oxidation:
the faded, chalky look left when UV breaks down the clear coat
1-Stage, 2-Stage and 3-Stage Correction
The number of stages is the number of polishing steps, from the most aggressive compound to the finest polish. More stages remove more defects but take more time and remove slightly more clear coat, so we recommend the level your paint actually needs.
In a 3-stage correction the heavy cut uses aggressive compounds to remove deep scratches and heavy defects, the medium polish refines the surface and removes the marks left by compounding, and the finishing polish brings out the final gloss.
1-Stage ($300–$500):
a single polish step for light defects. Removes 40–60% of defects in 4–6 hours. Best for new cars or light swirls.
2-Stage ($600–$900):
compounding plus polishing. Removes 75–85% of defects in 8–10 hours. Best for most daily drivers with visible defects, and our most popular level.
3-Stage ($1,000–$1,500):
heavy cut, medium polish and finishing polish. Removes 90–98% of defects in 12–16 hours. Best for severely damaged paint or show cars.
Measuring Paint Depth Before We Polish
Factory clear coat is thinner than a sheet of paper, and every correction removes a little of it. Polishing too far on a thin spot can burn through to the color coat, and the only fix for that is a repaint.
Before we polish, we take paint depth gauge readings on the panels. The readings show where the paint is thick enough to correct fully, where it has to be treated gently, and which panels have been repainted before. In the Show Car Finish package the readings are recorded and documented for you.
Step by step
How Paint Correction Works at Our Shop
- 01
Inspection in bright light to map swirls, scratches, water spots and oxidation
- 02
Paint depth gauge readings on the panels before any polishing
- 03
Hand wash and clay bar decontamination so no grit gets dragged under the polishing pad
- 04
Test section to find the least aggressive pad and polish that removes the defects
- 05
Machine compounding and polishing in 1, 2 or 3 stages, one panel at a time
- 06
Final check under different light, then sealant, ceramic coating or PPF to protect the finish
Why Correction Comes Before Ceramic Coating or PPF
Ceramic coating and paint protection film both lock in the surface underneath them for years. A coating over swirl marks keeps the swirls under a glossy layer, and film over a scratch leaves the scratch visible under the film. Correcting the paint first means you protect a clean finish instead of sealing in the defects.
That is why our Ceramic Package ($1,200–$1,800) includes 2-stage correction, and the Show Car Finish package ($2,500–$3,500) includes 3-stage correction before the coating goes on.
When a Scratch Is Too Deep to Polish
A simple test: run a fingernail across the scratch. If your nail doesn't catch, the scratch is most likely in the clear coat and polishing can remove it. If it catches, or you can see primer or bare metal, the scratch has gone through the clear coat.
Those scratches have to be filled, primed, color-matched and refinished. We do that at the same shop as auto paint and scratch repair, and we can correct the rest of the car afterwards so the new paint and the original paint have the same gloss.
Pricing
Paint Correction Prices
We recommend a correction level after inspecting your paint in person.
| Service | Typical price |
|---|---|
| 1-Stage CorrectionSingle polish step, 4–6 hours, 40–60% of defects removed | $300–$500 |
| 2-Stage CorrectionCompounding + polishing, 8–10 hours, 75–85% of defects removed. Most popular | $600–$900 |
| 3-Stage CorrectionHeavy cut + medium polish + finishing polish, 12–16 hours, 90–98% of defects removed | $1,000–$1,500 |
| Ceramic Package (2-stage correction + ceramic coating)2–3 days, professional ceramic coating with a 5–7 year warranty | $1,200–$1,800 |
Get a free estimate
Call or text (213) 282-8201, or send us the details online. Accident line and towing 24/7.
- Leti Auto Works
- 794 Merchant St, Los Angeles, CA 90021
- Arts District, Downtown Los Angeles
- Get directions
- Shop hours
- Monday – Friday10:00 AM – 8:00 PM
- Saturday10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
- SundayClosed
- Accident line and towing answer 24/7.
Paint Correction — common questions
Didn’t find your question? Call us, a real person answers. 24/7 accident line & towing.
Call (213) 282-8201What is paint correction?
Paint correction is machine polishing that removes a very thin layer of clear coat to level out swirl marks, light scratches, water spots and oxidation. Unlike a glaze or wax, it removes the defects instead of filling them, so the result doesn't wash away.
Which paint correction level do I need?
A 1-stage polish ($300–$500) suits new cars and light swirls. A 2-stage correction ($600–$900) suits most daily drivers with visible swirls and scratches. A 3-stage correction ($1,000–$1,500) is for heavily damaged paint or show cars. We recommend a level after inspecting the paint in person.
How long does paint correction take?
A 1-stage polish takes about 4–6 hours, a 2-stage correction about 8–10 hours and a 3-stage correction about 12–16 hours of work, so a 3-stage job usually means leaving the car with us for more than one day.
Is paint correction safe for my paint?
Yes, when it is measured and controlled. We take paint depth readings before polishing, use the least aggressive method that removes the defects, and treat thin or previously repainted areas more gently so the clear coat is not polished through.
Can paint correction remove every scratch?
No. Polishing removes defects that sit in the clear coat. A scratch that catches your fingernail or shows primer has gone through the clear coat and needs to be filled and repainted, which we also do in-house.
Should I get paint correction before ceramic coating or PPF?
Yes. Both ceramic coating and paint protection film seal in whatever is underneath them for years, so the paint should be corrected first. Our Ceramic Package includes 2-stage correction for that reason.
How do I keep swirl marks from coming back?
Most swirl marks come from washing, especially automatic car washes and dirty mitts or towels. Hand wash with clean microfiber, use a separate rinse bucket, dry gently, and consider a ceramic coating, which makes the paint easier to clean and less likely to pick up new marks.
Leti Auto Works does paint correction in-house at our shop at 794 Merchant St in the Arts District of Downtown Los Angeles. We machine-polish the clear coat in 1, 2 or 3 stages to remove swirl marks, light scratches, water spots and oxidation, priced from $300–$500 for a 1-stage polish to $1,000–$1,500 for a full 3-stage correction.
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