Keyed car repair cost

A keyed car is usually a deliberate line scored into the paint, often running the length of one or more panels at a consistent height — which is what separates it from an accidental scratch and is exactly why insurers treat it as vandalism rather than a routine claim.

Cost depends almost entirely on how many panels are affected and how deep the line runs at its worst point, since a shop has to blend the repair across every panel the line touches for the color to match seamlessly.

Is this what you have?

Look for a straight line at a consistent height, often at hand or hip level, running with even depth across one or more panels — a signature of someone walking alongside the car while dragging an object across it, distinct from the irregular depth of accidental contact.

Straight line at a consistent height across multiple panels
Even depth along the whole length, not tapering at the ends
No obvious accidental cause (branch, cart, adjacent vehicle) nearby
Sometimes accompanied by other vandalism (mirrors, tires, paint elsewhere)

Cost breakdown

Typical US scratch repair costs
Repair	Typical cost	Notes
Polish out a light clear-coat scratch	$50 – $150	Buffing / detail
Touch-up a small chip or short scratch	$100 – $300	Spot repair
Repaint one scratched panel	$300 – $800	Through the color coat
Repaint multiple panels	$800 – $2,500	Blended across panels
Deep key scratch along one side	$1,000 – $3,000	Several panels + blend

Common causes

Deliberate vandalism

The practical reality behind this search — a key, coin, or similar object deliberately dragged along the paint.

Mistaken identity

Occasionally an accidental scratch from a bag, belt, or bike pedal brushing past gets assumed to be keying — worth ruling out before filing a vandalism report.

DIY, shop, or claim?

DIY

A light mark caught early sometimes polishes out — use the fingernail test as a guide. Anything that catches a fingernail has gone through the paint and needs a proper repair, not a pen.

Body shop

A shop can spot-repair one or two panels; a full-length scratch needs a blended repaint across every panel it crosses so there's no visible line where the new paint meets the old.

Insurance claim

Worth reporting to police for a case number, then filing under comprehensive coverage once it crosses multiple panels — vandalism claims typically don't raise your rate the way an at-fault collision claim does.

Get an exact estimate

Photograph the full length of the scratch and the app estimates how many panels are affected and roughly how deep it runs — what separates a $200 fix from a $2,000+ one.

Frequently asked questions

Does insurance cover a keyed car?

Yes, under comprehensive coverage, subject to your deductible — vandalism is one of the standard covered perils, separate from collision coverage.

Should I file a police report for a keyed car?

Yes — most insurers want a police report or case number for a vandalism claim, and it also creates a record in case the same person targets other cars nearby.

How much does it cost to fix a scratch down the whole side of a car?

A deep line crossing three or more panels typically runs $1,200 to $3,000 or more once every affected panel is blended and repainted to match.

Will a keyed car repair be a perfect color match?

A good shop blends the new paint into the panels on either side of the repair, which hides any transition — the color will match the car as it looks now, not a swatch from years ago.

Want a number for your exact car? Take a few photos of the damage and the app returns an itemized cost and labor-time breakdown in your currency.

Full cost breakdown

Scratch repair