Andrew here — your resident British car painter and unofficial patron saint of supermarket car parks. If you’ve ever dared to visit Tesco on a Saturday afternoon, you’ve probably collected a lovely little reminder on your door: a scuff, a scrape, or a mysterious streak of someone else’s car paint.

Not scratches.
Not dents.
Just that irritating, chalky smear where another car kissed yours and left its lipstick behind.

The good news? These marks are incredibly fixable using touch-up sprays, mild abrasives, or — when needed — a bit of aerosol blending. Let me walk you through how I deal with Tesco-trolley trauma.

What Aerosol Paints Actually Are

Modern automotive aerosols are:

• Solvent-based coatings

• Suspended in pressurised cans

• Designed to atomise like a proper spray gun

• Perfect for small- to medium-size repairs

Types you’ll find:

• Primer

• Basecoat (colour)

• Clear coat

• Specialty blends (plastic bumper sprays, lacquer boosters)

When they shine:

• Light to medium scratches

• Faded clear coat

• Car park panel damage

• Blending repaired areas

When they’re not enough:

• Deep dents

• Metal damage

• Creased panels
  (That’s when bodyshops earn their keep.)

Why Andrew Recommends Aerosols for Car Park Scuffs

Car park scuffs are usually:

• Paint transfer (someone else’s colour on your car)

• Minor clear-coat disruption

• Shallow scrapes

• Light abrasions

Aerosols help when:

• Polishing removes 70% but leaves a dull area

• Clear coat is compromised

• The scuff stretches across a whole panel

• The bumper is textured plastic (aerosols blend best here)

Plus, aerosol repairs are:

• Cheap

• Quick

• Beginner-friendly

• Perfectly tidy if you follow the process

And let’s be honest — if you park anywhere near a budget supermarket, this won’t be your last repair.

Step-by-Step: Correct Way to Fix Car Park Paint Transfer

Here’s exactly how I fix these marks in the workshop:

Step 1: Clean the Area Properly

You’d be amazed how much dirt people mistake for paint damage.
Soap, water, degreaser — the holy trinity.

Step 2: Determine What You’re Dealing With

There are three levels:

LEVEL 1 — Paint Transfer (Most Common)
Run your finger over it — feels raised.
Good news: Polishes out.

LEVEL 2 — Light Clear Coat Scratch
You see white lines when the sun hits it.
Needs a polish, maybe aerosol clear.

LEVEL 3 — Colour-Coat Damage
You see your car’s primer or a dull patch.
Needs basecoat + clear coat via aerosol.

Step 3: Remove Paint Transfer First

Use:

• Tar & glue remover

• Clay bar

• A mild rubbing compound

The other car’s paint should disappear like magic.

Step 4: Wet Sanding (Only if Necessary)

Use 2500–3000 grit.
Very gentle.
You’re levelling damaged clear coat, not the M1.

Step 5: Apply Basecoat (Only for Exposed Colour Damage)

Use:

• Light mist coat

• Then 2–3 medium coats

• 10–15 minutes between layers

Keep it smooth and even.

Step 6: Clear Coat Application

This is the gloss-restoring hero.

Spray:

• Light coat first

• Then a wetter second coat

• Optional third for perfect finish

Overlap each pass by 50%.

Step 7: Polishing & Finishing

Once cured:

• Medium compound for shine

• Finishing polish for gloss

• Microfibre cloth only (no towels your nan knitted)

Safety Tips

• Do not spray next to shopping trolleys — they WILL hit you.

• Avoid painting on windy days; your neighbour’s car doesn’t need a new finish.

• Keep kids away; little hands are magnetically drawn to fresh paint.

Realistic Use Cases & Expectations

Typical supermarket scuffs include:

• Trolley scrapes

• Door dings from careless neighbours

• White paint from Asda car park pillars

• Rubber bumper marks

• Mirror-to-mirror kisses from tight bays

Andrew’s Real Job Story

A customer once told me, “I don’t know how this happened.”
The mark was bright yellow — I asked where he’d parked.
He said, “Morrisons.”
Mystery solved, mate.

Expectations

• Paint transfer removes 100%

• Light scratches buff out to invisible

• Clear coat repairs look glossy and tidy

• Deep scrapes blend well but won’t be brand-new perfect

• 95% improvement for daily drivers

Benefits of Using Aerosol Paints

• Cheap alternative to a bodyshop

• No special tools

• Perfect colour matching via registration-based codes

• Great for plastic bumpers

• Ideal for long, shallow scuffs

• Achieves glossy factory-like results

Key Takeaways

• Most car park scuffs are surface damage

• Paint transfer usually polishes off entirely

• Aerosols fix deeper clear coat or colour loss

• Use paint matched to your reg for spot-on results

• Prep is everything — don’t skip sanding or cleaning

• Light coats always beat heavy blobs

FAQ Section

Do supermarket scuffs always need paint?
Not at all — 70% are just transfer.

Can I fix paint transfer myself?
Yes. A good polish works wonders.

Will aerosol blending look professional?
With proper prep, absolutely.

Do I need clear coat for small scuffs?
Only if the clear is damaged.

Can I match paint by registration?
Yes — easiest way for perfect colour.

Can aerosols repair textured bumpers?
Yes — they’re ideal for them.

Should I avoid supermarket car parks?
No chance. Just park far from trolley bays.

Can I spray in cold weather?
Avoid it — paint hates cold and moisture.

Closing Section

Don’t let a rogue trolley or a careless door-swing ruin your day. With a bit of sanding, a splash of aerosol magic, and some proper polishing, you can restore your car to glory in an afternoon. Do it right and no one will ever know a Vauxhall Corsa got too friendly with your Passat.