How to Restore Faded Auto Paint in 3 Ways

It’s hard to beat the shine of a new car, but as many Arizonians discover, it doesn’t take long for the desert sun’s UV rays to fade auto paint. If your vehicle’s finish has seen better days, you may wonder how to restore faded auto paint. 

At Formula 1 Collision Center, the leader among Tucson’s auto body shops, we often hear from drivers who want to return their vehicles to their former glory. Determining how to deal with faded areas in a car’s paint depends on several factors, such as the type of paint, but there’s always a way to restore the color and finish. Read on for the most common methods of restoring paint, and call us at (520) 369-4291 to learn more. 

The Best Ways to Bring Back a Vehicle’s Color and Shine 

Cars lose vibrancy due to sun exposure, a lack of maintenance, pollution, and abrasive cleaners. Parking in shaded or covered areas and cleaning with the proper tools can go a long way toward preserving the paint and the vehicle’s value. 

You may not be able to prevent all fading, though. Here’s how to restore faded auto paint if you can’t.

1. Use a Clay Bar 

After washing and drying, using a clay bar to eliminate embedded dirt from the finish can restore color and shine. Automotive clay bars pull out dirt and contaminants that block light reflection and make paint look dull. Contaminants also cause paint to oxidize and develop a hazy finish.

Depending on the extent of the fading, a clay bar may be all you need to repair faded paint.

2. Buffing 

Buffing removes accumulated oxidation from the paint; it can also help eliminate minor scratches and other imperfections, leaving behind a gleaming surface. 

Buffing involves using a mild abrasive compound with rotating buffing pads or a wheel to eliminate the oxidation that fades paint. The process takes time, but if your vehicle has a clear coat, it’s often very effective for restoring the paint job and making it look new again. 

3. Repaint

Sometimes, the fading is beyond repair, and thorough cleaning and buffing can’t revive a tired-looking paint job. In this case, the only option is to repaint the vehicle.

Repainting is the only way to restore faded paint on a classic or antique car that has single-stage paint. Older vehicles often have this type of paint, which includes the base color and the clear coat in one. Newer vehicles typically have two-stage paint, which means that the manufacturer applies the base coat first, followed by one or more layers of clear coat. 

Buffing a single-stage painted car can actually do more harm than good, so it’s best to repaint it instead.

Let Formula 1 Collision Center Restore Your Vehicle 

If you want to restore your faded vehicle, get in touch with Formula 1 Collision Center at (520) 369-4291. As the leaders in auto painting in Tucson, we can discuss how to restore faded auto paint or decide between painting or wrapping a car so you can drive a showroom-ready vehicle.