New Car: Paint Condition, Defects & Self Fixes

by Reece @ DI

There is no better feeling than driving off the lot in your brand new vehicle! Whether you stopped by the dealership to see what was available, or ordered one and have been patiently waiting, we all get that excitement when we are in the buying process. However, this excitement can cause us to sometimes overlook a few concerns, like the condition of the paint. Now, not all of us are going to show up with an inspection light and paint meter, but we all should take some time to check out the paint before signing on the dotted line. Below is an email we received from a customer who drove off the lot, but noticed an issue after the fact.

I just bought a brand new Honda CRV. I have noticed that the paint is not smooth like I expect a brand new vehicle to be. Pretty much the whole car has a gritty feel to it. I feel like they should fix this but I read all these opinions saying clay bar the car yourself. The car is one week old. Should I take this back to the dealer? Thanks for your input.

With new vehicles we all expect them to be smooth and imperfection free, however, that is really not the case. With many of these vehicles getting a high speed buff at the plants, wrapped in plastic and shipped on airplanes, boats, trucks, etc. most of the time they show up on the showroom floor dirty and with imperfections. On top of that, most dealers use automated car washes or poor washing techniques that only add to the imperfections the longer the car is on the lot. The good news is that while this sounds scary, it is pretty easy to take care of. You could send it back to the dealer, however, in my opinion they may do more damage than good. Now, I do not know the detailing center of your dealership but in general most provide a clean car but their techniques can only make the car worse in terms of swirls, scratches, etc. Take a look at the below articles for an idea of a cheap wash or dealership wash.

After that, if the car feels bumpy or like there is some grit, it is most likely embedded contamination that was not removed with a traditional wash. I would recommend washing and drying the car to knock off any loose dirt and grime, then using a clay bar to remove this embedded contamination. I personally love the Clay Magic Fine Grade Bar paired with the NanoSkin Glide as the lube. The process is easy and I would personally feel better having you take care of this and knowing there is no chance that the dealership could mess up the paint.

After removing dirt, grime and any embedded contamination, you will want to inspect the paint. Since these new vehicles are exposed to so much contamination, on top of wrapping and shipping, they are not only dirty but can also feature swirls, scratches, defects, and other imperfections. A great one step polish for your vehicle would be the 3D One or the Rupes DA Fine Polishing Compound. For more polishing information, check out the Polishing section of our Detailing Guide.

After cleaning and protecting, do not forget to protect your work with your favorite wax, sealant, or coating!

As always, if you ever have any questions along the way do not hesitate to reach out!

Bonus New Car Articles:

1 comment on New Car: Paint Condition, Defects & Self Fixes

Robert Ferris says:

February 8, 2025 at 11:23 am

I bought 2024 Compass that included a Advantage package that is a 2K addition to the price.
Package had a exterior, glass and interior protection( a total rip off)
I ended up using a clay bar on the whole car to remove contamination.