My car’s clear coat is peeling. I took it to the shop, but they said the only thing they can do is redo the entire car body paint job. I really don’t feel like paying for that—isn’t there some kind of DIY solution? How do you fix peeling clear coat on a car yourself?

Bellina Gaskey · Updated on Feb 11, 2022

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

No one likes the feeling of going into a shop and being overwhelmed by the estimated price of repairs! Luckily, you can fix peeling clear coat on a car with sandpaper, a microfiber cloth, some polishing compounds, and clear coat spray paint.

As a disclaimer, this DIY technique isn’t intended to be a permanent solution. If you want to keep the car for years to come, you’ll probably need to get a new paint job at a shop in the future.

For now, though, you can fix the appearance of peeling clear coat by gathering the following:

800- and 2000-grit sandpaper

Clean, soft microfiber cloth

Isopropyl alcohol

Wax and grease remover

Clear coat spray paint (with a spray gun if you want)

Rubbing compound and polish

A buffer pad

Painter’s tape (optional)

Then, follow these steps:

Wash the car with water and car soap to remove grease and debris.

Frame the area using painter’s tape (again, optional).

Sand the peeling area and some of the surrounding area with the 800-grit sandpaper. Work gently and keep the sandpaper wet. Try to sand down the peeling clear coat without dulling or scratching the good clear coat.

Clean the sanded area by applying isopropyl alcohol to the microfiber cloth and wiping gently.

Spray a light coat of spray paint on the sanded area. Shake the can thoroughly and don’t hold it too close to the car surface.

Wait five minutes for the first coat to dry, then spray a second coat of paint.

Wait another five minutes and spray a third coat if needed.

Once you’re finished spraying, pull back the painter’s tape away from the repair area.

Let the spray paint dry properly (which could take anywhere from an hour to a day).

Lightly sand the repaired area with the 2000-grit sandpaper. The goal is to make the new clear coat blend in with the surrounding old clear coat.

Finally, use a buffer pad to apply rubbing compound and then polish to the repaired area.

Phew! You just bought yourself some time and saved some money by repairing the peeling clear coat yourself. Now it’s time to save some money on your

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