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Paint Correction

Machine polishing to remove swirl marks, scratches, water spots, and oxidation. Restore your paint to better than showroom condition.

What is paint correction?

Paint correction is the process of removing defects from your vehicle's clear coat using machine polishing equipment. It targets swirl marks from incorrect washing, light scratches, water spot etching, oxidation, and other surface imperfections.

The result is paint that reflects light cleanly — no hazing, no swirls, no dullness. When done correctly, it can make a 10-year-old car look better than it did when new.

What we correct

  • Swirl marks from automatic car washes or poor hand washing
  • Light scratches that haven't broken through the clear coat
  • Water spot etching from hard water or rain
  • Oxidation and paint fade
  • Buffer trails and holograms from previous polish jobs
  • Light contamination and surface hazing
Paint correction result at Top Down Detailing

Pricing

Single-stage polish
One pass — enhances gloss, removes light defects
from $400
Two-stage correction
Cut then refine — removes moderate defects
from $650
Full multi-stage correction
Maximum defect removal, refinement, and jewelling
from $950
Correction + ceramic coating
Full correction then IGL ceramic coat
from $1,900

Common questions

Paint correction removes defects within the clear coat. If a scratch has gone through to the base coat or primer, polishing won't remove it — it will need touch-up paint or panel work. We inspect your paint first and tell you exactly what's achievable.
Typically 1–3 days depending on the level of correction and the size of the vehicle. A single-stage polish on a small car might be one day. Full multi-stage correction on a large SUV could take two to three days.
It's the logical next step. Paint correction gets your paint to its best possible state — ceramic coating then locks that in and protects it from future swirling and contamination. Many customers combine both into a single appointment.
Just a basic wash to remove loose dirt is helpful but not required — we do a thorough decontamination wash as part of the process anyway. Don't polish or wax the car beforehand.

Ready to book?

Limited weekly slots — book ahead to secure your date.

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