Paint Correction
Paint correction is machine polishing that removes swirls, scratches and haze from your car's clear coat instead of hiding them. We offer three levels: a single stage enhancement from £300 (up to 50% defect removal), a two stage correction from £600 (65–75%) and a three stage correction from £900 (80–90%). All paint correction is done at our unit in Sheffield.
Done at our unit only: Unit 12, Amalgam Park, Tinsley Park Road, Sheffield S9 5DL. We don't do paint correction or coatings on driveways. Our mobile services are deep cleans, valets and maintenance washes.
Swirl marks are fine scratches in the clear coat. Most are put there by automatic car washes, dirty sponges and rough drying towels. Under a bright light they show up as circles around the reflection, and they're the reason dark paint looks dull even when it's clean.
Polishing levels the clear coat around those scratches so light reflects evenly again. The paint doesn't just look shinier, it looks deeper, and the reflections go sharp instead of hazy.
Single stage is for a car that's lost its gloss but isn't badly marked. Two stage is for paint where you can clearly see swirls and light scratches in the sun. Three stage is for heavily marked paint, like a car that's been through automatic washes for years or one you've bought in poor condition.
Not sure? Email a photo taken in direct sunlight to info@drccarcare.com, or give us a call, and we'll tell you honestly which one is worth paying for.
Some scratches go deeper than the clear coat can safely give. Taking them out completely would mean removing too much paint, so we work to a realistic target for each package and tell you up front which marks won't come out.
from£300
A one-step machine polish that brings back the gloss and removes up to half the swirls.
from£600
A cutting step then a compound step, to take out deeper swirls and marks.
from£900
Rotary cut, mid step and refine, for heavily marked paint.
The process
The order matters: every step makes the next one safer and more effective.
The engine bay gets a tidy and the wheels and arches are deep cleaned first, so nothing dirty gets flung onto clean paint later.
Door shuts are pre-washed and contact washed. They're where grime hides and they're the first thing you see when you open the car.
A pre-wash goes over the whole car to break down as much dirt and grime as possible before anything touches the paint.
A careful hand wash removes what the pre-wash loosened, without dragging grit across the clear coat.
Tar remover, then an iron fallout remover to dissolve the brake dust and metal particles bonded to the paint.
A water spot remover takes out mineral marks, followed by a neutralising product so the surface is clean and balanced.
Clay lifts the last bonded contaminants, so the paint is perfectly smooth before the polisher comes out.
One step for an enhancement. A cut on a microfibre pad and a medium compound step for two stage. A rotary cut, a mid step to remove the rotary trails and a refining step for three stage.
An IPA wipe-down removes the polishing oils, then Reign's 7-year ceramic coating locks the finish in.
Our work
Cars photographed in our unit at Amalgam Park. Paint correction, ceramic coatings and New Car Protection are only done there.
In our unit
In our unit
In our unit
In our unitPrices
Starting prices. We confirm the final price before we start.
| Package | Small | Medium | Large / SUV | 7-seater / Van |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Stage Enhancement10–14 hours · Up to 50% defect removal | £300 | £350 | £400 | £500 |
| Two Stage CorrectionAround 20 hours · 65–75% defect removal | £600 | £650 | £700 | £800 |
| Three Stage CorrectionAround 30 hours · 80–90% defect removal | £900 | £950 | £1,000 | £1,100 |
Instant price
Pick your car size and any extras, then send it over and we'll call you to book a date.
Reviews
“Absolutely fantastic. Didn't think the car could be saved, used it for 2 years straight for work. Done a right job. Like brand new. Highly recommend to anyone. Top job.”
“Bought a car and wasn't happy with the condition of the paint work, so I contacted DRC Car Care and the communication was excellent. Talked me through the different packages and what results to expect and they delivered. Highly recommend.”
“Great car detailer. I'd recommend highly.”
FAQs
A single stage enhancement takes 10 to 14 hours, a two stage correction around 20 hours and a three stage correction around 30 hours. Bigger cars and harder paint take longer, so we confirm the timing once we've seen the car.
Our single stage enhancement starts at £300 for a small car, two stage correction at £600 and three stage correction at £900. Large cars, SUVs and 7-seaters cost more because there's more paint to work on.
No. All paint correction is done at our unit at Amalgam Park, Tinsley Park Road, Sheffield S9 5DL, where the car stays clean and dry under proper lighting. Our mobile services are deep cleans, valets and maintenance washes.
No, and anyone who promises 100% is guessing. We aim for up to 50%, 65–75% or 80–90% defect removal depending on the package. Scratches that go through the clear coat can be improved but not always removed, and we'll point those out before we start.
An enhancement is a single polishing step aimed mainly at gloss, with up to 50% of defects removed. Correction uses two or three steps, cutting first and then refining, to remove far more of the swirls and scratches.
It's the best time to do it. The paint is as good as it's going to get, and a coating keeps it that way. Our ceramic coating package is a single stage enhancement plus Reign's 7-year coating from £500.
Related
Covering Sheffield and everywhere within 18 miles of the unit:
Book in
It takes about a minute. Or call Cameron on 07379 992852, Monday to Saturday.
