Remove Rust from Your Car - Step-by-Step Guide

Rust on a car often starts as a small spot but quickly becomes a serious problem. Fortunately, you can remove rust from your car yourself, helping you avoid high repair costs and keeping the bodywork in top condition. In this blog article, we explain how rust on a car develops, how to prevent it, how to safely remove rust, and how to restore the paint. As a specialist in car paint and NonPaint products, we at CROP are happy to help you and teach you step by step how to treat the rust on your car for a perfect repair.

How does rust develop on a car?

Rust develops as soon as iron or metal is exposed to oxygen and moisture. In practice, this means paint damage. Through stone chips, scratches, or parking damage, the clear coat can get damaged. This exposes the metal underneath to acid rain, salt, brine, or humidity. This then leads to rust spots on your car. Even a small, harmless spot can quickly spread if you don't start repairing it in time. That's why it's important to treat and remove rust spots immediately.

How to prevent rust on a car?

Prevention is always better than cure. Fortunately, with a few simple measures, you can prevent many rust problems. Think about:

• Regularly washing your car with car detailing products, especially in winter during road salt and brine.
• Regularly inspecting the paint for deep scratches, stone chips, or other dull spots.
• Do you have minor paint damage? Touch it up immediately with a color-coded touch-up pen.
• Avoid prolonged moisture in wheel arches or seams. Optionally, treat these preventively with an underbody coating.

Removing car rust in 6 steps

You can remove car rust yourself in 6 steps. With the right products and the step-by-step plan below, you'll professionally repair the rust spot—even if you're not an experienced body repairer or sprayer! Read below how to remove rust from the car step by step and make the paint look like new again!

Step 1: Sand the rust spot thoroughly

Use sandpaper or a wire brush to remove the visible rust. Optionally, start with coarse sandpaper for stubborn oxidation and then finish with a finer grit. Sand approximately 5 cm around the rust spot as well to make sure you’ve removed all affected parts.

Step 2: Apply a rust converter to the spot

Do you still see some spots or residues after sanding? Then use a rust converter! This product transforms rust into a stable base layer that prevents further oxidation. This way, you can be sure the rust spot won’t spread again.

Step 3: Apply an anti-rust primer

After using a rust converter, spray an anti-rust primer on the treated surface. This primer with anti-rust properties adheres optimally and provides extra protection against new rust formation. Let the primer cure thoroughly according to the product’s instructions.

Step 4: Degrease and sand the primer

Once the primer is dry, degrease and sand it for a smooth and even surface. You’ll then have the perfect base to continue with car paint.

Step 5: Spray car paint in the correct color

Now it’s time to use the color-matched car paint of the vehicle. As a car paint specialist, we at CROP mix each color to measure based on the original color code or name. Thanks to the original recipe, you’ll enjoy a 100% color match with the existing paint on the car.

Spray the paint in multiple thin layers from a distance of about 30 cm from the surface. Let each layer dry for 15 minutes before applying the next one. This prevents runs and ensures a neat and even result!

Step 6: Finish the car paint color with clear coat

The final step is applying the clear coat. This clear coat layer provides gloss, protection, and durability to the color underneath. After spraying the clear coat, let it dry for at least 60 minutes until it’s dust-dry. After that, your car is ready to go again.

Costs for removing rust from a car

Many people think removing rust from a car is a complicated and expensive job. But that doesn’t have to be the case. With the right products and a clear approach, you can easily remove rust yourself without needing a garage.

By doing it yourself, you save significantly on costs and have full control over the result. Plus, it’s often quicker: you don’t need to make an appointment or be without your car. With CROP products such as sandpaper, rust converters, primers, and color-matched car paint, you can carry out this job professionally yourself. This way, your car is rust-free, beautiful, and protected again, for a fraction of the cost a body shop would charge.