Lease inspection is coming, and I know the process. Obviously if this gets noticed(!) it’s chargeable. 
Some are harder to see than others, but there are 7 or 8 scratches roughly parallel, some deeper than others, a couple spanning the entire width of the roof from rail to rail.
If this condition was on door panels or even the hood I would assume it was vandalism. But the top?
Can I request an inspector who’s only 5’2"?
“I went ahead and put it on the lift so you can get a really good look at the undercarriage!”
Get it really dirty and or get some of that magic scratch hider/polish crap, a decent detailer should be able to make those go away or hide them pretty good.
+1 for touch up paint and having a pro detailer see what they can do
Guesses: people “rest things” on the roof all the time and unintentionally drag them, but me thinks the long drag across the top was caused by a car wash (roller that didn’t or debris dragging in the brushes)
Also (looks at time in service, mileage, damage, and to the primary driver) THIS is why we can’t have poofy things, our neglect leaves them less-poofy than we found them.
I was nearby anyway so I stopped in at a local Leader in SMART Repairs & Automotive Reconditioning | Dent Wizard location.
Because of the depth of at least some of the scratches, all they could do was repaint the roof. I’ll have the estimate later today.
Detailer path is probably the most fruitful, I just couldn’t squeeze that in today.
I’ve been to a detailer and two body shops.
All three told me to hope the inspector doesn’t notice, because painting the roof is the only option.
Second body shop estimate was verbal, but was in line with the written one I already had.
Do you use an automatic carwash?
A good detail/buffing won’t make these “disappear” but may at the very least improve them a bit. If you can find a good detailer maybe let them try. It’s cheaper than paint.
It’s been through an automatic car wash three or four times.
The detailer I met with said he could make some of them look better, but the problem is that he can’t do much of anything for the worst ones, which means some pretty obvious deep scratches will remain.
At this point I think I’m going to roll the dice on the inspection. Even if they flag it I think the bill will be less than a body shop would charge to repaint it.
Never do the automatic car wash. And you’re probably right, the excess wear charge will probably be less than going through a repaint of the affected panels.
I highly suggest leaving your car outside for a while without washing it, 80% chance they won’t say anything.
Woah buddy, those run deep.
I agree with @Muwa , don’t have the car super clean on the outside when the inspector comes. Now don’t let it look trashed out either, but I wouldn’t put a spit shine on it before they come inspect. Have the interior looking nice though.
If this is in San Diego, I can suggest a guy. He has been good every time I have been to him with such scratches.
Thank you for the offer. This car is at our home in Ohio.
