The truth about brand-new cars

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of picking up a brand-new vehicle. The paint looks shiny at first glance, the interior is spotless, and everything smells factory-fresh. But here’s the reality: even brand-new vehicles usually arrive with some level of imperfection in the paint.

From the factory floor to the dealership lot, your new vehicle goes through quite a journey before you take delivery of it. And while every step serves a purpose, none of them are focused solely on preserving or perfecting your vehicle’s finish. Let's break down how and why that happens.

Factory Finishes Aren’t Always Flawless

At the factory, it’s common for vehicles to undergo some light sanding in certain areas to remove dust nibs or other small imperfections that can appear in the clear coat during the painting process. While this step is meant to improve the finish, those spots aren’t always fully polished-out afterward. The result is subtle haze, sanding marks, or texture differences that might not be obvious to the untrained eye, but they’re definitely there.

Transport Isn’t a Gentle Process

After production, most new vehicles are transported on open trailers, which leaves them exposed to road grime, varying weather conditions and airborne contaminants. It’s not uncommon for rail dust, surface contamination, or even light scratching to occur during the transport stage.

On top of that, auto transport trailers are packed tight. Drivers often have no choice but to squeeze between vehicles during loading and unloading. In the process, it’s very common for them to lean against or brush up against panels while handling tie-downs or securing the vehicle. Over time, these repeated points of contact can introduce minor scratches or rub marks.

Dealership Prep Can Add Even More Marring

Once the vehicle reaches the dealership, it typically goes through a quick wash as part of its pre-delivery inspection (PDI). The goal is to make sure it looks clean and presentable before it gets handed over to the customer. But because these washes are often done using reused wash mitts, dirty towels, and often undertrained individuals, the risk of introducing swirl marks and micro-scratches is extremely high.

This isn’t a knock on dealerships or the people doing the work. It’s simply the reality of high-volume environments where speed and efficiency matter most. In most cases, the minor imperfections introduced along the way aren’t seen as an issue, because the average customer doesn’t notice them.

That’s really what it comes down to. The average buyer isn’t inspecting the finish under paint-corrected lighting or with a trained eye. As a result, surface-level defects often go unnoticed, and the focus stays on moving vehicles quickly and keeping operations profitable. Paint care just isn’t a top priority in that kind of system.

So What Can You Do About It?

The good news is that most of these imperfections are easily correctable. At our shop, we routinely polish vehicles with fewer than 100 miles on the odometer. We remove the light defects, enhance the gloss and depth of the paint, and finish it off with a professional ceramic coating for long-term protection.

Clients are often amazed by how much more "brand new" their brand new car looks after it comes through our shop for some proper correction. The difference is immediate and noticeable.

Final Thoughts

Buying a new vehicle is a big investment, and while it may look great at first glance, there’s usually room for improvement. Paint defects from the factory, transport contamination, and dealership washing methods all contribute to a less-than-perfect finish before the car ever reaches your driveway.

None of this is about people doing a bad job. It’s simply the nature of how vehicles are built, moved, and sold at-scale. If you're someone who takes pride in how your car looks and wants to protect that investment right from the start, we're here to help you get it dialed in the right way. Best Wishes, GreenTree Auto Styling