does cut and polish remove scratches

Short answer: yes—if the scratch hasn’t cut through the clear coat, a cut and polish can make it vanish or at least beg for mercy. Light swirls, haze and faint door-handle scuffs usually surrender to a decent compound and pad; deep gouges that catch a fingernail do not. Those nastier marks need wet-sanding, touch-up paint, or a proper respray, otherwise you’re just making shiny valleys. Work in small sections, start gentle (least aggressive pad and compound), and measure paint depth if you’ve got the gear—clear coat isn’t an all-you-can-eat buffet. If you’re nervous or chasing perfection, a professional detailer can save time, paint, and your sanity.