Abstract: A method and a device for detecting, determining and documenting damage to painted surfaces, especially parts of the bodywork of vehicles, utilizes light from at least one heavily focusing light source directed to a test surface in a grid-type or raster-type manner to produce a surface image on a screen with the light reflected on the test surface of the vehicle, the image being detected by a capturing, evaluating and signal processing device. The surface damage therein is then determined according to a specific evaluation algorithm and outputted for objective documentation of the damage.