[thstone]

A couple of pictures would help quite a bit as there are a couple of ways that the "lacquer" or clear coat can become worn/damaged and depending on the cause and the current state of wear some repair options might not really be practical.

With that being said, I agree with Brian, trying to repair only the clear coat is risky because the clear coat has to adhere perfectly to the existing paint or you'll be right back where you are now in a year or two. And it has to blend into the existing clear coat seamlessly or you'll end up with the repaired section clear and shiny while the rest of the car is a bit faded and dull. So the entire car is typically buffed out to try to make the whole thing match. Some shops can do this well and some can't and its hard to tell them apart. If these risks are acceptable, then you could go down this route, but the best bet for a good long term result is a quality respray. And yes, generally when it comes to paint, you get what you pay for.