How To: Fix Paint Chips On Your Car

Fixing paint chip damage on your car is probably easier and cheaper than you.

Repairing Paint Chips

Scratched car
Scratched car

There’s no question that a clean and pristine paint job on one’s car can be a source of pride. Beyond that, well-maintained paint provides protection from corrosion and further damage and it can help a car retain more value for when it’s time to trade it in. At the same time, using a car means that over time, it’ll likely end up seeing some damage occur to the paint. One of the most common kinds of paint damage is that of rock chips that develop as small bits of road debris contact and damage the paint while we drive. Today, we’re going to guide you through the simple steps that you can take at home to fix these paint chips. Not only will it help to restore your car’s layer of protection but it’ll look fantastic in the end as well.

Determine The Kind Of Paint Issue 

Looking at scratched car
Looking at scratched car

Before any work can be done and before any parts can be obtained, it’s worth taking the time to determine exactly what kind of damage exists. Examine the damage closely. Using a flashlight can help you to get a better idea of exactly how deep and how large the chips might be. It’s important to determine if rust has started to develop within the chip or chips. The answer to that question will determine if an additional step in preparation is necessary. Keep in mind too that if you have scratches, they may require a different type of fix depending on their size, depth, and severity. In rare cases, scratches and or paint chips are bad enough that professional intervention may be required.

Gathering Tools 

Color Samples
Color Samples

Once you’ve surveyed the situation you can begin gathering the necessary equipment to fix the paint chips. In most cases that means: obtaining touch-up paint that matches your paint color, clear coat, fine-grit (2000-grit or above) sandpaper, a microfiber cloth, rubbing alcohol, wax, and a polishing compound of some sort. If you believe your rock chips have rust in them, it’s also important to get some sort of fallout rust remover. Obtaining touch-up paint in the correct color can be accomplished through your local dealer or sometimes local automotive stores. Some online vendors also offer appropriate touch-up paint colors. Rock chip repair kits can also be highly effective and sometimes negate the need for sanding.

Prep Is Everything 

Cleaning Car
Cleaning Car

Any good paint and body professional will tell you that preparation for the job is the vast majority of the job. Skipping a step here can completely ruin your results so it’s important to take your time, lean into patience, and make sure that your prep work is top-notch before moving onto actual correction and repair.

To that end, begin by cleaning the affected area with soap and water. Dry it off and then, if you have rust, use your fallout rust remover. Rust will literally fall out of the chip and drip down the surface of the paint during this process. Don’t use a cloth to clean it off as you could damage your paint further. Instead, use water to wash it off of the surface. Then, go back and clean the area one more time to ensure that it’s free of dirt, rust, or grime. Spraying some alcohol on the surface at this stage will also help to remove any chemicals from previous paint treatments.

If you’re using touch-up paint and the rock chip is deep, this is the time for sanding around the chip. The intention here is to lightly work through the surrounding clear coat and paint to the point where the chip is mostly smooth with the rest of the surface. If you’re using a rock chip repair kit, you might get to skip this step and simply build up paint inside of the chip itself. Use the microfiber towel and water to finalize the prep by making sure that everything is clean and dry before moving on to the repair.

Apply The Paint 

Touching up with a small brush
Touching up with a small brush

Now is the time to add the paint to the chips which can be done in a few different ways. A brush or blotting tool can work, and in some cases simply grabbing a dab on your finger and lightly smoothing it into the chip works too. This part of the process really is quite simple as you’re just adding paint to the damaged area and trying to ensure that it’s smooth when you’re done. Allow it to fully dry before moving on. Some kits will require you to put the paint all over and around the chip with the intent of cleaning off the excess later.

Finishing Touches 

Polishing car
Polishing car

Now that your paint is in the chip follow through by checking to make sure that the surface is smooth before applying a clear coat over it. Similarly to the paint itself, the clear coat needs to go on smoothly. Allow it to fully dry before moving on. Once that’s done go ahead and use the wax and polishing compound to smooth out the entire area around the corrected chips. This will result in a shine that can last and it’ll ensure that the underlying damage is once again fully protected from the elements.

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Stephen Rivers

Stephen Rivers is a car enthusiast who loves all things built with passion, extending to nearly all car cultures. After obtaining an occupational studies degree in sports medicine, Stephen turned his attention to sports cars. He was employed as an auto shop manager, spent time in auto sales, and worked as a software developer for a racing company, but Stephen began writing about cars over 10 years ago. When he's not in front of a computer screen, he's racing his own Bugeye Subaru WRX in as many autocross and rallycross competitions as he can.

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