How to fix paint chips on your car
Stone chips are the easiest paint repair you can do at home. What you need, the steps, and the mistakes that make a repair stand out.
Stone chips are the most common paint damage on any car. They are small, they are usually on the hood, the front bumper and the mirrors, and left alone they let water reach the layers underneath. The good news: a stone chip is the easiest repair you can do at home.
What you need
- Touch-up paint mixed to your car's color code
- Clear coat
- A fine applicator or a thin brush
- Finishing paste and wax for the last step
- Microfiber cloths, and soapy water or a mild degreaser
Every Dali Car Care kit includes the paint, the clear coat, precision applicators, finishing paste, wax and microfiber cloths, so you only need the soapy water.
Before you start
Work in the shade, on a dry day, with the panel cool to the touch. Paint applied in direct sun or on a hot panel dries too fast and leaves a ring. If the damage is on the front of the car, check the whole area in good light: there are usually more marks than you noticed.
Order by the code on your paint plate, not by the color name. The same name can belong to different codes, and the same code can mean different colors in different years. Here is where to find your code.
Step by step
- Clean the damaged spotWash the area with soapy water, rinse and dry it fully. Remove wax and road film from the spot itself, or the paint won't stick.
- Remove loose edgesIf flakes of paint are lifting around the edge, gently lift them off with the tip of an applicator so you are working on a firm edge.
- Shake the paint wellMetallic and pearl colors settle. Shake for at least a minute, then stir if the bottle allows it.
- Apply a thin layerPut a small drop in the center of the damage and let it flow to the edges. Do not paint the surrounding area. A thin layer is always better than a thick one.
- Let it dry and repeatLet each layer dry for 10 to 15 minutes, then add the next one. Stop when the paint sits just level with, or a hair below, the surrounding paint. Most rock chips need two to four layers.
- Seal with clear coatAfter 24 hours, apply clear coat over the repair in the same way: a thin layer, inside the repaired area. Clear coat gives the gloss and protects the color.
- Level and protectOnce the clear coat has cured, use the finishing paste with a microfiber cloth to blend the edge of the repair, then apply wax to protect it.
Common mistakes
- Too much paint at once. A blob stands proud of the surface and catches the light. Build it up in thin layers.
- Skipping the clear coat. Most modern cars have a clear layer on top of the color. Without it the repair looks dull and wears faster.
- Matching by eye. Screens and memory are both bad at color. The paint code is what makes the match.
When the damage needs more than touch-up
If you see bare metal with rust, or the damaged spot is larger than a pencil eraser, read our guide on deep scratches and rust first.