Rock chip

A rock chip looks small, but it exposes bare metal to the air. Left alone, it's one of the fastest ways a car starts rusting. We can fill and blend most chips on-site, the same day.

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Before & after

Here's what the fix looks like

Every one of these is a real job we did somewhere around Summerville or Charleston.

Close-up of car tire and scratched grey car fender with black scuff marks and paint damage.

Before

Close-up of a fixed area on a vehicle's light gray fender above the tire.

After

Deep scratches

2 hours

250$

Car hood covered with water spots and light reflections of sky and clouds.

Before

Glossy black car hood with a Raptor badge and reflections of trees and a lamp post.

After

Water spots

2,5 hours

300$

Close-up of white vehicle's front left fender with black scratches near the headlight and tire.

Before

Close-up of a white vehicle's front tire, black fender, orange side marker, and headlight.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Close-up of a black car's fender with visible scratches and scuff marks above the tire.

Before

Close-up of the front left wheel and fender of a black vehicle on a gravel surface, showing tire tread and part of the headlight and indicator light.

After

Paint transfer

2 hours

270$

Reflection of a person wearing a blue visor and black shirt, crouching and holding a phone, seen on a glossy surface with a long scratch across it, with a beige house door and siding in the background.

Before

Reflection of a man taking a photo with a smartphone, kneeling next to a black toolbox with red latches on a gravel surface in front of a white house with a door and window.

After

Deep scratch

1 hour

140$

Close-up of the driver's side of a black car with visible scratches and scuff marks on the door near the handle and lower panel, parked on a gravel surface with grass and trees in the background.

Before

Close-up of the side of a black car with a large dent on the rear door panel, parked on a driveway in front of a garage, with reflections of nearby house siding on the car surface.

After

Light scratches

1,5 hours

150$

Rock chip

What you need to know

A clear picture of what you're dealing with makes the next step a lot easier.

Don't let it sit

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

How to tell if it's a rock chip

  • It's small and sharply defined. Rock chips are usually round or irregular, not long like a scratch.
  • It's on the hood, bumper, or front edges. These are the areas most exposed to gravel and road debris at highway speed.
  • You can see bare metal or primer in the center. The impact often removes paint down to the base layer.
  • It happened suddenly. Rock chips usually appear after highway driving or following the car in front too closely.

What happens if you leave a rock chip

  • Rust starts at the exposed metal. Once bare metal is open to moisture and salt air, corrosion can begin within weeks in the Lowcountry climate.
  • Water gets trapped under the paint edge. This causes the paint around the chip to lift and flake over time.
  • One chip often becomes several. Rock chips are rarely isolated. The same drive that caused one can leave a few more nearby.
  • The repair area grows. A small chip caught early is a quick fill. Once rust spreads underneath, it usually needs a larger repair.

Simple process

How we fix it

Once you know what you're dealing with, here's what happens next.

//01

Cleaning and inspecting

The chip is cleaned out and checked for any rust that has already started.

//02

Priming exposed metal

Any bare metal is treated and primed before paint goes on, to stop rust from spreading.

//03

Filling with matched paint

The chip is filled with paint matched to your exact color, layer by layer.

//04

Leveling and polishing

The repair is polished flush with the surrounding paint so it sits smooth.

One honest note

Most rock chips can be filled and blended so they're very hard to spot at a normal glance. If rust has already started underneath the chip, we'll let you know before we begin. In some cases that means a slightly larger repair area than the chip itself.

FAQ

Questions we get a lot

Chances are, someone's already asked what's on your mind. Here's what we tell them.

Can a rock chip really cause rust?

Will you match the exact paint color?

How many chips can be fixed in one visit?

Does a rock chip repair need to be repainted?

How much does rock chip repair cost?

Get started

Get your free quote

Fill out the form with a few quick details and a couple of photos and we'll send back a real price, usually the same day.

A man wearing sunglasses, a blue visor, black t-shirt, and gray shorts kneels on a driveway holding a vehicle buffer polisher while smiling at the camera, with a white SUV and toolboxes containing car care products nearby.