How to Fix Minor Paint Chips on Your Car

Even though they’re small, tiny rocks and debris can damage your car’s paint job. The good news is that if these chips in the paint are caught early, you can potentially fix them without bringing your car to a professional. This post will cover how to fix paint chips on your car in Visalia, CA from the comfort of your own garage.

Clean the chip

Simply painting over the chip without preparing the area beforehand won’t get the job done—the paint will look out of place and will eventually flake off again. Clean the chipped area using soap and water, and then dry it with a soft cloth. Rub the chip with an auto polishing compound once the area is dry. The polish will soften any ragged edges.

Clean the finish

Next, you’ll want to clean the finish using a soft cloth and denatured alcohol. The denatured alcohol will remove any leftover polish and eliminate remaining grime without harming the paint. You don’t need to go crazy with the alcohol—a few wipes with a damp cloth will do just fine.

Apply the primer

Even if the area is clean, putting paint directly on the chip won’t help anything. Just like with painting your home, you’ll need to use a primer first. Gently fill the chipped area using the butt end of a match. Be sure that you’re only touching the edges of the surrounding paint while doing so. Let the primer dry for 30 minutes before moving to the next step.

Buy touch-up paint

Now that the area is prepared, you can head to an auto parts store or your dealership to buy your touch-up paint. We recommend contacting your car dealership for the best way to fix paint chips in Visalia, CA. In addition to confirming the exact color, auto dealers typically sell small bottles of touch-up paint for this exact purpose.

Paint the chip

Before you get excited and start painting, be sure to test the color on a piece of paper to ensure it’ll match your car’s paint job. After you apply the first coat of paint over the primer, let it dry for an hour and then apply a second coat. A few days later, rub the area with your polishing compound to feather the edges and complete the job.

When is a chip beyond repair?

As we mentioned earlier, the steps above are only meant to be used for small chips in the paint. If the metal inside the chip has started to rust at the edges, the chip is too far gone for a DIY repair. Additionally, if there are any dents in the chip, our tips on how to fix paint chips on your car in Visalia, CA won’t help. Thankfully, a team of professionals can address paint chips regardless of their size or location.

See our team when you need help!

If these DIY repair tips didn’t help, bring your car to the professionals at Tom’s Body & Paint, Inc. Regardless of your car’s make or model, our experts know the best way to fix paint chips in Visalia, CA. On top of fixing small chips, we specialize in collision repair that necessitates auto body work in addition to painting. Contact us today to get an estimate for your repair job.

Categorised in: Auto Body Paint

This post was written by Writer