How do I tell how deep my paint chip is?

Wash and dry the area first, since road film makes chips look deeper than they are. Then look into the bottom of the chip in daylight. If you still see your car's color, the chip is through the clear coat only. If the bottom is flat grey, white or black, you are looking at primer. If it is bright silver or dull grey, the chip has reached bare metal. If it is brown or orange, corrosion has already started. Finally, drag a fingernail across the chip — if it catches, the chip is through the clear coat at minimum. All the paint on a modern car totals only about four to six thousandths of an inch across four layers, which is why chips reach metal easily.

Is a chip that only goes through the clear coat urgent?

No. If your car's color is still visible at the bottom of the chip, the color and primer layers are intact and nothing is exposed to the weather, so there is no rust risk. A clear-coat-only chip often polishes out entirely; if it does not, a clear-coat touch-in levels the surface. This is typically a same-day repair.

What happens if a rock chip goes down to bare metal?

When the bottom of the chip shows bright silver or dull grey, the panel itself is exposed with nothing between it and the weather, and rust risk becomes high. This is the point where waiting begins to cost money rather than just looking bad. The repair seals the exposed metal, then applies primer, base color and clear coat blended into the surrounding panel, typically over one to two days.

My paint chip has turned brown or orange — what does that mean?

Brown or orange at the bottom of a chip, or a dark halo spreading outward beneath the paint, means corrosion has already begun. Rust travels underneath intact paint, so the visible damage is smaller than the actual damage. The corrosion must be cut back and treated before refinishing, because paint will not bond to rusted metal. If it has spread beneath the panel surface, a larger area of the panel becomes part of the repair. This typically takes two to four days.

Paint Stone and Rock Chip Repair

Professional Vehicle Paint Chip Repair and Repaint

✔Major & Minor Paint Chips

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✔Aluminum & Steel Cars

✔ all makes & models

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Auto Paint chip Repair and Removal

Stone chips commonly damage the hood, bumper, headlights, and fenders when road debris hits your vehicle. Small chips can expose the metal underneath, increasing the risk of rust and corrosion if left untreated.

Why Repair Stone Chips?

Prompt repair helps prevent rust, protect your car’s paint, maintain its appearance, and avoid more costly repairs.

Stone Chip Repair Options

Paint touch-ups: Ideal for small, isolated chips.
Panel repair and repainting: Recommended for larger chips, exposed metal, rust, or multiple damaged areas.

Regal Repair can assess the damage and recommend the right stone chip repair solution to protect your vehicle.

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How deep is your chip?

All the paint on your car adds up to roughly the thickness of a sheet of paper — about four to six thousandths of an inch across four separate layers. That's why a stone at freeway speed reaches metal so easily. Where your chip stopped determines both the repair and how long you can safely leave it.

Clear coat only

No rush

What you see: A small white or hazy nick. Look into the bottom of the chip — your car's actual color is still there.
Fingernail test: Glides over, or barely catches.
Rust risk: None. Color and primer are both intact, so nothing is exposed.
The repair: Often polishes out entirely. If not, a clear-coat touch-in levels it.
Time: Same day

Through the color, down to primer

Months, not years

What you see: The bottom of the chip is flat grey, white, or black — that's primer showing, not your paint. On a dark car it's obvious; on a silver car, look closely for the difference between flat and metallic.
Fingernail test: Catches clearly.
Rust risk: Low for now. Primer is a barrier, but it's thin and it's already breached at the chip edges.
The repair: Fill, color-match to your paint code, then blend clear coat into the surrounding panel so there's no visible edge.
Time: 1–2 days

Down to bare metal

Fix it soon

What you see: Bright silver or dull grey at the bottom of the chip. That's the panel itself, with nothing between it and the weather.
Fingernail test: Catches sharply — you can feel the edge of the crater.
Rust risk: High. This is the point where waiting starts costing you money rather than just looking bad.
The repair: Seal the exposed metal, prime, apply base color, clear, and blend into the panel.
Time: 1–2 days

Exposed and already corroding

Don't wait

What you see: Brown or orange at the bottom, or a dark halo creeping outward under the paint around the chip. The paint edges may be lifting.
Fingernail test: The paint around the chip flakes or lifts when touched.
Rust risk: Not a risk anymore — it's happening. Corrosion travels underneath intact paint, so what you see is smaller than what's there.
The repair: The corrosion has to be cut back and treated first, because paint will not bond to rusted metal. If it has spread under the panel, more of the panel comes into the repair.
Time: 2–4 days

Check yours in 30 seconds

Wash and dry the spot. Road film makes every chip look deeper than it is.
Look into the bottom of the chip in daylight. Your color means level 1. Flat grey or white means level 2. Shiny metal means level 3. Brown or orange means level 4.
Drag a fingernail across it. If it catches, the chip is through the clear coat at minimum.

Not sure what you're looking at? Send us a photo. We'll tell you the level and whether it's worth bringing in — sometimes the answer is that it isn't.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Paint Stone and Rock Chip Repair

What causes stone chips on car paint?

Road debris and small stones can strike your vehicle and damage the paint.

Can Regal Repair fix major and minor paint chips?

Yes. Regal Repair repairs both major and minor paint chips on steel and aluminum vehicles.

What happens if stone chips are left untreated?

Exposed metal can develop rust and corrosion, leading to more extensive repairs.

Can stone chips be repaired without repainting the entire panel?

Small chips may only need a paint touch-up, while larger or multiple chips may require panel repair and repainting.

Does Regal Repair offer a warranty on paint chip repairs?

Yes. Regal Repair offers a lifetime warranty on qualifying paint chip repairs.
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