As you are driving down the road, the car in front of you may kick up a rock or piece of gravel. These flying bits of road debris can hit your car and leave a small chip or crack in the paint job on your car. These small chips or cracks left primarily by rocks are called stone chips. If you have stone chips on your car, you may be wondering if they even need to be repaired, or if you can purchase stone chip repair kits at your local automotive store to make the repair yourself. There are many reasons these chips need to be repaired and should be repaired by a professional. Here are a few of those reasons. 

Stone Chip Repairs Can Lead to Rust or Water Damage

One of the reasons why stone chip repairs are needed is because they affect not only the paint on your car but the clear coat as well. The clear coat and paint on your car coat the metal body of your car, protecting it from rusting and corroding when it rains. Stone chips can allow water to reach the metal on your car, leading to rust, corrosion or water damage issues. 

Do-It-Yourself Stone Chip Repair Kits Typically Do Not Perfectly Match Your Paint Color

One of the reasons why you should have stone chip repairs completed by a professional, instead of attempting to do the repairs yourself, is because most at-home do-it-yourself kits are not a perfect paint match for the color of your car. This may make the repairs noticeable and may affect the entire aesthetic look of your car. 

Not Having Stone Chip Repairs Can Negatively Affect the Value of Your Car

The final reason why you should have stone chip repairs completed by a professional is that the value of your car can be negatively affected if you do not have the repairs made, or if you attempt to make the repairs yourself. If you plan on selling your car, having a professional repair the stone chips helps to maximize the amount of money you can get for it. 

If you have stone chips on the body of your automobile, you should bring your car to an auto service or auto body repair shop. They can take a look at your vehicle and determine the best way to repair the chips, based on their size and the number present on your vehicle. A professional can match the paint on your car to the paint that is used to repair the chips, helping to ensure no one will be able to tell that any work was done on your car. Call a professional today to schedule an appointment for stone chip repair services.