Already Have Rock Chips? What to Do Before Getting PPF

Why existing chips matter

PPF is clear. A chip under the film is still a chip, and you'll still see it. Film can also make it slightly harder to fix later, because touching up a chip means removing the film over it first.

There's a second issue: a chip that goes down to bare metal can start to rust. Film over a chip slows exposure to water and salt, but it won't stop corrosion that has already started.

Your options

1. Touch up the chips first

Small chips can be filled with touch-up paint matched to your car's paint code. Done carefully, this seals bare spots and makes chips much less visible. It won't look like new paint up close, but under clear film from a normal distance, filled chips are much less noticeable.

2. Paint correction for scratches and swirls

Light scratches and swirl marks in the clear coat can often be polished out before film goes on. That's one reason paint correction is a common first step before PPF.

3. Repaint heavily chipped panels

If a bumper or hood is covered in chips, touch-ups won't make it look right. Repainting the panel before film may make more sense, especially on a car you plan to keep. Fresh paint needs time to cure before film can go on, so ask the body shop and the installer about timing.

4. Accept them and protect against new ones

On an older car, a few chips may not be worth fixing. Film still stops new ones from adding up.

Which panels to prioritize

If the front end is already chipped, look closely at where the damage is:

• Bumper and leading edge of the hood: the most common spots, covered by any front end package.
• Mirrors: often forgotten, and they take a lot of hits.
• A-pillars and roof edge: if you see chips here, an extended or track pack makes sense.
• Rockers and behind the wheels: chips here come from your own tires. Film on the lower panels helps.

Windshield chips

Windshield chips are a separate problem. Michigan only allows film on the top 4 inches of the windshield, so tint film isn't an option for protecting the glass. Small windshield chips are usually handled by glass repair shops before they spread into cracks.

The bottom line

Fix what's worth fixing, then protect what you've got. The longer you wait, the more chips there are to deal with.

See our paint protection film and PPF cost pages for more.