Is It Normal for a Vehicle's Paint to Be Scratched by Stones?

[AllieLynn]

It is normal for a vehicle's paint to be scratched by stones. This may occur when the vehicle passes through areas with a lot of dust or when stones kicked up by the vehicle in front scratch the paint. To minimize such incidents, it is advisable to maintain a lower speed when driving through such areas and keep a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. Below are the steps to clean and repair scratched vehicle paint: Clean the Scratched Area: For new scratches, first use a towel to thoroughly clean the scratched area, wiping multiple times to remove dust and paint fragments before applying touch-up paint. For older scratches or paint chips, it is necessary to clean off rust, dirt, and grease from the affected area before repainting. Use a very fine wet sandpaper to gently sand away rust spots, ensuring they are completely removed to prevent further rusting. Dirt and grease should be cleaned with car wash foam before painting. Paint Touch-Up: First, cover the undamaged paint around the scratch to avoid accidentally applying paint to unaffected areas. Shake the touch-up pen vigorously at least 30 times to mix the paint evenly. Remove the cap, take out the pen, and scrape off excess paint at the bottle's opening. Carefully apply the paint to the scratch, filling it evenly. Apply a thin layer first, wait 5 minutes for it to dry slightly, then repeat the process two or three more times until the painted area is slightly raised above the surrounding paint. Paint Sanding and Polishing: Wait for three days to check if the painted area is level with the surrounding paint. If it is too high, soak 2000-grit sandpaper in soapy water for 20-30 minutes to soften it. Clean the surface of dust, secure the sandpaper with a sanding block, and gently sand the painted area with water until it is level with the surrounding paint.

[HectorAnn]

Indeed, having your car's paint scratched by stones is quite a common occurrence. After driving for so many years, especially on highways, I've often encountered flying pebbles hitting the hood or doors, leaving small scratches. Essentially, this happens because loose gravel on the road gets kicked up by tires and propelled by wind pressure to strike the paint surface, damaging the coating. Actually, this counts as normal everyday wear and tear, much like how smartphone screens easily get scratched—there's no need to be overly concerned. Maintaining a safe distance from vehicles ahead while driving can help reduce such incidents. Additionally, I recommend applying a paint protection film. It's a small investment that can significantly minimize scratches, saving you from expensive repainting repairs later. Remember, ignoring minor scratches may lead to gradual expansion or even rusting, so regularly checking your car's paint condition is a wise practice.

[DeBrody]

I often drive long distances, and getting paint scratched by stones is a common occurrence. Once, while driving on the highway, a small pebble flew up and left a mark on the hood, which was heartbreaking to see. But this is actually quite common, especially in areas with lots of gravel or during bad weather when fast-moving traffic kicks up stones. Don’t worry—it’s not abnormal; car paint itself is somewhat brittle and can’t withstand hard impacts. During regular maintenance, I’ve learned to handle minor scratches myself using polishing compounds, while deeper ones might require professional polishing at a shop. The key is that driving slowly in the city reduces the problem, and keeping a safe distance from large vehicles on highways can prevent many scratches. Developing a habit of checking the paint and addressing issues early is a good practice.

[Devon]

Paint scratches from stones are absolutely common. I've seen it countless times in daily driving, like on gravel roads or muddy areas during rain. It's not a malfunction but normal damage caused by external factors, indicating the car is in a normal usage environment. Small scratches left untreated may affect appearance but won't impact safety in the short term. It's recommended to go directly to an auto detailing shop for polishing repair - hassle-free, cost-effective and worry-free. Just don't let it expand.