Road Trip Damage: Gravel Chips and Cracked Windshields

Where chips come from

Winter road treatments and passing trucks throw small stones.

Reduce the risk

Keep distance from trucks and avoid tailgating.

Check after a trip

Inspect the windshield, hood and bumper.

Windshield chips

Repair chips quickly to stop cracks.

Paint chips

Seal exposed metal to prevent rust.

What the road does to your car

Highways to the Sierra and Tahoe use traction material in winter, and trucks and cars throw it back at the cars behind. The result is a pattern of pits on the front of the hood, the leading edge of the roof and the lower front bumper, plus the occasional windshield strike.

You can see the pattern by looking at the front edge of the hood in side light after a trip. Small pits that go through the clear coat will not bleed rust immediately, but they open a path for moisture.

Protect before you go, check when you return

Clean wax or a paint sealant before a long drive helps the surface shed small stones. Some drivers add clear protective film on the leading edge of the hood. Whatever you choose, leave more distance behind trucks than you think you need, since stone-throwing is worst in the first moments after a truck passes through gravel.

When you return, wash the car and inspect the windshield and hood. Seal any chip that exposes metal with touch-up paint to slow rust, and get any windshield chip looked at promptly. A free estimate takes only a few minutes.