Q: How can I stop the paint chipping on my car from killing its value?

asked by on November 05, 2015

I'm planning on trading in my 2006 Honda Pilot later this year and I am concerned about how the condition of the paint will affect the vehicle's value. The clear coat has been flaking off and is missing in big spots on places like the hood. Is there anything I can do that will help to increase the value of my vehicle without costing me a ton of money? It’s a fairly new car with only 62,000 miles.

The clear coat is a final coat of clear paint which helps protect the color coat on your vehicle. This coat is exposed to many environmental conditions like sun, acid rain, bird droppings, and bug damage. The exposure can cause the clear coat to wear off in places, lose its adherence to the color coat, and start flaking off. The only fix is to remove the clear coat by wet sanding until the top color coat is exposed. You can then choose to either just buff and wax the color coat until you trade your vehicle in, or have a new clear coat put on. I would recommend getting a quote for the paint work, then compare the vehicle’s value as is and in a repaired condition to determine if the repair is cost effective.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Cylinder #4 misfire, PO304
In order to know for sure that your problem is with the injector for the number 4 cylinder, is to do a fuel pressure leak down. If the fuel pressure does not leak down after you turn on the key...
Engine light still on after replacing the gas cap
This is a simple fix. Replace the fuel cap. The cap sometimes does not reseal after refueling causing the system to detect a leak. Make sure the cap is sealing after you refuel and make sure the vehicle is turned...
all the tranmission fluid burned out, dip stick was black, burning smell. new tranmission installed, a line was punctured on insta
Have the vehicle checked after filling the transmission. You should not let the fluid get low on the new transmission. You may need to have the vehicle run on a lift to see where the leak is. If you need...
Heater malfunction - 1997 Ford E-150 Econoline Club Wagon
You need to have the heater air conditioning case checked to see if the actuator for the temperature blend door is moving when you move the temperature from cold to hot. Also check to see if both heater hoses (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/heater-hoses-replacement)...
My harmonic balancer is slipping
The Harmonic balancer has a steel center hub and outer ring that are bonded to a rubber ring that separates them. When the car is very old, the adhesive in the balancer dries up and the outer ring might start...
My car won't stay running unless I hold the gas pedal down.
This is likely as your symptoms do fall into that category because a clogged or malfunctioning idle air control valve may not allow enough air into the engine to maintain a good idle speed. A faulty air temperature and engine...
No oil which caused timing belt to break and camshaft
What is of concern to me, is that the mechanic did not mention that the engine in your vehicle is an interference engine. This means that the pistons and intake and/or exhaust valves occupy the same space. As the name...
I replaced thermostat and thermostat sensor hose collapsed and I just changed the upper radiator hoses but haven’t tested it if it
Radiator hose collapse is from a leaking intake manifold gasket or radiator cap is bad and not letting the system draw fluid from overflow. Replace the cap and pressure test system to see if it has a leak in the...
I just had the transmission replaced on my 2011 Nissan Juke with 56000 miles on it and now it is idling rough intermittently and t
Rough idle is typically fuel and/or ignition system related assuming that there are no mechanical problems with an engine such as uneven or low cylinder compression. The problem is diagnosed, in part, using a real time scanner which reports a...

Related articles

How to Get Sap Off a Car
Tree sap on your car can be hard to remove. Hand wash your car, then try car tree sap remover or rubbing alcohol to get tree sap off your paint.
Understanding the Honda Maintenance Minder System and Lights
Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. The Honda Maintenance Minder codes indicate when and what service your car needs.
Top 10 Best-Selling Cars of 2016
Ford F-series pickup trucks, Toyota Camry, and Honda Civic are some of the best-selling cars of 2016 and all deliver on reliability and efficiency.