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A rock chip repair at Route 66 Auto Repair in Upland fills a small freeway chip with clear resin before it grows into a crack. Gravel trucks on the I-10 and the 210 throw a lot of stones, and a fresh chip is the easiest glass damage to fix. Bring it in early, keep it clean, and our ASE-certified technicians can usually repair it in one short visit after you approve a written estimate.
What kind of chip do you have?
- Bullseye: a round crater with a dark ring, usually a clean repair
- Star break: short legs running out from the impact point
- Combination break: a bullseye with legs, the most common freeway chip
- Half moon: a partial ring that looks like a crescent
- Surface pit: a tiny divot with no break underneath, often left alone
Why does it help to come in early?
A new chip is clean inside. After a few weeks of dust and car washes, dirt settles into the break and the repaired spot stays more visible.
Heat is the other reason. A cold blast of AC on glass that sat in the sun all afternoon stresses the chip, and a star break can run into a long crack overnight. Until you get here, put a piece of clear tape over the chip and ease up on the defroster and AC vents aimed at the glass.
Our chip repair process
Step 1: Confirm it is repairable
We check the size, depth and location, and send cracks or chips in the driver's view to a windshield repair decision instead.
Step 2: Clean the break
Loose glass and debris are cleared from the impact point so resin can reach every leg.
Step 3: Inject resin
A bridge tool holds the injector over the chip and cycles pressure and vacuum to pull air out and push resin in.
Step 4: Cure and finish
The resin is cured, then the surface is scraped flush and polished.
What's included in a chip repair
Included on the work order
- 01Check of chip type, size and location
- 02Cleaning of the impact point
- 03Pressure and vacuum resin injection
- 04Resin curing
- 05Surface finish flush with the glass
- 06Before and after look with you at the counter
Is a chip a need-now or need-later repair?
Need now: call
- A star or combination chip with legs that are growing
- Any chip on a car that sits in full sun every day
Need later: book
- A tiny surface pit with no break under it
- A small bullseye you can cover with tape and book this week
How pricing and timing work
Chip repair is priced per chip, with the count and type on your written estimate before we start. If a chip is already cracking out, we stop and explain crack sealing or replacement instead. AAA members get 10% off parts and labor, up to $75, when they show the card. A single chip is a short job, so waiting is usually easy when the board allows; call before you drive over.
What to do after a chip repair
Leave the glass alone for the rest of the day: no car wash, no ice scraper, no hard defrost on that spot. If you see a line creeping out from the repair later, call us at (909) 608-7699 and it goes to the front of the line.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a rock chip repair take?
The repair itself is short for one chip. Total time depends on the board that day, so call ahead and we will say whether waiting works.
Will the chip disappear completely?
Usually it becomes much harder to see, but a small mark often remains, especially on older chips with dirt inside. The main goal is strength, so the chip stops spreading.
Can I drive with a chip until my appointment?
Usually, yes, if it is small and outside your view. Cover it with clear tape, avoid slamming doors, and keep cold air off hot glass. If it starts to run, book sooner. Our wiper blade replacement page explains why worn blades can catch on a chip.
Do DIY chip kits work?
Some do on a fresh bullseye. Without a vacuum cycle, air stays trapped and the repair looks cloudy. Tell us if a kit was used.