Does a ceramic coating protect against stone chips?

We can say with a high degree of certainty that ceramic coatings do help protect against road-rash and bug chips. We have an ongoing experiment where we have coated half a car with ceramic and the other half without.

This experiment is ongoing, but within a short amount of time it became apparent that there was a large difference on the front of the car. While the ceramic coating we used didn't prevent stone chips completely, there were less of them and they were smaller. Furthermore, while the side without the coating was stained with bug splatter, the coated side had no staining at all.

So, while ceramic coatings don't offer complete and total protection against stone chips, it will make a dramatic difference. Furthermore, we have a ceramic coating called Helios Shield which is a thicker, flexible coating which can be applied over a ceramic coating which provides additional protection.

What this question is really about

This question is usually asked by owners who have been told, correctly, that ceramic coatings do not stop stone chips - but still want to know whether a coating offers any practical benefit at all when it comes to road impact damage.

What our real-world testing showed

We carried out a direct comparison by ceramic coating one side of a vehicle and leaving the other side uncoated, then using the car normally.

• The ceramic-coated side still suffered stone chips
• However, there were fewer stone chips overall
• The chips that did occur were generally smaller

This confirms that while a ceramic coating does not act as an impact shield, it can reduce the severity and frequency of damage in real driving conditions.

Why this can happen

Ceramic coatings slightly harden and stabilise the clear coat surface. While they are far too thin to absorb impacts like PPF, they can influence how the clear coat responds to minor debris strikes.

• The coating reinforces the surface at a microscopic level
• Very small impacts may be deflected or cause less disruption
• Larger impacts still break through as stone chips

The bigger difference: insect and contamination damage

The most noticeable result of our testing was not stone chips, but bug staining.

• The ceramic-coated side showed dramatically less insect staining
• Bug remains were easier to remove
• There was far less etching compared with the uncoated side

In day-to-day ownership, this reduction in chemical and biological damage often has a bigger impact on how the car looks long-term than stone chips alone.

Important limits to keep clear

• A ceramic coating does not prevent stone chips
• It does not replace paint protection film
• Any benefit against chips is incremental, not absolute

How to interpret this properly

Ceramic coatings should not be chosen as a stone chip solution. Their value lies in overall surface protection, easier cleaning, and reduced chemical damage - with a secondary benefit of slightly reducing chip severity.

Best-practice takeaway

• Ceramic coatings do not stop stone chips, but they can reduce their number and size
• The biggest real-world benefit is reduced bug staining and chemical damage
• Use PPF where physical impact protection is critical
• Use ceramic coating for overall preservation and ease of maintenance
• The best protection against stone chips, is still not to drive too close to the car in front!

Written by Danny Argent. Last updated 13/01/2026 15:27