Types of Paint

You have a number of color-matching auto paint options when it comes to touching up your car. You can choose between various finishes such as solid, metallic, pearlescent, matte, and acrylic lacquer. You’ll also find some special paints for prestige cars.  

Did you know: “Acrylic lacquer paint was used in the 1920's through to the 60's... This paint is easiest for those with little to no experience painting a car, as it is inexpensive and is easy to apply.”

The Paint Code

Identifying a specific paint color just by looking at it can be difficult. However, every car’s color has a specific paint code. You’ll need to find this code in order to keep the color of your car consistent.  

You can find the paint code in a few different places. It’s often located on a white sticker in the driver’s side door jam. You also might find it on the VIN sticker on your windshield, towards the bottom right of the driver’s side. If you’re having trouble finding the paint code on your car, you can also look up your make and model online.  

Did you know: “Looking at the top overall popular colors in the U.S., for all vehicle categories, silver leads the way with white in close second, followed by black: silver at 23%, white at 15%, and black at 12%.”

How to Apply Paint

If want to touch up the car yourself, see if the damaged area has rust. If so, you’ll need to apply rust arrestor. Use #220 sandpaper to remove the rust, then wash the area to remove dust, dirt, filler residue, wax, and the rust arrestor. Let the area dry completely before using primer to fill in any deep scratches or holes. After applying the primer, paint over the area you’re touching up. If the scratch is small, use a car touch up paint kit. Let the color-matching auto paint dry for a few days, and then wax the car to blend the touched-up area with the rest.  

Did you know: “72 percent of car owners perform maintenance on their own.”