How To Choose a Touch Up Paint Color for Your Car
When maintaining your vehicle's appearance, even the tiniest chips and scratches can be frustrating. They don't just affect the look - they can lead to rust and long-term damage if left untreated. That's why it's essential to find the right touch up paint and application method to fix blemishes before they spread.
Learn how to choose the best car touch up paint, find your vehicle paint code, and apply it with the right tool kit.
Choosing the Right Car Paint Color
So you're asking yourself: "How to get touch up paint for my car?" The process begins by identifying your car's exact color code. The color code can be found on a label in places like the driver's door jamb, under the hood, in the trunk, inside the glove box, on the firewall, or near the radiator, depending on the vehicle.
We have attempted to make the colors shown on the screen for your car as accurate as possible. However, your actual car paint color may not look the same as what you see on the computer screen. If you look at a metallic straight on, it can appear much darker than if you look at it at a lower angle. It is important to verify that you have the correct paint color for your car before ordering.
Example of How Color May Appear on Your Screen
| Color | Color Description | Color Code |
| Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat (1) | 3G | |
| Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat (2) | 3G | |
| Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat (3) | 3G |
Look at the above three colors. The color shown as Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat (1) was taken as an overall impression of the color. Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat (2) was taken from the middle of the door. Finally, Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat (3) was taken from above the rear tire. As you can see, the three colors are similar but pretty different. In our database, we actually show the top color Jade Green Metallic Clearcoat(1) as the actual color in our database. Again, this is why it is so important to find the color code for your car.
Of course, perhaps in the future, we could have pictures of all the cars as above, but it still wouldn't help when you have two cars with nearly the exact same color. This is MUCH more common than you would believe. In fact, for some cars, they will list FOUR Red Metallics for the same year, make and model! What causes this is slight variations in the color formulas sprayed on the car. In fact, for some models, there will be several identical colors but sprayed in different factories, and they will have different color codes.
Matching Your Car's Paint Color
It's nearly impossible to match metallic paints perfectly, especially if the original was applied with spray paint at the factory. That's because:
- Sprayed paint looks different from brushed paint
- Colors fade over time (especially the reds and any color with red in it, like gold)
- Age, exposure to the sun, and weather can alter the original color
However, if you are only repairing small scratches, this should not be too much of an issue as long as the color is reasonably close. If you use the correct application method and prep the surface properly, minor scratches and chips can blend in seamlessly.
Car Paint Color Descriptions and Paint Color Names
If you know your color is Jewel Green Metallic Clearcoat and the code is PA, and all you see on the screen is Emerald Green Metallic Clearcoat with the same code PA, these are the same colors. Often, a vehicle manufacturer will just use a new name to describe an old color, then put the old color name on the vehicle invoice! Again, the color code is how we mix the paint, not the paint description.
Metallic Car Paint Colors
Often, the color description will help you find your color. Say you have Garnet Red and Red Metallic, and these are the only two reds shown for your vehicle. If you know your vehicle has metallic paint (the shiny little pieces of aluminum in your paint), then the Red Metallic would probably be your color. If you don't have metallic paint, the Garnet Red would be your color. Again, to be absolutely sure, check the color code on your vehicle.
Two Tone Auto Paint Colors
Two Tone colors will be listed as follows in the database. We have shown a two-tone color combination which includes a regular two tone color combination (8W2) and one which includes a "Unpainted" color just to explain what these are.
If you have the first two-tone combination, the actual vehicle paint code on your vehicle will be the 8W2, and you will not see the paint codes 64C or 49B listed anywhere on your vehicle. You have to determine which one to order by looking at the color shown on the screen. In almost all cases, it's pretty obvious which color you need to order. In the case below, if you want to order the green portion, you would click next to the color listed as Green Metallic Clearcoat (Code #64C), and if you wanted the Slate, you would click on the box for the Slate Gray Metallic Clearcoat (Code #49B). Again, your color code on your car will be 8W2
In the second case, if your vehicle color code is 8J6, the only color you can order is color code 792, as the other two-tone part of the car is unpainted and is probably a plastic part.
| Color | Color Description | Color Code |
| Two Tone Color Combination | 8W2 | |
| Green Metallic Clearcoat | 64C | |
| Slate Gray Metallic Clearcoat | 49B | |
| Two Tone Color Combination | 8J6 | |
| Royal Silver Metallic Clearcoat | 792 | |
| Unpainted! | ||
If you have any questions about two-tone paints, please contact us .
Clearcoat Car Paint
Most vehicles use a two-stage paint process: a base color followed by a clear protective layer. If you skip the clearcoat, your touch up may not shine like the original finish - and it may wear away faster, exposing your vehicle's paint job to the elements. Make sure you follow this link for a complete discussion on clearcoats.
Tri-Coat Car Paint
For cars with tri-coat finishes, the process of matching paint can be more complex due to the additional layers of color. If your car uses a tri-coat paint system, be sure to follow the instructions for the correct custom mixed paint. Make sure you view the tri-coat directions page for a complete discussion on tri-coats if your color description contains the word Tri-Coat.
Get a Perfect Color Match
Whether you're dealing with a minor scratch or restoring a larger area, choosing the right automotive touch up paint is crucial for a perfect color match. Spot it, fix it, match it - finding the color code has never been easier!
