About

A Family-Owned American Business Since 1999

PaintScratch began in 1999 after founder Collin Harris discovered how difficult it was to find the right touch-up paint for his own vehicle. Drawing on his automotive repair experience, he built a simpler way for drivers to identify their factory color, order the right products, and make repairs with confidence.

Today, PaintScratch is still family owned. We have handled approximately 1,306,500 orders since 1999 and offer more than 100,000 automotive paint colors for cars, trucks, vans, and motorcycles.

PaintScratch at a Glance

Family owned since 1999
Approximately 1,306,500 orders
More than 100,000 automotive paint colors
More than 50 years of combined automotive paint experience

Built on Self-Reliance, Craft, and Family

Collin spent years in the automotive repair industry, founding and operating Car Works Autobody in Boulder, Colorado, so he understands car repair from the inside out.

After accidentally knocking a ski rack onto his Subaru, Collin called his local dealership to order matching touch-up paint. They did not have it, nor did anywhere else he tried. What should have been a simple fix turned into a surprisingly difficult task. He knew his problem was not unique - but rather something car owners everywhere deal with every day.

PaintScratch launched with a simple mission: make it easy for people to find the correct paint, choose the right repair products, and get clear guidance for a successful and affordable repair.

Founder Collin Harris and his refurbished 1967 Porsche in 1976
Starting a big paint job in 1979

Continuing the legacy

Since 2012, Collin's son Nick Harris has led PaintScratch's online operations, bringing the business into the future with the help of his wife, designer Mari Collins Harris.

Both father and son live with their families in the Lake Tahoe area, where they enjoy time outdoors and continue building a company rooted in self-reliance, craftsmanship, and helping people fix things the right way.

Founder Collin Harris with son Nick, the current manager of PaintScratch.com
Son Nick Harris and his wife Mari Collins Harris now run the PaintScratch website

How PaintScratch Matches Your Paint

PaintScratch manages the full matching process:

Helping customers select the vehicle's year, make, model
Identifying the factory paint code
Product selection
Instructions
Customer support.

PaintScratch manages the matching process and works closely with our local color mixing partner – experienced professionals that carry and mix PPG paint systems.

We offer several paint systems, which vary depending on the selected color:

Some formulas are waterborne and others are solvent-based.
Many colors use a basecoat followed by clearcoat, while tricoat colors add a midcoat between those layers.

For older, rare, repainted, or otherwise difficult colors, customers can mail us a sample for a custom hand match. The sample is computer scanned and reviewed by an experienced color specialist before the paint is prepared.

How we match paint colors

Our Values

Family Ownership
PaintScratch has been family owned since 1999. We make decisions for the long term and treat customers with the care we would expect ourselves.
Paint-Matching Experience
Our team brings more than 50 years of combined automotive paint experience to color identification, product guidance, and customer support.
Clear DIY Guidance
We help customers choose the right paint system and understand the preparation, application, and finishing steps before they begin.
Honest Expectations
We explain the limits caused by fading, prior repairs, and difficult finishes. We recommend testing first and provide a defined process for covered match problems.
Mixed for Each Order
Each color is mixed for the selected vehicle and paint code. PaintScratch manages the process while working closely with experienced color specialists at our California mixing partner.
Help When the Code Is Not Enough
For difficult colors, our custom hand-match service uses a mailed sample, computer scanning, and technician review to develop a closer match to the vehicle as it appears today.