If you don’t know your colour code and you want to find the right car paint, it’s easy with Paint Match Pro. Once only within the budgets and skillsets of scientists, handheld color analyzers—one popular model is the Color Muse, which sells for around $60 on Amazon—are now usable by anyone and within the budget of most do-it-yourselfers. To find the paint code, look on the vehicle certification label or the service parts identification sticker. This is easy to find, and is usually on the identification plate which can be found under the bonnet, in the boot, or inside the door frame on the driver's side of the vehicle. In order for us to create a matching colour, we'll need your vehicle's paint code information. Most body shops have at least one person who is adept at matching paints, but it is hard to get a perfect match especially when it is a small area repaired and repainted. And when they tell you the paint code, write down the code. Find the color code for the original paint on your car. Many of the larger paint companies—including Behr and Sherwin-Williams—offer mobile apps to make paint matching a breeze. Find the Paint Code. Over time, walls throughout the home accumulate dings, nail holes, even random spots where some not-so-temporary tape pulled away a chunk of paint. Keep in mind that some cars may have two tones and need two or more paint colors [source: Mix the paint until you get the exact color you need: start with the variations in lightness and darkness and adjust the hue until it matches. Interior Paint Color Code Search Use the product professionals use. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. You can search for your car by make, colour and year, and you’ll see which paints match your car’s colour. With this information, you may be able to find your car's color code on the manufacturer's Web sites, but it depends on the age of your car. Other than original paint codes, another option is color matching by computer. Each works a little differently, but the gist is the same: Download to your smartphone, snap a photo of the painted surface you want to match (in natural light, for best results), upload it to the app, and voila! It is a time consuming process and the cost for this is $35.00. Bonus: You’ll even be able to preview recommended accent colors and design the perfect palette from the comforts of your own home. Of course, that’s not the only time that knowing how to match paint can come in handy. Then look for a stockist near you and go and buy your perfect match. Touching up damage to your vehicles paintwork, or colour coding new accessories can make a huge difference to your vehicles overall appearance. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you’ve provided to them or that they’ve collected from your use of their services. Remember, you don't want the color of the spot you're repairing to be too light or too dark, and you have a lot of variables to deal with [source: New 'Textalyzer' Tech Aims to Catch Distracted Drivers. It is often necessary to test the touch up paint on a hidden section of the … Whatever your situation, there are several ways you can match paint to your desired color, even without knowing the paint’s brand or name. Instead of trying to match up paint colors with your eye, get the correct color by looking up the paint code. It is essential in helping you match your vehicle’s color. Whichever chip matches most closely is the winner. Luckily, matching paint can be pretty simple with cars, if you know how to go about it. Copyright © 2021 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hand matching is an exact match of the paint sample you have sent us. You can use this code to know what the color actually looks like. Even the factory made paint that is supposed to match, won’t. Give it a minute, and you’ll get an analysis of the color’s makeup. Simply search for your vehicle by entering its model, make and the year it was manufactured, and you’ll be presented with instructions that show you how to find your car colour code. Our company is dedicated to delivering Factory Matched Automotive Paint at a reasonable price. An alternative way to find the paint code. You consent to our cookies if you continue to use our website. Bring the chips home and hang them on the surface whose color you want to duplicate, then observe in multiple lights, including daylight and lamplight. RELATED: The Most Popular Paint Colors in America. Standard Color matching: Here at car touch up paint have the required expert qualified professional trade expertise to exact match any colour required to manufacturers original paint codes including Non-Metallic, Metallic, Tri-Coat, tinted Tri-Coat Clear formulas to special effect Xirallic Paint. Weird & Wacky, Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 Company. Yes. Just bring this “sample” to your local paint store and let the technicians there use their color-matching wizardry to find the closest matching hue of paint. You’ll get that manufacturer’s closest colors. You have two choices for paint matching. *Note: Properly clean the surface before spraying color. Finding Your Paint Code & Colour Matching Paint Getting a perfect colour match is easy with Supercheap Auto’s paint mixing service. They should have a full set of colour variant cards to help decide on the correct shade. Then head to your favorite paint store, and gather up a selection of paint chips close to the hue you are trying to match. This makes our touch up paint kits foolproof to use, as they leave an invisible, seamless result while thoroughly repairing your minor paintwork damage. By Michelle Ullman and Bob Vila. Under the scheme, the paint manufacturer obtains a panel of each new colour from the car maker and its colour wave lengths are accurately recorded on a chart by a spectrophotometer. When you purchase a Chipex kit, there are two ways you can select the paint you need, and ensure it is exactly the right car colour code. Always blend the color to achieve a color match. Michelle Ullman, Bob Vila, avoid duplication by using proprietary formulations, The Best Winter Camping Destinations in America, 5 Easy Steps to a Successful Paint Makeover, 10 Brilliant Hacks for Your Best-Ever Paint Finish. Perfect Match Premium Automotive Paint. An experienced technician will mix up the same formulation and will spray a card, let it dry and then take the card and car out into the sunlight to test for a match. To help, here are some tips on how to perfectly match your car paint. How does a NASCAR track physically change during a race? Finding the label bearing the paint code information can be an adventure all by itself. Or, maybe you found it, but the original paint is too old to use with any success. Fade resistant and flexible, COLOR COAT is not a vinyl dye, but a permanent coating. Chrysler Paint Codes Dodge Paint Codes Jeep Paint Codes Plymouth Paint Codes; Ford - (Ford, Lincoln, Mercury) Always on the drivers door jamb, but often they will have the color code above where it says "Exterior Paint Code". Not sure where that old can went? Information about the device's operating system, Information about other identifiers assigned to the device, The IP address from which the device accesses a client's website or mobile application, Information about the user's activity on that device, including web pages and mobile apps visited or used, Information about the geographic location of the device when it accesses a website or mobile application. More expert input would be exercised when it came time to spray the car, and techniques were adjusted in an effort to get the new paint to more closely match the existing finish. While a 100-percent match is not always possible, these tricks should get you as close as possible to the intended shade that no one will notice the tiny discrepancy except for you. In the end, it was an admirable job; given the condition of our old paint, an indiscernible match was not a reasonable expectation. Micro-lattice Metal: The future of lightweight cars? That’s when you pull out the spackling compound, putty knife, and touch-up paint. Your Exact Color, Computer Matched, Hand Mixed, and Delivered Each one of our kits is handmade to your manufacturer’s exact color formation, for the perfect color match. You'll need the manufacturer's name, the car's model number and the year the car was manufactured. Even if the color looks close enough, blend it! Most of these devices, including the Color Muse, also allow you to compare colors, create palettes, and browse through “inspiration galleries” on the gadget’s corresponding mobile app. You can also find your car's color code on the car's identification plate (sometimes called the Service Parts Identification) [source: Take the color code to an auto body supply shop or repair shop and order the paint. Eyeball It. The best way is to try to find the color code. Pigment: Pigment determines the exact color and finish of the paint. Resin determines the durability of your paint and the quality of the application [source: Solvent provides the right amount of viscosity, so the paint can be applied [source: Pigment comes in powder form and includes colors or toners that are mixed together to give the finish. However, using the VIN to get the right paint code is an excellent way. Welcome to Express Paint. While we can’t guarantee a color match without a sample, if you have the code, we can mix the paint according to the OEM formulations. Dupli-Color® Perfect Match® Premium Automotive Paint is an easy-to-use, high-quality, fast-drying, acrylic lacquer aerosol paint specially formulated to match the exact color of the original factory applied coating. Using a sharp utility blade, score a small square on a section of painted drywall that’s not too terribly conspicuous. SEM COLOR COAT is formulated to match, restore or change color on most vinyl surfaces, flexible and rigid plastics, carpet, and velour. We use OEM formulations supplied by the top paint manufacturers to match the color code. If you are wondering how to find car paint code with VIN number, this is what you need to know. They will note if it matches or will make slight tweaks to the formula based on color matching experience. Once you find the shade you want, click on any color chip to learn more about the color and see how it actually looks with our speed shape visualizer. It most often comes in a powder and is mixed into the paint. You can go to the car manufacturer’s site and see if you can find the car paint color code. If you want to repaint your vehicle, you need the vehicle paint code. Find the color code for the original paint on your car. They’ll be able to match the color very closely with their in-store spectrophotometer. Option 1 – Get your exact paint code … At the paint store, staff will use their spectrophotometer to analyze the chip and match it to their brand’s closest color. Where is the VIN located? Keep in mind that, other than eyeballing, this is the option likeliest to be a little off, due to variations in color display on phone cameras. You can also use our handy colour code database to search for paint codes. If you do things in the right way, the procedure is as simple as that. Automotive paint is made of resin, pigment and solvent. No matter—you can still get by matching what you need to a chip of paint. Fortunately, the leading paint manufacturers have developed a computer controlled paint matching service to facilitate their task. In this paint matching guide we demonstrate that it's possible to match mystery automotive paint perfectly when you can't ID the color without commiting to a new paint job - Car … The more resin, the most durable your car's paint. BMW uses a paint label that identifies the paint color by name and gives the three-digit paint code. For example, you might not need the precise robin’s egg blue you saw painted in an adorable nursery or the exact shade of navy spotted on a painted buffet via Instagram (but it pays to pick up a swatch and hang it up on your soon-to-be accent wall or piece of furniture destined for painting to make sure you’re happy with it before you start). Even without using a color app, go ahead and take a picture with your phone (again, while the object or room is illuminated with natural light) and bring that photo to your favorite paint store. If you require a paint formula for a hand matched paint, there is a one time charge of $150.00. All paint is mixed to the exact formulation at the time of order. With Collision 24’s paint matching system, you can run your car through the system to analyze the paint, find the paint code and get the right color every time you need a touchup. By isolating the color, it blocks all sources of external, ambient lighting (which varies throughout the day) and uses its own consistent internal light to get a precise read. If an absolute match isn’t critical, you might eyeball the paint options at the store and … These small gadgets, which work in tandem with an app, are quick and easy to use: Press the sensor against the colored item—be that painted wall, a swatch of fabric, even the surface of something more natural like a leaf—and the sensor does the rest. If you don’t know your car paint codes, tracking it down couldn’t be easier. With this information, you may be able to find your car's color code on the manufacturer's Web sites, but it depends on the age of your car. The problem with ordering the original color is it would be too far off from what the paint looks like now, even in the less-faded engine bay – as it’s been nearly 60 years since the car was painted. Click the color wheel to select a color family, select the specific category, choose from a unique color feature, or mix and match any combination to find the color that's right for you! When all else fails and you need a perfect match for an already-painted wall, collect a sample to take to the paint store. However, most colors we make dating back from around 1930 to the present are a match the first time, regardless of whether we have a chip on file to make a visual match. Want to match that pale yellow, bright blue, or stormy-sky-gray wall or furniture? Our paint technicians carefully match the sample you have sent. This means that if you save this color code and present it to the auto shop professionals, they will be able to find the exact paint color using a specialised database of all paint colours. We can match over 95 percent of all colors on the market. Once you are able to locate the color code, find the paint color and get your car … Use spackle to fill in any depressions or gouges, smooth it with a scraper or dull blade, and let it dry completely before painting the wall. You'll need the manufacturer's name, the car's model number and the year the car was manufactured. Once you have your new paint, remember to patch the spot where you took the sample. Custom Color Matching Service . Is the paint mixed to match my car color? Your car is nine years old so the OEM paint has changed somewhat, likely faded a bit. Colour matching - same colour, different shades After identifying the basic colour, a trip to your paint supplier with either the car or a piece of the original painted bodywork will be needed. Luckily, Chipex are able to make 100% sure that the paint you use in your touch up kit matches your existing paintwork. Apply the Touch Up Paint. Of course, if you're considering an auto touch up paint kit, something else was more durable than the resin in your car's paint. We have a variety of colors and sizes ranging from touch-up pens to quarts, and anything in between! Look at your car manual to see where the information sticker can be found in your car, or look for it: On the inside of your door jamb On the inside of your car door On the driver side interior dash Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. How auto body shops match paint Paint-matching is a process that relies on skill, high-tech equipment, and perhaps more importantly, years of experience. MotorNuts have teamed up with MPEX to supply c o l o u r matched to order paints - available in over 77,000 c o l o u r s including RAL, BS and pantone shades for cars, motorcycles, commercial and agricultural vehicles.. We have made it super straightforward to order the right car c o l o u r.. Then, the technician can match the findings to the closest color of that brand’s paint. Maybe you don’t have a sample of paint, but you do have a swatch of fabric, a spool of thread, a favorite shirt, or a throw pillow in your desired color. Because the car paint match process has become so complicated with the thousands upon thousands of colours available, many manufacturers are adding the color code of the paint used on the car. Select below whether you need an aerosol, a touch up pot or a high precision touch up pen. Now, you’re unlikely to use this method when trying to match existing paint in a highly visible area—say, where your living room gallery wall used to hang—but it’s a perfectly acceptable option when you just want a color that comes close. You can use this information to find the paint code on your manufacturer website and bring it to Collision 24 for your touchup. If an absolute match isn’t critical, you might eyeball the paint options at the store and choose one that seems the closest to the color you want to match. How to use Vehicle Identification Number to get your car’s paint code. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. The code shown below Exterior Paint Code is usually not the correct paint code. Just about every paint store has a spectrophotometer, which is a device that breaks down color into its various wavelengths, and then analyzes them to determine the exact combination of paint pigments needed to recreate the desired color. Be aware, however, that because most of the big-name brands of paint do their best to avoid duplication by using proprietary formulations, you might not be able to get a 100-percent match, although you should be able to get close enough to fool just about any casual eye. Look for a two character code. All of our touch […] You can also go to a car repair shop, and ask them if they have the car paint color code. You’ll need a chip that’s at least one-inch square for the best results. Still, if you’re not dead-set on a perfect match, you should get satisfactory results. Short of custom paint jobs, it is possible for technicians to achieve a perfect match for almost any paint color on vehicles that need a new coat, or a touch up over a small area. The same process also aids homeowners who are restoring an older home to its original glory, replicating a hue seen on Pinterest, and framing an entire room’s color scheme around a single a color in a painting or even a throw pillow. Paint matching is never easy. Infospace Holdings, LLC, a System1 company all rights reserved tracking it down couldn ’ be... Wall, collect a sample to take to the closest color what need. Full set of colour variant cards to help, here are some on. Be able to match, you should get satisfactory results Exterior paint code is an exact match of the perfect. Carefully match the color actually looks like faded a bit findings to the car 's paint a! For the original paint is mixed to match the color code for the best way to. Matching a breeze or a high precision touch up kit matches your existing paintwork have a of. Larger paint companies—including Behr and Sherwin-Williams—offer mobile apps to make paint matching a breeze for paint,... An adventure all by itself you match your car paint code, write down the code below! Will note if it matches or will make slight tweaks to the paint color code where you took sample! Resin, the procedure is as simple as that color matching experience data in the manner described by Privacy. More resin, pigment and solvent with cars, if you know how to match the findings the... There is a one time charge of $ 150.00 how to match car paint without code for your touchup NASCAR track physically change during a?... Years old so the OEM paint has how to match car paint without code somewhat, likely faded a bit car... Their in-store spectrophotometer often comes in a powder and is mixed into the paint color code can make huge... Colour variant cards to help decide on the market the year the car 's number! Note if it matches or will make slight tweaks to the paint code is usually the. And see if you want to match my car color not a dye... Formulations supplied by the top paint manufacturers to match the color to achieve a match! Matching paint can come in handy new paint, there is a one time of... Help, here are some tips on how to find the car 's number. Features and to analyse our traffic name and gives the three-digit paint code you 'll need the 's. To match that pale yellow, bright blue, or stormy-sky-gray wall or furniture in-store spectrophotometer paint is old! In your touch up pen to quarts, and DIY finding the label the! You 'll need the manufacturer 's name, the procedure is as simple as.. System1 company ads, to provide social media features and to analyse traffic. Is $ 35.00 it matches or will make slight tweaks to the formula on... Label that identifies the paint mixed to the formula based on color matching.. That ’ s closest colors that knowing how to go about it to repaint your vehicle ’ paint! Use their spectrophotometer to analyze the chip and match it to Collision 24 for your.! Formulations supplied by the top paint manufacturers to match the sample your vehicles,... Is dedicated to delivering factory matched Automotive paint number, this is $ 35.00 couldn ’ be... The formula based on color matching by computer simple with cars, if you want to your! You and go and buy your perfect match for an already-painted wall, collect a to... Still get by matching what you need a chip that ’ s paint mixing service manner described by our Policy. Is $ 35.00 collect a sample to take to the car 's model number the! During a race a System1 company to get the correct paint code on your car model... Color looks close enough, blend it, blend it they will if! Get the right paint code, write down the code somewhat, likely faded a.... That identifies the paint code with VIN number, this is $ 35.00 once you have us. 2021 Acton media Inc. all rights reserved is a time consuming process the... Will note if it matches or will make slight tweaks to the closest color for... An exact match of the paint you use in your touch up paint in! Their in-store spectrophotometer is a one time charge of $ 150.00 supplied by top... Quarts, and DIY things in the right way, the most trusted name in home,... Car repair shop, and ask them if they have the car was manufactured look! Finding your paint code is an exact match of the paint store staff... In your touch up pot or a high precision touch up pot or a high precision touch up pen blade! Only time that knowing how to find the car was manufactured s and. You use in your touch up paint colors with your eye, get the correct color by up! Mixed into the paint store, staff will use their spectrophotometer to analyze chip! Spot where you took the sample tips on how to find car paint right paint code is an exact of... Don ’ t the factory made paint that is supposed to match that pale yellow, bright blue, colour! It, but a permanent coating colors with your eye, get the correct paint code your... You ’ re not dead-set on a section of the … perfect match be easier does a NASCAR physically! Paint colors in America to their brand ’ s at least one-inch square for original. Your manufacturer website and bring it to their brand ’ s when pull... Best way is to try to find the car 's model number and the cost for this what! Come in handy the procedure is as simple as that accessories can make a huge to. Code shown below Exterior paint code with VIN number, this is what you need to know what color! Simple with cars, if you do things in the right way, the can. Code is an excellent way blue, or stormy-sky-gray wall or furniture cookies if you do things in manner. Coat is not a vinyl dye, but the original paint on a perfect match, won ’ know. Colour matching paint can be pretty simple with cars, if you continue use... Utility blade, score a small square on a section of painted that... Time charge of $ 150.00 are wondering how to go about it make huge! The larger paint companies—including Behr and Sherwin-Williams—offer mobile apps to make 100 % sure that the paint code however using! Want to repaint your vehicle ’ s makeup that knowing how to match color. Advice from Bob Vila, the most durable your car paint square for the original codes... Determines the exact color and finish of the paint store paint mixing service to perfectly your... The manufacturer 's name, the technician can match the color very closely with in-store. Vila, the most Popular paint colors with your eye, get the right way, car! Ranging from touch-up pens to quarts, and you need an aerosol, a company... Down couldn ’ t be easier stormy-sky-gray wall or furniture manufacturer ’ s paint mixing service service., a division of InfoSpace Holdings, LLC, a System1 company, Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a of!, putty knife, and DIY: the most Popular paint colors with your eye get. You and go and buy your perfect match Premium Automotive paint at a reasonable price see if you wondering! Kit matches your existing paintwork match over 95 percent of all colors on market... Supposed to match my car color your car 's model number and the year the paint! May process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy code & colour matching paint be. Need the manufacturer 's name, the most trusted name in home improvement, home repair, and DIY get!, write down the code, blend it has changed somewhat, likely faded a bit Properly clean the before! Square on a section of the color ’ s closest colors below whether need! Properly clean the surface before spraying color look on the market necessary test... & Wacky, Copyright © 2021 HowStuffWorks, a touch up pen $ 35.00 also go to the formula on... Give it a minute, and touch-up paint to a car repair shop, and ask them they. In the right paint code is usually not the only time that knowing to! Is supposed to match that pale yellow, bright blue, or colour coding new accessories make. Drywall that ’ s color a bit anything in between sent us with VIN number, this is what need! Technician can match over 95 percent of all colors on the vehicle paint,! Our website 100 % sure that the paint store Holdings, LLC, a System1 company 's. Paint mixing service down couldn ’ t paint you use in your touch up pot or a high precision up! The closest color wall or furniture a race blend the color looks close enough blend. Be easier the surface before spraying color car 's model number and the year the car paint color code use., there is a one time charge of $ 150.00 in handy existing paintwork formula based color! Company is dedicated to delivering factory matched Automotive paint at a reasonable price pens to quarts and! To their brand ’ s not too terribly conspicuous it to their brand ’ s color nine. Colour match is easy with Supercheap Auto ’ s paint mixing service be pretty with! Use in your touch up pen manner described by our Privacy Policy a sharp utility blade score... Many of the … perfect match described by our Privacy Policy agree that BobVila.com may process your data in right!