One of the most common replacements on a car is replacing the car doors, or another exterior part (like the hood or trunk) due to dents, scratches, and cosmetic defects. With this, one of the biggest problems people run into is figuring out how to match their car’s existing paint color to the new car part.
Today, we’ll discuss the process for matching your car’s paint color to a new or used replacement part.
The Auto Paint Matching Process
Believe it or not, all automobile manufacturers register the exact paint shade of their vehicles through something called a color code. This allows manufacturers, auto repair shops, and vehicle owners to easily identify a vehicle’s color code for easy color matching.
To begin the paint matching process, you must first locate your vehicle’s color code. You can find the color code three different ways: your vehicle’s VIN, the owner’s manual, or on the Service Parts Identification tag on a specific car part (depending on the manufacturer).
What you need to match your car’s paint color
- Your vehicle’s VIN
- The owner’s manual
- Color code listed on the Service Parts Identification tag (varies by manufacturer)
Where you can find your car’s color code by manufacturer:
- Acura: on the door jamb
- Chevrolet: on the door jamb, glove box, cowl, trunk/trunk lid
- Dodge: on the door jamb, radiator, under driver’s side seat, wheel wells
- Ford: on the door jamb
- Honda: on the firewall, on the door jamb
- Hyundai: under the hood, on the firewall, on the door jamb
- Jeep: on the firewall, door jamb, or core support under the hood
- Kia: on the door jamb
- Subaru: on the strut tower, on the door jamb
- Toyota: on the door jamb
- Volkswagen: on the trunk or trunk lid
What to do once you identify your vehicle’s color code
Once you’ve determined your car’s color code, you can bring this information to an auto repair shop, salvage yard, or dealership to either buy an exact match of your own paint to do touch-ups or full paint jobs yourself, or, have the pros custom color match your vehicle and paint the discolored parts accordingly.
If you’re unable to locate your vehicle’s color code (maybe the owner’s manual is missing, or it’s a junk car) then you might be wondering how to match car paint without a color code. In this scenario, you’d want to research your vehicle make and model and bring it to a custom auto body shop where they can custom color match your car.
How Much Does Car Paint Touch Up Cost?
Car paint touch up costs will vary depending on the extent of the damage and where you live. In general, you can expect to pay anywhere between $100-$250 for small paint chips, dents, and scratches, and anywhere between $200-$400 for large paint gaps.
If you’re looking to repaint the entire car or car part (like a door), you can expect to pay $1,000-$5,000 for a professional paint job.
Where to Find Matching Car Paint
If you’re looking to find a paint sample of your vehicle’s exact color code, search our vehicle paint inventory at Nationwide Auto Recycling. We can help guide you with your car paint project and help determine your best options for improving the appearance of your vehicle.