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How to find the color code on your car
A small scratch can both ruin the appearance of your car and cause the metal of your car to rust in or around the damage. If the damage is superficial and you are the do-it-yourself type, then it is actually not that difficult to repair minor paint damage.
A good start is to know the color code of your car.
If you are sitting there thinking "hmm.. what color code does my car have?" then read on.
Color code and car paint
It is not enough to simply know that your car is black, red or blue. All cars that are produced are painted according to a special color code determined by the car manufacturer.
Paint manufacturers then have the opportunity to develop a mixing recipe so that there is a standard where it is possible to mix the color code based on a specific recipe.
White is not just white
When it comes to custom-tinted paint, we work according to different color scales. For wall paint or industrial paint, there are two popular standard color scales, RAL or NCS.
When it comes to car paint, however, it becomes more specific and in-depth, because each car manufacturer has developed their own recipe for a specific model, year, etc.
You may have noticed that if two white cars are parked next to each other, they can have different "white" colors. This can be due to age, wear, or often because car manufacturers create their own "white".
You should also pay attention to the "appearance" of the car paint.
Is it car paint with a special effect (e.g. metallic, mother-of-pearl), or is the paint more "flat"? Professionally, it is referred to as solid color. Solid colors are often both easier to repair and cheaper to produce.
HOW DO I FIND THE COLOR CODE ON MY CAR?
Now you have learned a little more about color codes, color scales and car paint in general.
Paint and color codes for cars can be found in several places. The different car brands have placed the color code in slightly different places on the car, so you can't just say it is always in a certain spot.
You can often find the color code along the car door (open the door by the driver's seat and check the B-pillar) or in the engine compartment, or in the trunk. You can also check the car's service booklet for the color code.
GET HELP FINDING YOUR COLOR CODE
If you need help finding where your color code might be located, Motip (Europe's largest spray paint manufacturer) has developed a free online tool to help you. Click on the link below and simply enter your car make and the tool will give you a few possible locations where your color code might be located on your car.
WHAT DOES A CAR COLOR CODE LOOK LIKE?
Few people probably know the color code on their car, but it can be found, you just have to know what to look for.
The color code often consists of a series of characters and numbers.
If you combine the color code with the car brand, model and year of production, you have a perfect guideline if you have a specially mixed shade in car paint.
As an example of showing what a car code looks like, I have got my hands on a light blue Hyundai i10.
I found the color code along the car door (B-pillar).
Here it says W3U, which is the color code.
Often the color code also has a name attached to it.
Hyundai W3U is named Aqua Sparkling Met.
EXAMPLE OF OTHER COLOR CODES FROM DIFFERENT CAR BRANDS:
- Nissan NAJ - Alizarin Crimson/red Met.
- BMW 416 - Carbonschwarz Met.
- BMW 475 - Blacksapphire Met.
- Peugeot 5L - Bleu Montebello Met.
- Porsche 9Q - Meteorgrau Met.
- VW Y3D - Tornadorot
- Ford R3 - Burgundy Velvet Pearl
From Color Code to Finished Color
So far, so good. You've found your color code. So how do you get a paint that matches?
We have a few options:Affordable spray can from Motip: If your color code is available in our range of standard spray cans, we can offer a ready-made spray can, which is cheaper than having your color code mixed and tinted in our professional mixing plant.
Custom-tinted spray paint: If your color code is not available as standard, we can mix and tint the paint to match your car's color exactly. This solution is a little more expensive, but ensures that you get exactly the right shade.
Custom-tinted car paint for spray gun: If you have the equipment in place, you will achieve the best finish with this type. But it requires that you have complete control over the technique and equipment.
