10 Best Car Touch-Up Paint Products for Those Pesky Scratches
We've all had a minor scratch on our vehicle. Whether you opened up the car door too fast and hit a structure at the gas pump, or parked a little too close to another car, often the resulting scratches don't require a trip for a professional paint job. Fortunately, that's where car touch-up paint can come in handy.
Where you prefer spray cans or pens, today's car tough-up paint solutions make it easy to cover up that minor scratch or ding.
How to Touch Up Your Car’s Paint
You want to start the process by finding out the exact color of your car, also known as a color code. You can typically find your car’s color code on the inside of your driver’s side door or in your owner’s manual. Once you know the color code, you can find touch-up paint matching this number.
Before applying any paint, thoroughly read the instructions and have the proper equipment necessary for the process, like a respirator or gloves. Also, be sure to handle the paint with care as it could be comprised of potentially hazardous chemicals.
You also want to take the following steps:
- Test it out. Try the paint on another material and check the color once it dries to ensure it is the correct hue.
- Clean your car. Make sure you have cleaned off the area so that dust doesn’t get caught in the paint.
- Use primer. Apply a thin coat of primer, and then let it sit between a half-hour and overnight.
- Apply the paint along with a clear coat. Apply thin coats of the paint you ordered and then let sit for a half-hour to overnight. Once it dries, add a clear coat, which is a resin formula that protects the paint from UV rays and deepens the color.
- Apply cutting creme after three days. This formula will enhance the shine and texture of your new coat.
You can also look at our article When & How To Use Touch-Up Paint for a more in-depth guide.
Best Touch-Up Paint for Cars
So, now that you have an idea of what to do, what options are out there for you to choose from? Take a look at our picks.
Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Brilliant Silver K23
What if fixing that scratch on your silver-colored car was as straightforward as drawing over it? Well, it can be! The Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Brilliant Silver K23 product is an all-in-1 tool for providing touch-up repairs. Not only does it offer an exact match to vehicles that use silver K23 paint, but it includes both the paint and protective top coat, so you can apply both without having to purchase and apply a separate clear coat. The pen tip makes it ideal for fine scratches, while the included brush end makes it great for more significant blemishes.
Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Victory Red 5476
The Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Victory Red 5476 is an exceptional choice if that red vehicle has experienced some dings and scrapes. Dupli-Color’s options are tested and approved by vehicle manufacturers, so customers can feel confident that they are getting an exceptional finish. Not only does the pen and brush tips handle fine scratches and larger chips, but the abrasive prep tip can clear away loose paint and rust. If you’re looking for precision in your car touch-up paint along with a red finish that is as sharp as when you rolled it off the lot, then this is an option to consider.
Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Black DX
There’s nothing like a clear and smooth black finish on a car. If you’ve lost that due to a minor scrape or ding, don’t fret! The Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Black DX8 may be the right option for your black vehicle. Like with other Dupli-Color products, you can expect a clear coat to seal and protect your color along with a factory-matched finish. You don’t have to leave your garage to get the color you want. So check out this option if that sedan or SUV needs a thorough touch-up.
Dupli-Color Perfect Match Touch Up Paint Scratch Filler Primer Gray
Do you prefer the option of spray paint? Well, the Dupli-Color Perfect Match Touch Up Paint Scratch Filler Primer Gray is a solid option if you want to touch up the gray paint on your car. The spray paint is made of acrylic lacquer aerosol paint meant to match the exact color used on your vehicle by OEMs. Not only is this option meant to be a spot-on match, but it is also fast drying, as paint can dry as fast as 30 minutes and be ready for handling in one hour.
Dupli-Color Perfect Match Touch Up Paint BUN009
You don’t have to take your vehicle to a professional to get a premium-grade paint job. The Dupli-Color Perfect Match Touch Up Paint BUN009 provides an easy-to-use and quick-drying touch-up. Whether you need to repair a scratch or paint a vehicle accessory, this paint option from Dupli-Color offers an exact color match to your original factory coloring.
Dupli-Color 2 in 1 Black Universal Touch Up Paint
Sometimes, it may be challenging to find the exact color of black for your car. Fortunately, the Dupli-Color 2 in 1 Black Universal Touch Up Paint can help with that issue. This two-in-one option allows you to repair minor scratches and chips, remove rust and loose paint, and maintain precision and control throughout the painting process. If you need a solid black touch-up paint option, this is a great choice to consider.
Dupli-Color White Touch-Up Paint
Dupli-Color White Touch-Up Paint can take care of many of those issues. This formula has been color tested, approved by vehicle manufacturers, and has a fiberglass prep tip that can cut through that leftover paint and rust. Again, you don’t have to purchase an additional clear coat product, as this one includes it so that you can get that smooth factory finish.
Dupli-Color Universal Touch Up Paint BFM0414
Have a Ford vehicle? Well, the Dupli-Color Universal Touch Up Paint BFM0414 is an ideal choice for managing the scratches on your car. It is formulated to be fast drying (dried to the touch in 30 minutes and ready for handling in an hour) and satisfactory for extensive touch-ups and vehicle accessories. It comes with a 360-degree fan spray nozzle to ensure you can get to those hard-to-reach areas.
Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Crystal Blck Pearl NH731P
The Dupli-Color Scratch Fix Touch Up Paint Crystal Black Pearl NH731P is a great option for black Honda and Acura vehicles. This product is an excellent example of how Dupli-Color works to ensure that they can match their paint to the specific colors used by OEMs. Like the other products, you can expect a precision tip that fills in those complex scratches.
Dupli-Color Perfect Match Magnetic Metallic Universal Touch Up Paint 8oz
Need to preserve the metallic shine to your car’s color? The Dupli-Color Perfect Match Magnetic Metallic Universal Touch Up Paint 8oz can help you do just that. This touch-up paint option is ideal for duplicating original Ford colors. The EZ Touch 360-degree nozzle allows for horizontal and vertical painting and can be used on all OEM surfaces. This product is a great option, whether you need to cover a significant blemish or a small crack.
Touching up scratches and blemishes on your car doesn’t have to be a challenge. Whether you use a precision pen or spray paint, you can get that factory-match color for your vehicle. Today’s car touch-up paint options can prevent that scratch at the grocery store parking lot from draining your budget or time. You visit your local AutoZone to find all of these great products, and speak to a knowledgeable AutoZoner to help you find the right touch-up paint for you.
