Best Automotive Paints: Color Your Car Right

You already know how we stick to our trusted routine of doing all of the homework for you to ensure anything on this list is worth the money. Painting is an art. You can go about it like it's just a coating to add protection and color and use the first thing in front of you. However, if you are after a specific texture or shade, you really want to dive deeper. Talk to pros, go to shows, ask questions, and do the research to make sure you do find the paint that'll provide the look your heart desires.

Again, Speedokote High Gloss Jet Black Acrylic Urethane takes our top pick based on the quality, price, and ease of use. However, the Dupli-Color Paint Shop Finish System is another solid choice when the budget is tight. So many factors determine what works best for you. Be sure to reach out and let us know which paint you like most.

The last thing you want to do is grab the first paint recommended to you without knowing at least a little bit about what you're dealing with. Below you will find info on the different types, the brands you should know about, and some tips to keep in mind. Again, you should do as much research as possible as there are a lot of factors that will determine what exactly you need for your situation.

Plasti Dip is an affordable rubberized coating that works as an alternative to traditional automotive paints. With enough coats and depending on where on the vehicle it is applied, Plasti Dip can weather prolonged use relatively well. However, excessive wear and tear can cause the Plasti Dip to deteriorate prematurely, requiring removal and reapplication. It’s important to note that using Plasti Dip is a craft in itself and getting it right does take experience.

Spray paint is often viewed as a way around paying for professional equipment and good paint. Some spray paint jobs can be very impressive, and spray paint is a great way to touch up imperfections or panels if the budget is tight. However, painting the entire car will consume a surprising amount of it, and ultimately the cost won't be far off from a DIY job with a paint gun. The results also won't be quite as good in most cases.

Water-based paints only include a small amount of solvent used in the process of adhering to the vehicle. They’re not as toxic to work with and actually dry faster than solvent-based paints. You might think you’d need to apply more coats, but that’s not the case. The water acts as a carrier and dissipates once the paint is applied, so you won’t get as many toxic chemicals off-gassing, even after the paint is cured.

When people typically think of automotive paint, solvent-based paints are what usually come to mind. Solvent-based paints typically have higher amounts of toxic chemicals that mandate the use of respirators and proper ventilation. These types of paint can have lacquer, enamel, or urethane as a basis, each with their own pros and cons. These solvents act as a carrying agent and bring the paint molecules to the vehicle’s surface.

As you’ve probably deduced from the name, single-stage paints lay down in a single stage with no additional top coats needed. These are easier to apply on a vehicle because they simplify the process, but there are some trade-offs. The paint isn’t all that durable. Buffing and polishing will quickly pull away layers, it’s susceptible to premature breakdown, and it’s often harder to get that glass-like finish with it. Single-stage paint jobs are typical when the owner is trying to replicate what a car originally came from the factory with.

Two-stage paints use a color coat for the base, which is followed up with a clear coat. This is almost always the superior choice unless you're after a period-correct finish. The clear coat offers excellent protection from the elements and other harsh conditions and provides depth to the paint job. It will take more time and money but might last longer and look better.

Sometimes you don’t want to paint your whole vehicle; you want to simply highlight a certain feature or improve the overall look of that area. You can use part-specific paints for things like brake calipers, wheels, engine blocks, and any other area that will take paint. What makes them part specific is that they are designed to resist specific threats to certain areas such as heat.

The color and finish go hand in hand to produce the look you're chasing. If you want something simple but with some shine, gloss is the way to go. You can also knock the shine down by opting for satin or matte paints. Pearlescent coats are always an option for those who really want those body lines to work their magic. It's hard to describe the exact textures you can achieve with finishes, so you will want to look around for visual representations to find what you're after.

Before you get your heart set on any shade, consider what type of paint will be best for your situation. Consult our paint type section above for reference. Will you be transporting the vehicle outside and in the elements for most of its life? You should probably choose a two-stage paint. If you want to stick to the original finish, single-stage will likely give you the results you’re looking for.

You're going to spend more on paint than you initially think. While most aerosol cans cost $10 to $20 apiece, you can count on buying a ton of it if you intend to paint an entire car. A $50-$100 DIY-grade gallon of paint will cost way less in the long run. Specialized coatings for chassis and trim generally fall within the same price range. If you're looking for an OE paint job, prices start to increase, and you'll spend $150-$300 on a gallon of paint. Of course, the high-end stuff can cost even more than that. On that note, don't forget to factor in the cost of primer and clear coat to do the job right.

As with something you do for decades, you pick up a few tips and tricks along the way. That’s the case with us and automotive paint. To help you bridge the information gap, here’s a selection of what we’ve learned along the way.

You’ve got questions. The Drive has answers.

A: That depends on the size of your car. If you're working with a mid-size car, you can expect to use around a gallon of paint to get it done. As the vehicle increases in size, more paint will be necessary. It's also always a good idea to buy more than you need to accommodate mistakes.

A: With the right tools, you can easily use touch-up paints and paint correction techniques to refresh your paint job. However, you will be better off repainting the car at some point. This is especially true when the entire surface is covered with imperfections.

A: Touch-up paint can typically be bought from a dealership or online. Beyond these small amounts, however, your specific paint might not necessarily be available in larger quantities. A call to your local dealership is the best way to answer this question.

A: Merely painting over the existing finish might inhibit the paint’s ability to adhere to the vehicle’s body and could cause flaking and disrepair. It’s always best to sand down the vehicle’s exterior to bare metal so that the primer and subsequent coats have the chance to create a solid bond. These paint jobs typically last longer than those painted over existing top coats.

A: Lacquer paint is reserved mostly for vehicles meant solely for show. Extremely demanding when it comes to care, lacquer paints are less and less popular these days, due in part to their high toxicity. Urethane paints are more common in the automotive world, as they tend to be more durable. They are more difficult to spray than acrylic paints. Acrylic is just another type of resin used to deliver the paint to your vehicle’s surface.