Is your car’s paint job looking a little worse for wear? Winter weather, extreme heat, scrapes, chips and dents can all do a number on the protective barrier of your car’s paint. The particularly unfortunate part is that even the smallest chip can lead to aggressive oxidation due to Alberta’s aggressive weather shifts, and in time, will lead to rust and corrosion occurring over time.

Touching up small paint defects is one of the most effective ways to protect your vehicle from progressive damage, and products like paint pens or spray cans are a cost-friendly way to keep your car looking its best. With that being said, it’s crucial to make sure you know exactly what colour you need before making your purchase.

At Central Alberta Paint Supplies (CAPS) we’re proud to carry one of the largest inventories of automotive paint you’ll find, including easy blends to touch up (or overhaul!) almost every colour. Below, we’ll show you how to find the exact match for your vehicle. Read on to learn more!

Why the Right Fit Matters

Lots of car owners operate under the assumption that the majority of vehicles are painted similar shades, and therefore it’s pretty simple to find a “close enough” match that will easily “blend” into your existing paint job. While, yes, many colours look very similar, there are several different shades, undertones and blends that make up a finished product, which means that if you don’t have an exact match, your new paint job is likely to stand out, and not in a good way!

Each vehicle has a precise paint code issued from the manufacturer; to make sure your new paint job matches the original hue, finding your dedicated paint code is essential. To find your specific code, check the following:

Your Vehicle’s Manual

One of the easiest ways to find your car’s paint code is to directly reference your owner’s manual, which should include all sorts of core details ranging from your VIN to replacement part codes, and, of course, your paint code. Each manual typically contains a dedicated section of specifications, with your colour typically referred to as “paint”, “colour”, or sometimes simply “code”.

Driver’s Side Door Jamb

If you’ve misplaced your car manual (we’ve all been there) or bought second-hand and didn’t get a complete one, there are still a few different areas you can check to find a code. Your door jam typically holds several key details to reference, including the VIN, tire size, and often your paint code. Look for terms like “C/TR” (Colour/Trim) or “Paint Code,” followed by alphanumeric characters to learn exactly what you need.

Trunk Lid or Tailgate

In vehicles with a rear-engine configuration, or hatchbacks, the paint code is sometimes located on the inside of the trunk lid or the tailgate. Lift the lid or tailgate and inspect for a label containing the same information as listed above, and you should be good to go.

Hit the Web

Still can’t find it? Not to worry, the internet can be an extremely useful resource when it comes to otherwise elusive information. If you’re stuck and can’t seem to find your paint code any other way, try typing in your VIN or the most specific model information you can about your car and researching trusted forums to see what others with the same make/model/year have to say.

Find the Right Shade with CAPS

Ready to fix up your paint job? CAPS has you covered! Our team makes and stocks quality paint for every vehicle. Come check out our materials in stock at any of our physical locations, which can help you achieve a perfect finish for your car. Or, contact our team now to answer any questions you may have. We’d love to connect and talk about your project!

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