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Tailored Paint – The Perfect Colour Match for Your Vehicl
Tailored Paint: The Exact Paint Match for Your Car
Tailored paint is automotive paint selected and mixed specifically for your vehicle. Instead of settling for a generic red, blue, silver or black, your paint is matched using your registration, manufacturer paint code or vehicle information.
From stone-chip touch-ups and bumper repairs to alloy wheels, brake calipers and larger spray repairs, Scratch Repair makes it simple to order the right paint for the job.
What does tailored paint mean? Tailored paint is paint chosen or mixed for a particular vehicle, colour, finish and repair. It gives you a far more suitable solution than choosing a general colour from a shelf and hoping it looks close enough.
What Is Tailored Car Paint?
Tailored Distribution car paint is automotive paint prepared around the exact requirements of your vehicle. The colour may be identified using the registration number, factory paint code, colour name, VIN details, model and year.
Manufacturers can produce many shades that appear similar at first glance. Two cars may both be described as black, silver or blue while using completely different factory paint formulas. Even colours with similar names can contain different metallic particles, pearl effects, undertones and levels of brightness.
That is why selecting paint using accurate vehicle information is so important. Rather than ordering a general “silver car paint”, tailored paint aims to match the manufacturer colour originally applied to your vehicle.
Matched by Registration
Enter your UK vehicle registration so the correct vehicle information and factory colour can be identified where available.
Matched by Paint Code
Supply the manufacturer paint code from your vehicle for an accurate factory colour reference.
Tailored to the Repair
Choose a touch-up pen, brush bottle or aerosol depending on the location, size and type of paint damage.
Tailored Paint by Registration Number
Ordering tailored paint by registration is one of the easiest ways to find the correct paint for a UK vehicle. It removes much of the confusion caused by trying to locate a small paint-code label hidden inside the door shut, boot, glovebox or engine bay.
At Scratch Repair, you can enter your registration and use it to help identify the correct vehicle colour. This is particularly useful when you know the vehicle make and model but are unsure of the exact manufacturer colour name or paint code.
- Enter your registration. Submit the UK registration number associated with your vehicle.
- Confirm the vehicle details. Check the make, model and year before ordering.
- Select the product format. Choose a touch-up pen, bottle or aerosol based on the repair.
- Prepare the damaged area. Clean, sand and prime the surface where required.
- Apply the paint correctly. Build light coats and finish with lacquer when the paint system requires it.
Already know your paint code? You can order using the manufacturer paint code instead. Read our guide on how to find your car paint code by registration .
Why Generic Paint Colours Often Look Wrong
Generic paint names such as black, white, silver, grey and red cover an enormous range of different automotive colours. A vehicle described as black could use a solid black, blue-black, brown-black, metallic black or pearl black finish.
The difference may become much more visible once the paint is applied beside the existing factory finish. Direct sunlight, camera flash and indoor lighting can also expose differences that were not immediately obvious when viewing the paint separately.
Tailored paint reduces this problem by starting with the correct vehicle information and manufacturer colour reference.
- Matched around the vehicle’s original manufacturer colour
- Suitable for solid, metallic and pearlescent finishes
- Available for small chips and larger damaged areas
- Mixed for the intended vehicle rather than sold as a universal shade
- Available alongside the correct primer and lacquer products
Choose Tailored Paint for the Type of Repair
Finding the correct colour is only one part of the repair. You must also select a paint format suited to the size and position of the damage.
Small Repairs
Tailored Touch-Up Paint Pens
Touch-up pens are ideal for stone chips, narrow scratches and small isolated marks. The controlled applicator helps place a small amount of paint directly into the damaged area.
They are especially useful on bonnets, door edges, wings and other areas affected by minor chips.
Shop Touch-Up Pens
Flexible Application
Tailored Brush-In Paint
Brush-in paint bottles are suitable when you need more control or paint volume than a pen provides. They can be used for chips, scratches and small areas where several thin coats are required.
A fine applicator or detailing brush can help achieve a more precise finish on narrow damage.
Shop Touch-Up Paint
Larger Areas
Tailored Aerosol Spray Paint
Aerosols provide wider and more even coverage for bumper corners, mirror caps, wings, trim pieces and larger scratched or scuffed sections.
Good preparation, overlapping spray passes and several light coats are essential for a smoother result.
Shop Car Aerosols
Complete Repairs
Primer, Colour and Lacquer
Bare metal, plastic and repaired surfaces may need the correct primer before colour is applied. Many automotive colours also require clear lacquer for gloss and protection.
Using the correct layers helps improve adhesion, coverage and durability.
Shop Car PrimerTailored Paint for Alloy Wheels
Tailored paint is not limited to vehicle body panels. Alloy wheels are available in a huge range of silver, grey, black, bronze, gold, shadow chrome and manufacturer-specific finishes.
A general wheel silver may be acceptable for a quick cosmetic refresh, but it may not match the original finish already on the other wheels. Choosing a closer wheel colour helps create a more consistent result across the vehicle.
Scratch Repair supplies alloy wheel paint for repairing curb damage, scratches, chips and worn finishes. Options are available for popular OEM-style wheel colours as well as custom finishes.
Common Alloy Wheel Repairs
- Curb and kerb-rash damage
- Stone chips and scratches
- Flaking or worn paint
- Corrosion around damaged areas
- Colour changes and full refurbishments
Before Painting Wheels
Remove loose coatings, smooth the damaged edge, clean away brake dust and grease, and use a suitable primer on exposed metal.
Apply the colour in controlled coats before finishing with lacquer where required.
View Wheel PaintTailored Brake Caliper Paint
Brake calipers require a paint designed for the environment around the braking system. They are exposed to heat, road dirt, moisture, brake dust and cleaning products, so ordinary decorative paint may not provide the required durability.
Tailored caliper paint allows you to choose a finish that complements the vehicle. Popular choices include red, yellow, blue, black, silver, gold and manufacturer-inspired performance colours.
Caliper paint can be used to restore worn calipers or create a more noticeable performance appearance behind the alloy wheels.
- Clean the caliper thoroughly before painting
- Remove loose corrosion and flaking coatings
- Mask discs, pads, hoses and surrounding components carefully
- Apply several light coats instead of one heavy coat
- Allow sufficient curing time before driving
For complete application guidance, read our guide on how to paint brake calipers .
Tailored Engine and High-Temperature Paint
Engine bays, rocker covers and selected mechanical components may require specialist paint capable of coping with higher operating temperatures.
Tailored engine paint can be selected to restore an original colour or create a custom engine-bay finish. The surface must be properly degreased because oil, silicone and residue can prevent paint from adhering correctly.
Explore our engine and heat-resistant paint collection for suitable finishes.
What Information Is Used to Match Tailored Paint?
| Information | How It Helps | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|
| Registration number | Helps identify the vehicle and associated colour information where available. | Best when you do not know the factory paint code. |
| Paint code | Provides the manufacturer’s specific reference for the original colour. | Best when the code is visible on the vehicle or already known. |
| VIN | Can help confirm the exact vehicle specification when further identification is required. | Useful when registration data does not provide enough detail. |
| Make, model and year | Helps separate similar colour names and identify the correct production range. | Useful as supporting information for every order. |
| Colour name | Provides another reference but may not be unique by itself. | Best used alongside a paint code or vehicle details. |
Does Tailored Paint Guarantee an Invisible Repair?
Correctly matched paint gives you the best starting point, but the final appearance also depends on the vehicle’s condition and how the product is applied.
Original vehicle paint can change slightly over time because of sunlight, weather exposure, polishing, previous repairs and general ageing. Application thickness, primer colour, lacquer, spray distance and lighting can also affect the way a colour appears.
Metallic and pearlescent colours are particularly sensitive to application technique. The metallic particles must settle consistently, and the final colour may not look correct until clear lacquer is applied.
Important: Always test the paint on a separate test surface or discreet area before applying it to the main repair. This allows you to confirm the colour, spray pattern and application technique first.
Do Metallic and Pearl Tailored Paints Need Lacquer?
Most metallic and pearlescent basecoat colours require clear lacquer. The colour coat supplies the colour and effect, while the lacquer provides gloss, depth and surface protection.
Without lacquer, a basecoat may appear dull, flat or lighter than expected. Applying lacquer can significantly change the final appearance and bring it closer to the original finish.
Shop our automotive clear lacquer for completing suitable paint repairs.
Do I Need Primer Before Applying Tailored Paint?
Primer is normally required when the damage has exposed bare metal, plastic, filler or another uncoated substrate. It creates a suitable foundation for the colour and can improve adhesion and coverage.
The correct primer depends on the surface:
- Etch or suitable metal primer for exposed metal
- Plastic primer or adhesion promoter for appropriate plastics
- High-build primer for levelling minor prepared imperfections
- Standard automotive primer for suitable prepared surfaces
View the Scratch Repair car primer collection before beginning your repair.
How to Get the Best Result with Tailored Paint
- Confirm the colour before starting. Check the registration, paint code and vehicle details carefully.
- Clean the repair area. Remove dirt, wax, polish, grease, silicone and other contamination.
- Remove rust and loose paint. Paint should not be applied directly over unstable coatings or corrosion.
- Smooth the damage. Feather rough edges and prepare the surface using suitable abrasive paper.
- Prime exposed surfaces. Apply the correct primer and allow it to dry before colour.
- Apply thin colour coats. Build coverage gradually rather than applying one thick coat.
- Apply lacquer where required. This is particularly important for metallic and pearl basecoat systems.
- Allow the repair to cure. Avoid washing, polishing or heavily handling the repaired area too soon.
Touch-Up Pen or Aerosol: Which Should You Choose?
| Repair Type | Recommended Format | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small stone chips | Touch-up pen | Provides precise application without covering the surrounding paint. |
| Narrow scratches | Pen or fine brush | Allows controlled placement inside the damaged line. |
| Several larger chips | Brush-in bottle | Offers more paint and flexibility than a small pen applicator. |
| Bumper corner scuff | Aerosol | Creates more even coverage across a wider prepared section. |
| Mirror cap or trim | Aerosol | Better suited to coating an entire removable component. |
| Alloy wheel refurbishment | Wheel paint aerosol | Produces a more uniform finish around the shape of the wheel. |
| Brake calipers | Specialist caliper paint | Designed for the conditions found around braking components. |
Why Choose Scratch Repair for Tailored Paint?
Scratch Repair supplies vehicle-specific paint for drivers who want to repair scratches, stone chips, scuffs, alloy wheels and other painted components without paying for a full professional respray.
- Paint matched using registration or manufacturer paint code
- Touch-up pens for small chips and scratches
- Brush-in paint for controlled repairs
- Aerosol paint for wider coverage
- Alloy wheel and brake caliper paint
- Automotive primer and clear lacquer
- Products for solid, metallic and pearlescent finishes
- UK-based support for paint and application questions
Whether you are correcting a single stone chip or restoring a complete set of alloy wheels, you can choose paint tailored to the vehicle and the repair.
Find Tailored Paint for Your Vehicle
Enter your registration or choose your paint product to find colour-matched car paint for scratches, stone chips, bumpers, alloy wheels and more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tailored Paint
What is tailored paint?
Tailored paint is automotive paint selected and mixed for a specific vehicle, colour and repair. It may be matched using the vehicle registration, factory paint code, VIN, make, model and year.
Can car paint be matched using my registration?
Yes. A UK registration can often be used to help identify the vehicle and the correct manufacturer colour information. Where additional confirmation is required, the paint code or VIN may also be requested.
Is tailored paint better than a generic colour?
Tailored paint is normally a better choice for vehicle repairs because it is selected around the original manufacturer colour rather than a broad colour description such as silver, black or red.
Can I get tailored paint in an aerosol?
Yes. Colour-matched automotive paint can be supplied in aerosol form for bumpers, mirror caps, wings, trim and other larger prepared areas.
Can tailored paint be used on alloy wheels?
Yes. Alloy wheel paint is available in many OEM-inspired and custom colours for repairing curb damage, scratches, chips and worn wheel finishes.
Can I use ordinary car paint on brake calipers?
A specialist brake caliper paint is the better option because calipers are exposed to heat, brake dust, road contamination and cleaning products.
Does metallic tailored paint need clear lacquer?
Most metallic and pearlescent basecoat colours require clear lacquer to provide gloss, depth and surface protection. The colour may appear dull or incorrect before lacquer is applied.
Do I need primer before applying the paint?
Primer is normally required when bare metal, plastic, filler or another uncoated surface has been exposed. The correct primer depends on the substrate being repaired.
Will the repair be completely invisible?
Correctly matched paint provides the best starting point, but the final result depends on preparation, application, lacquer, the condition of the existing paint and whether the vehicle colour has faded over time.
Should I test tailored paint before applying it?
Yes. Always test the product on a separate test card or discreet area first. This allows you to check the colour and practise the application technique before completing the main repair.