Car Paint Help & FAQs

An OEM paint code identifies a manufacturer's original colour formula. It is the starting point for mixing the correct colour for your vehicle.

Enter your registration and we will use available vehicle information to help identify the paint colour. Some vehicles have multiple colour variants, so we may need the paint code or additional details to confirm the match.

Enter your paint code when ordering. It helps us identify the original formula, although age, fading and previous repairs can affect the appearance of the existing finish.

We mix to the manufacturer colour formula. Age, sun exposure, application technique and previous repairs can affect the visible match. Test the colour on a suitable sample before painting your vehicle.

Wash and dry the damage, remove wax and grease, and apply thin layers only where needed. Allow the product's stated flash and drying times between coats. Use the specified primer or clear lacquer if the repair requires them.

Metallic, pearl and most basecoat paint systems need a compatible clear lacquer for gloss and protection. Some direct-gloss systems differ, so follow the instructions for your particular paint.

Use a compatible primer or adhesion promoter where required for exposed metal, plastic or filler. Sound existing paint may only need cleaning and suitable keying; check the coating instructions.

Check that the nozzle is seated correctly and the can has been shaken as directed. If the removable plastic nozzle is blocked, clean or replace it as instructed by the manufacturer and test away from the car. Never puncture or heat a pressurised can.

Metallic and pearl finishes vary with lighting, spray distance and application technique. Existing paint may also have faded or been repainted. Compare a fully dried, correctly lacquered test sample beside the vehicle in daylight.

Wash and degrease the panel before sanding so you do not grind wax or silicone into the surface. Mask neighbouring trim, use a suitable sanding block on flat areas and work gently over curves and edges. Feather damaged paint until there is no sharp step, keeping sound surrounding paint intact. Use the abrasive grade specified by your primer and paint instructions; coarser grades shape damage, while finer grades prepare cured primer and sound coatings. Remove dust and clean again before spraying. Do not sand metallic or pearl basecoat before lacquer unless its product instructions specifically say to do so.

Use the method recommended for the coating and abrasive. Dry sanding is common for shaping filler and preparing primer; wet sanding can help refine suitable fully cured coatings. Keep water away from exposed metal, unsealed filler and sensitive edges, and let the panel dry completely before applying paint.

There is no single grit for every repair. Deeper damage and filler generally need a coarser abrasive than final primer preparation, while refining cured lacquer needs a much finer grade. Follow the primer, basecoat and lacquer technical instructions, and avoid sanding through the existing finish.

Peeling lacquer has lost adhesion and cannot be fixed permanently by polishing or simply spraying new lacquer on top. Remove all loose and lifting clear coat, feather back to a stable edge, then clean and prepare the area. If the colour coat is damaged or exposed, restore it with compatible basecoat before applying the specified clear coat. A large peeling area, or an entire panel, usually needs a complete professional panel refinish to avoid visible edges and recurring peel.

No. Remove rust and unstable coatings, treat and prepare the metal using a compatible repair system, then prime and paint as directed. Painting over active rust will not provide a durable repair.

Fisheyes are small round craters where wet paint pulls away from the surface. The usual cause is contamination from silicone, wax, oil, grease or dirty spray equipment. Stop spraying, allow the coating to dry or cure as instructed, then clean, sand and repair the affected layer. Thoroughly degrease the panel before repainting and check cloths, polish residue and equipment for contamination. Do not bury fisheyes beneath more paint.

A cloudy finish can result from moisture trapped during spraying (often called blushing), high humidity, unsuitable temperature, trapped solvent or incorrect coating application. Stop spraying, allow the finish to dry in suitable conditions and check the product instructions. Do not cover a cloudy or soft coat with more lacquer. A persistent defect may need to be sanded back and the affected coating reapplied once conditions and compatibility have been corrected.

Orange peel is a bumpy texture often caused by poor atomisation, incorrect spray distance, unsuitable temperature or coats that do not flow out evenly. Check the nozzle, shake the can as directed and spray a test panel using light, even, overlapping passes. Once fully cured, a suitable lacquer finish may be refined following its polishing instructions; do not sand through the clear coat.

Runs usually mean too much paint was applied at once, the can was held too close or the previous coat had not flashed sufficiently. Stop spraying and let the coating dry or cure. Level and refinish the defect only as the product instructions allow, then apply lighter passes with proper flash time.

A dry, gritty finish can occur when paint partly dries before reaching the panel because the can is held too far away, the air is hot or windy, or there is overspray and dust. Improve the spray environment and distance, test the pattern, and allow the affected coating to cure before any permitted refinishing.

Wrinkling or lifting may occur when coatings are incompatible, a fresh coat is too heavy or the recommended recoating window is missed. Stop applying more product. Let the area cure, remove unstable material and rebuild with compatible primer, colour and lacquer following their specified flash and recoat times.

Some 2K automotive coatings contain isocyanates and require specialist controlled spray facilities and air-fed respiratory protection in line with the safety data sheet and applicable workplace guidance. A disposable dust mask, including one supplied in a kit, is not suitable respiratory protection for isocyanate spray. Check the exact product's label and safety data sheet before use.

We supply touch-up pens, bottles, aerosol sprays, primers, lacquers and repair kits.

Pens suit small chips, bottles suit local touch-ups and aerosols suit larger prepared repairs where broader coverage is needed.

Yes. Some pearl colours require a base colour, a separate pearl layer and clear lacquer. Check the stages shown for your specific colour before ordering.

UK delivery usually takes 2–4 working days from dispatch. Made-to-order paints require preparation before shipping; check the delivery estimate shown at checkout.

International availability depends on the product and destination. Aerosols cannot be shipped internationally. Check the shipping options at checkout for other items.

Yes. Tracking details are provided when your order is dispatched.

Made-to-order paints may not qualify for change-of-mind returns. Your statutory rights for faulty or incorrectly supplied goods remain unaffected. See our returns policy for details and contact us if there is a problem.

Contact us with your order number and paint code. If we supplied a different colour from the one ordered, we will investigate and put it right. If the code supplied was incorrect, we can help identify the appropriate replacement.

We handle refunds and other remedies in accordance with our returns policy and your statutory rights. Contact us with your order details so we can assess the issue.

Contact us promptly with your order number and photographs so we can investigate and arrange an appropriate solution.

Contact us with your order number and we will investigate with the courier.

Yes. Contact our team with the repair size, vehicle details and photographs, and we will help you identify suitable options.

We typically respond within one working day.

Include your order number, registration, paint code and photographs if possible. This helps us resolve your query faster.