Whether you are choosing the color of your next car or want to repaint your current vehicle, there are many factors that can, and should, influence your decision. Ideally, the color of your car not only reflects your personality, but also increases its visibility on the road and even hides dust and dirt. Instead of picking a color on impulse or based on what's available in the batch, select a color that suits your needs and preferences.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Choosing the Right Paint Color for Your New Car
Step 1. Make a list of your favorite colors
Make sure to think about the colors you like in cars and not about other things, like walls. Also, you must let the creativity flow. There will be factors that will limit your options, but there is a common insurance myth that scares many car buyers. Rest assured that insurance rates do not change radically because of the color of the car.
Step 2. Choose the make and model of your car
The make and model of your car can greatly influence your choice of color. Many people would not choose the same color for a minivan and for a sports car. Discard the colors that you do not consider suitable for the car you want to buy.
Step 3. Ask the seller for color options for the make and model you want to buy
Each make and model comes only in a certain variety of colors. The seller could tell you the color options available for a certain car. You can also do this research on your own a little ahead of time, but keep in mind that dealers typically offer safe, neutral colors.
It is possible to make a special order for a car. If you have the patience to wait for it, you can order it in a color that the dealer does not have available
Step 4. Pick a color that looks good for the life of your car
You want to make sure that the car you buy today is something you want to drive in a few years. Some colors are available for a short period of time and then disappear. If you drive a car in one of these colors, once it goes out of style, your car could show its age (and yours). Choose a color that will stand the test of time.
Step 5. Choose white or silver for a safe color
Paint color not only affects the way other drivers perceive a car, it also affects the way other drivers see it. Having an easily visible car may add a little more security to your driving experience. Silver car drivers are up to 50% less likely to be in an accident. Some colors also hide dirt better than others and have a higher resale value (silver, in particular, offers both benefits).
It should be noted that white cars also tend to be involved in fewer accidents than those of other colors
Method 2 of 3: Choose a Color to Paint Your Car
Step 1. Add a custom design to your car
Painting an entire car is quite expensive and generally not worth it if you drive every day. Most paint jobs for an entire car are the result of some type of special customization or restoration. With this in mind, you should know a little more about the car you are going to paint and make sure you choose a color scheme that suits it. Often times this means going for a classic color (which could be the old car color). Other times, it means a color combination that highlights the best features of the car, even if that color combination was never the original.
An example of a paint job that probably won't match a car would be restoring a '69 Chevelle, putting a supercharger that sticks out of the hood, and painting it pink with purple polka dots
Step 2. Use your imagination
The best thing about car restoration or customization is the opportunity to have what you want. The end result should be something that makes you proud, and obviously it has to be something that you like. Imagine exactly how you want your car to look.
Step 3. Consult with a professional painter
Whether or not you know what you want, talking to a painter is not a bad idea. They can help you choose the paints that will give your car the look you really want. A professional artist or painter can also help you expand your ideas if you get stuck at some point.
Method 3 of 3: Understand Color Options On Your Own
Step 1. You must know where to buy the color you want
Painting is basically divided into two broad categories. Factory paint is what commonly comes with a particular model. Custom paint is also exactly what it sounds like, as it is paint specifically tailored to customer preferences and not available from the factory.
Step 2. You must know what look you want to achieve
Three common paint options are solid colors, metallic colors, and pearl colors. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages. For example, solid colors can be cheaper and easier to apply evenly, but they often look simpler. Metallic colors can be a bit more fun, satisfying the desire for shiny things in a tech-obsessed society, but lighter colors can be very difficult to apply. Pearl colors give a depth that neither solid nor metallic can match, but they don't hide unevenness very well.
Step 3. Consider less common paint options
Two options seen on custom cars but rarely seen on factory cars are candy colors and chameleon. This is in part because candy colors are less durable than more common colors, and the chameleon color is quite difficult to apply evenly. On the other hand, candy colors are famous for their greater depth (even compared to pearl colors) and the chameleon color stands out in any crowd as it changes color based on the viewer's perspective.
Step 4. Understand the advantages and disadvantages of different layering techniques
Not only do you have the option of choosing the color to paint your car, but you can also choose what type of paint you are going to use. Single-stage paints can be cheaper (they take fewer coats and less time to apply) and can be a good choice for solid colors. Two-stage paint applies the pigment (color) in the initial base coat and then a clear, gloss coat on top. This provides a great finish and has increased durability. This paint is almost always the best choice for metallic or pearl colors.
Some pearl and metallic colors are actually applied as three-stage paints. The base coat is applied first, then the pearl or metallic finish is applied, and finally the clear coat
Advice
- If you're painting an antique car, you could look up classic color trends (which were popular around the time the car was made) and compare them to trendy colors. There could be some overlap that gives you the best of both times.
- Negotiate the price before ordering a custom car. Once you order and the car arrives, it will be difficult to negotiate.
Warnings
- Painting a car is quite expensive. If you're going to do it (even on your own), you need to know the process in advance.
- If you plan to paint your own car, make sure you have all the right tools and knowledge to do it. Otherwise, it could be dangerous for you and the job itself.