Vehicle Information Needed for Paint Mixing
Just bring in the year, make, and model of the vehicle, along with the paint code from the vehicle’s trim plate, and our parts professionals should be able to color-match and mix any amount of paint you need.
If you can’t find the paint code, we can always help you find the correct color code for the vehicle or point you in the right direction to locate it.
How to Find The Paint Code On a Car
The location of the paint code can be different depending on the vehicle make and model, but it’s usually found on the vehicle’s information label along with the VIN number, and may include a body color and trim color if the colors are different.
Trim plates, information placards, or trim labels are often located inside the driver’s door, either on the door jamb or the door itself. There are a variety of other areas where trim labels may be affixed on different vehicle makes, so we’ve included a more comprehensive list below.
Common Trim Label and Paint Code Locations:
- Driver’s side door jamb
- Under the driver’s seat
- Inside the glove box
- Under the hood near the radiator or firewall
- Trunk lid or inside the trunk jamb
- Middle console
- Spare tire wheel well
- Sun visor
Common Trim and Paint Code Abbreviations:
- “C” for color
- “EXT” for external
- “PNT” for paint
- “TR” for trim
There may be two different color-related areas on the tag, one for the exterior paint color and one for the interior trim color. If the vehicle was factory-painted in a two-tone finish, there may also be two separate exterior colors listed.
The paint color might also be abbreviated, so if you are not sure you can always take a picture of the label and our parts professionals can help make sure you get the right color for your vehicle.
If the label has worn off, been removed, or is too damaged to be read, you can also use your VIN to determine your car’s color code. The VIN can also be located in a variety of places, typically visible through the windshield on the dash or “A” pillar next to the windshield. If you are having trouble locating your VIN, check out our helpful video on how to locate the VIN on your vehicle.
Once you have your VIN, you may need to contact the dealership to have them run the information. They should be able to provide you with the exact name and paint code for the paint color original to your vehicle. We can then use that information to custom-mix a perfectly matched paint color for your touchup or refinish project.
Please note, if the vehicle you are color matching has any major paint fading due to prolonged UV exposure, age, or previous refinishing work, it’s possible the original factory color may not match exactly. If you suspect that your vehicle’s paint has faded significantly, in some cases we may be able to color match a panel using a spectrophotometer to get a more accurate match. Spectrophotometers are used in the automotive paint industry to measure light absorption, and can be used to precisely determine the makeup of the color on your vehicle for perfect color matching, even on faded or non-factory colors.
Mixing Custom Paint Colors
Custom-Mixed Spray Paint and Touch-Up Bottles
In addition to mixing cans of automotive paint, our O’Reilly Auto Color locations are also equipped to mix custom aerosol spray paint colors and 4-ounce touch-up bottles. Mixing spray paint is a more delicate process, as the paint needs to be thin enough to effectively flow through the nozzle, but also thick enough to provide adequate paint coverage. We can mix spray paint into its own aerosol spray can for projects like parts painting, touch-ups, and more, which can be especially convenient for DIY refinishers that do not have the appropriate spray equipment available for their repair.
We can also mix small amounts of paint into easy-to-use touch-up bottles. Because they contain a significantly smaller amount of paint and the toners are mixed in very small quantities, these can be harder to get an exact color-match, but are often a great option when repainting a very small area of damage or covering a scratch to prevent corrosion.
How Much Paint Can O’Reilly Auto Parts Mix for Me?
As much as you need! We can mix paint by the gallon for large jobs, color-match a few ounces in a touch-up bottle, and anything in between. Our available container sizes for custom paint mixing include:
- Touch-up bottles (4 ounces)
- Pints (16 ounces)
- Quarts (32 ounces)
- Gallons (128 ounces)
Our custom-mixed aerosol cans will also contain about 11 ounces of paint. Based on the mixing ratios for most colors, it’s usually recommended to mix by the pint for an accurate color match, since the minute concentrations in smaller amounts may not yield as precise of a mix.
Where can I find an O’Reilly Auto Parts Paint Mixing Location Near Me?
You can find one of our over 500 O'Reilly Auto Color custom paint-mixing locations with our O’Reilly Auto Parts near me store service locator tool. This feature not only helps you find the stores closest to you, but also displays their available store services. Clicking on the details link on each individual store can even take you to their description page, where you can find all the pertinent information about the store of your choosing. Since not all O’Reilly Auto Parts locations are equipped to mix paint, be sure to check this tool or call ahead to be certain that your selected store is an O’Reilly Auto Color location.
Paint & Auto Body Repair Tools and Supplies
Don’t need paint mixed, but still have other paint and body repairs to make? Not a problem, every O’Reilly Auto Parts store also carries a full line of paint and auto body tools and supplies from the most trusted brands in the industry. Our MasterPro® Refinishing line of paint and auto body repair supplies and tools is available exclusively at O’Reilly Auto Parts, but we also carry national brands like 3M®, Bondo®, Transtar®, U-POL®, Dupli-Color® and Krylon®. Whether you need masking tape, sandpaper, spot putty, body fillers, clear coat, or primers, check out our selection in-store or online today.
O’Reilly Auto Parts’ Store Services
Along with custom paint mixing, O’Reilly Auto Parts also provides several other store services including custom-built hydraulic hoses, free oil and battery recycling, free Check Engine light testing, free battery testing, and our Loaner Tool Program, which allows you to borrow specialty tools by putting down a refundable deposit. Stop by your local O’Reilly Auto Parts store today to learn more about our O’Reilly store services.