FAQs

  • How will I know if the color match is good? 
  • VERY IMPORTANT - Use the test card that we include with your order to check your color match BEFORE applying anything to you car.  Follow the included instructions and apply to the card exactly as you would to your car. If it doesn't look right on the card, it won't look right on your car! Call us if this is the case and we will help determine what to do.
  • Which package should I order?  
  • We offer three packages. If your repair is simple, and the scratch or ding does not go down to bare metal or plastic, the Color+ClearCoat option is best.  If your damage DOES go down to bare metal or plastic, then you need to put down primer first for the paint to adhere to, and also for the proper color match. The Value Package is appropriate for this use, and the All-Inclusive package contains all of the bells and whistles for the detail-oriented owners out there!  These supplies can be used for this repair, and also to have on hand for future issues should they arise.
  • Does each order come with instructions?  
  • Yes, complete instructions are provided with each order, along with a card to test your color match. 
  • Why doesn't paint come out?
  • Each pen has a spring-loaded valve that starts/stops the flow of paint. To use your repair pen, shake very well (especially for metallic paints), and depress the pen straight down onto the sprayout card (or other flat clean surface) that we provided with your order. 
  • Why is the tip of the pen removable?
  • It is removable so that it can be cleaned. After you do your touch-up job, you can clean the tip with thinner (or similar) and it will be ready for the next repair.
  • What is the best way to use the pen? 
  • Every person and repair is different. The pen has two sides to it's tip - one for larger areas and other for smaller areas. The most important thing is NOT to depress the valve to allow more paint to the tip WHEN you are doing your repair.  Use your test-panel/sprayout card (included with each order) to depress the pen down to "fill" the absorbent pen tip. They delicately apply to your vehicle using very small dabs. When you need more paint, again use the card to flow the appropriate amount of paint.  If the pen is too web, wipe with a paper towel. You can also hold the tip down to create a "pool" to use a small brush or even a toothpick to apply your paint to very small areas. The best recommendation would be to PRACTICE and take your time for the best result. 
  • How much area will the 2-Tip pen cover? 
  • The 2-Tip pen contains plenty of paint for very small areas - a small scratch or nick or chip the size of a pencil eraser (or less).  Which is good because trying to "fill in" areas of damage larger than a pencil eraser is very difficult to do. If you have a larger area than that, it is recommended to spray rather then touch up with a pen or brush.
  • Is it necessary to use clear-coat?
  • Yes. Clearcoat is very important for multiple reasons. First of all, it makes the paint shine. Second, the clear actually creates a chemical bond with the base color that makes it chemical and weather resistant. Without clear-coat, your paint will not shine properly or be nearly as resilient as it should be.
  • How long will the paint last on my vehicle?
  • It will last as long as your original paint if you care for it like your original paint. It will not wash off, or fade off over time. 
  • What is a tri-stage color? 
  • Tri-stage colors, or tricoats, are special colors that require an additional step during application. Many pearl whites and a few reds are tri-stages. They simply require that you apply a base color first, let it dry, and then apply mid-coat. After the mid-coat comes the clear. All ExpressPaint orders come with the appropriate, detailed instructions on how to apply your color. You can also find application instructions on our site.
  • How do I know if my color is a tri-stage (tricoat) ? 
  • All tri-stage colors are indicated as tricoat in the color description. For each tri-stage color you order, you will receive a base coat color and a mid-coat color. You will need a clearcoat to finish your paint job properly, but tricoat paint does not include clearcoat, and therefore you will need to order the clearcoat separately.
  • What are your paints made of?
  • All of our products are urethane based, base-coat/clear-coat applications. Our paints have been thoroughly tested and are as good as or better than O.E.M. quality standards.
  • When will I receive my order?
  • Our goal is to provide the absolute fastest delivery in the industry. You can generally expect to receive your paint within 3-7 business days from the date you ordered.
  • Can you send products to PO Boxes? 
  • Yes
  • Do you ship to APO/FPO/Hawaii/Alaska address? 
  • Yes
  • How Do I Guarantee My Paint Will Be Correct? 
  • A spray out! A spray out can save everyone a lot of time, money and frustration. It takes five minutes, but can save hours. Also, make sure to shake your paint very well before applying it. Some colors, especially silvers and other heavy metallic colors, can take quite some time to be thoroughly mixed. So please make sure the paint is shaken very well...it can make a world of difference.
  • A spray out is the very most important thing you can do before painting your vehicle. It helps determine how much paint you need, how to apply the paint, and gives you a feel for using the paint. You cannot expect good results without first doing a spray out.
  • A spray out is simply testing the color before you apply it to the actual repair job. Test the color on the enclosed card. If the color takes a base color, test the entire application. Make sure you feel comfortable before attempting the actual repair by practicing the entire application.
  • I found the color code on my car and located the code in your database. However, the color name is different than what I thought. Is this the same color?
  • Yes it is the same color. It is very common for automobile companies to have multiple names for one color. This is the reason the color code is so important. The code will always identify the correct color. 
  • I located my color on your site, but the color looks different than my car. Is this the correct color?
  • Colors on the website do not and cannot look like the actual color. Computer monitors simply cannot duplicate the pearls, metallic, and exact hues that are in paint. As long as your color code matches, it should be OK.
  • My color code on my vehicle is PFA, but I can only find the code color on your web site PFA/ MFA, is this the correct color to choose?
  • Yes, many colors have more than one code, PFA/ MFA is same as PFA or MFA.
  • I have a Toyota two tone truck and I found the color code 1C7 from the driver's door jamb. However I need to purchase trim color. Where I can find the color code for the trim? 
  • If you cannot find the two tone code from your vehicle, please Email us
  • Why does my color look too dark?
  • Some metallic colors, usually silvers and grays, sometimes look too dark. This is caused by the orientation of the small flakes or "metallic" in the paint. When sprayed from a spraygun or aerosol these flakes usually lay very nice and even. But when applied from a touch-up, they sometimes do not lay properly. Very often clearcoat will make the color look better by adding gloss to the color and allowing it to sparkle more. But if it still looks to dark, you may want to lightly sand the finish with the 1500 grit paper and then apply a little more paint. Be sure to apply is very lightly and evenly; this will also help with the color. You can do this a few times to build the paint up a bit.
  • How do I fix small blemishes in my paintjob? 
  • Sometimes paint blemish happen before you apply your clearcoat. If so you can lightly wetsand the area with 1500 grit paper and then apply more of the colorcoat. Then proceed to clearcoating. If a blemish shows up after you have clearcoated, sometimes it can be fixed, sometimes not. If it's just a little piece of dirt or a dust bunny, then wetsand with 2000 and then use our polishing compound. This should take care of the blemish. If the blemish is too deep into the paintjob you have no choice but to redo the paintjob or live with the blemish.