How to Touch Up Automotive Paint at Home
Clean, lightly sand, then lay down thin coats: this guide covers prep, coats and finish for chips, scratches and curb rash.
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How to touch up automotive paint starts with a clean, lightly sanded chip and ends with thin coats that cover the chip. A stone chip or a curb scrape can often be handled at home when the damage is small, and the pens, brushes and aerosols in this guide cover the common cases. This guide walks through the prep, the coats and the finish, then shows which tool fits which job.
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| # | Product | Shop Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Dupli-Color Scratch Fix All-in-1, Gloss | 9.6/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  Dupli-Color Perfect Match Premium Automotive | 9.6/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  Matte Black Rim Touch Up Paint | 9.6/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |  Gloss Black Rim Touch Up Paint | 9.6/10 | Buy on Amazon |
Dupli-Color Scratch Fix All-in-1, Gloss
An all-in-1 pen with an abrasive tip, a pen tip, a brush end and a clear coat, in Universal Black for chips and scratches.
Pros
- Abrasive tip removes loose paint and rust before painting
- Pen tip for fine scratches and brush end for larger chips
- Clear coat seals, protects and matches the factory finish
- Includes .25 fl-oz paint and .25 fl-oz clear coat in one pen
Cons
- Spec table lists 0.25 fl oz while the title and bullets describe .50 fl oz total
- No warranty term is stated; the listing gives only a manufacturer warranty
- No safety feature is stated
- Universal Black fits many cars, not one factory color code
Dupli-Color Perfect Match Premium Automotive
An 8 oz acrylic lacquer aerosol in Oxford White, made to match the original factory coating on prepared metal, fiberglass, aluminum and plastic.
Pros
- Formulated to match the original factory-applied coating
- Fast-drying acrylic lacquer aerosol with a 360° nozzle
- Suits metal, fiberglass, aluminum and plastic surfaces
- Apply three to four coats, with 10 minutes between coats
Cons
- No warranty term is stated; the listing gives only a manufacturer warranty
- Oxford White only; one color in the listing
- No safety feature is stated
- Needs a cleaned and lightly sanded surface first
Matte Black Rim Touch Up Paint
A 1 fl oz matte black 2-in-1 paint pen for alloy and metal rims, with a fine tip for chips and a brush head for larger dents.
Pros
- 2-in-1 applicator: fine pen tip for chips, brush head for larger dents
- Maker claims a match with 90%+ of matte black wheels
- Water resistant, rust-proof and UV-resistant enamel, per the listing
- Dries quickly after a clean, shake and apply routine
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No safety feature is stated
- No dimensions or weight are stated
- Matte black only; one color in the listing
Gloss Black Rim Touch Up Paint
A gloss black rim paint pen for alloy and metal rims, with a 2-in-1 applicator and a scratch-resistant gloss finish.
Pros
- 2-in-1 applicator: fine pen tip for chips, brush head for larger dents
- Maker claims a match with over 99% of black wheels
- Water resistant formula that resists car washes and rain, per the listing
- Fade-resistant protective layer against brake dust and heat, per the listing
Cons
- Title says 1 fl oz while the spec table says 0.5 fl oz
- No warranty term is stated
- No safety feature is stated
- No dimensions or weight are stated
How to touch up automotive paint: prep, coats and finish
Prep decides the result. Clean the surface and lightly sand the application area before painting, per the Dupli-Color listing, so the new paint has something to grip. The rim pens ask for the same first move: clean the surface, shake, then apply.
Apply three to four coats to a properly cleaned and prepared surface, allowing 10 minutes between coats, per the Dupli-Color listing. Thin coats build the finish up coat by coat. The listing also allows recoating anytime.
For a chip or scratch, the pen tip mends tiny chips with precision, while the brush head covers larger dents, per the rim pen listings. The Dupli-Color Scratch Fix adds an abrasive tip that removes loose paint and rust first, then a clear coat to seal the repair.
Which paint for which damage
An aerosol suits larger areas and refinishing. The Dupli-Color Perfect Match is an 8 oz acrylic lacquer aerosol in Oxford White, made for properly prepared metal, fiberglass, aluminum and plastic. A pen suits chips and curb rash. The cocomfix pen is matte black. The SMAPHY pen is gloss black.
Color match is the other split. The Dupli-Color aerosol is formulated to match the original factory coating. The cocomfix pen matches 90%+ of matte black wheels, per its maker. The SMAPHY pen claims a match with over 99% of black wheels, per its maker. The Scratch Fix is Universal Black, made to fit many cars rather than one color code.
Gear for touching up automotive paint
The repair step is where the tool matters: a pen, brush or aerosol that puts paint only where the damage is.
Keep electric pressure washers on a GFCI outlet, never point the wand at people or pets, wear eye protection with polishers and chemicals, and read the label before mixing any cleaning products. Read our Safety Disclaimer.
FAQ: garage tools
How many coats of touch-up paint should I apply?
Apply three to four coats to a properly cleaned and prepared surface, allowing 10 minutes between coats, per the Dupli-Color listing.
Do I need to sand before touching up paint?
Clean the surface and lightly sand the application area before painting, per the Dupli-Color listing. The Scratch Fix pen adds an abrasive tip that removes loose paint and rust first.
What is the difference between the matte and gloss rim pens?
The cocomfix pen is matte black, in 1 fl oz. The SMAPHY pen is gloss black, with a title size of 1 fl oz and a spec table size of 0.5 fl oz.
Does touch-up paint need a clear coat?
The Scratch Fix pen includes a clear coat to seal, protect and match the factory finish. The other listings in this guide do not name a clear coat step.
Can touch-up paint fix curb rash on rims?
The cocomfix pen repairs curb rash, scratches and scuffs on matte black alloy and metal rims. The SMAPHY pen covers curb rash, scratches, scuffs, dings and corrosion on alloy and metal rims.
Related: the car detailing hub, our best car touch up paint picks and best car wax for the finish after the repair.
