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Car Paint Types: Which is Right for my

Car?
City Collision Center

5-6 minutes

car-paint-typesPainting a car can be exciting, but the

number of paint options can also make it overwhelming.
Once you’ve finally decided on your color and whether or
not you want any decals, you’ll find out that there are still
choices to be made – namely, what type of car paint and
finish you want. Whether you want to paint the car
yourself or you want to get a professional to renovate
your paint job for you, this information can help you
decide on the right paint for your job.

Different Car Paint Chemical Make-

Ups
Urethane

Urethane car paint is generally the longest-lasting car

paint option out there. It’s highly resistant to chipping
and can resist fading for 10 years or so. You can also
paint it over pretty much any previous paint job.
Urethane paint dries quickly and doesn’t tend to run like
enamel paints can.

Due to its higher quality, urethane car paint is more

expensive than enamel paint. Urethane is often
considered a good alternative to lacquer, but make sure
that you are 100% sold on urethane since lacquer can’t
be painted over urethane paint.

If you’re wanting to paint the car yourself, urethane is not

recommended since it’s tricky to handle. Also be aware
that a certain category of urethane paints – aliphatic
polyurethane – is illegal in some states.

Acrylic Enamel

Acrylic enamel paint lasts a long time since it creates a

strong, hard shell over the whole of the car. There are
two kinds of enamel paints: single-stage and two-stage.
Essentially, single-stage enamel paints have the
basecoat and clearcoat mixed together so that you only
have to apply a single layer of paint; two-stage enamel
requires the basecoat and clear coat to be applied
separately.

This is another paint that is not recommended for DIY

painting projects for two reasons. One is that – like
urethane – acrylic enamel paints are very hard to apply.
The second reason is that shops have the equipment to
“bake” the paint onto the car so that it lasts longer.

Acrylic Lacquer

Lacquer was the very first car paint and was the only car
paint option for several years. The pros of this kind of
paint are that acrylic lacquers are the easiest paints to
apply and they have a high gloss. The cons are that this
paint fades quickly – especially when exposed to UV
rays – and that the paint is now illegal in many states
due to its environmental impact.
Acrylic Urethane

A great new option for paint is acrylic urethane. It lasts a

long time like enamel and is easy to apply like lacquer
(but isn’t illegal anywhere). The only difficulty with this
kind of paint is that it contains a catalyst to make it dry
quickly, so it needs to be used as soon as it’s mixed.

Types of Car Paint Finishes

Solid Paint

The most common and least expensive paint option out

there is solid paint. Solid paint is inexpensive, and it’s
also easier to repair since the color is easy to match and
scratches can be seamlessly hidden. The only downfall
of this paint is that it’s the most boring option.

Metallic Paint

If you’ve ever wondered what gives certain cars an eye-

catching subtle sparkle, the answer is metallic paint. The
aluminum powder in metallic car paint can catch the
light of the sun for a dazzling shine, and its light-
catching abilities can help to cover up small dings and
scratches.

Metallic auto paint tends to be more expensive. Since

the color is hard to match, it’s usually more difficult to
actually repair dings and scratches, so this paint is more
expensive in the short and long term. Furthermore,
you’re a bit more limited on color options when you
choose metallic paint.

Pearlescent Paint
Pearlescents are similar to metallic paints except that
they replace the aluminum powder with ceramic (mica)
crystals. These crystals can appear to be any color of
the rainbow since they don’t just reflect light – they
refract it as well. If you’re looking for a dazzling, subtly
colorful paint that looks different from every angle,
pearlescent is the way to go.

Of course – like metallic paints – the color is hard to

match and therefore hard to repair. Pearlescent paint is
also significantly more expensive than solid paint.

Matte Paint

The latest craze is matte paints. A matte paint job is

going to run you a pretty penny, and the maintenance on
the paint is quite difficult. Most paint repair and
maintenance tools out there are meant for glossy paints;
trying to buff out a scratch at home could leave your car
with one glossy spot in a sea of matte.

Have you decided how you want to paint your car? Need
more help deciding? Either way, City Collision Center is
happy to help. They have years of experience doing body
work and a passion for car restorations. Give them a visit
or request an estimate today.