Frequently asked questions
The brushes aren't in the box — am I missing something?
Remove the separator in the middle of the box — all kit contents and the user manual sit underneath it. The brushes are wrapped in blue fabric.
My touch up paint has dried out — can I revive it?
Yes. Add a small amount of cellulose (lacquer) thinner — roughly one fifth to one third of the paint volume — and stir thoroughly. Keep adding thinner a little at a time until the dried paint is fully dissolved and the consistency is smooth again. Cellulose thinner is sold in most hardware shops.
What is the shelf life of the paint?
Unopened, the paint keeps for 11–12 months. Store it with the cap tight, away from direct sun, at room temperature.
If it has already thickened, it is not lost — see “My touch up paint has dried out” above: cellulose thinner brings it back.
How can I find the colour code of my car?
The colour code is usually on a sticker or plate in the driver-side door jamb, in the glove box, or in the boot. Its position and format vary by make and model. It is normally a combination of letters and numbers, and may be labelled “paint code”, “colour code” or “exterior paint code”.
If you cannot find it, check your registration or insurance documents, or ask your manufacturer. Some cars carry more than one code when parts such as the roof, bonnet or boot are finished differently.
We keep photo guides showing the exact label position for 56 makes — see how to find the paint code on your car.
How can I track my order?
When your order ships we send you a confirmation email with a tracking number. Use that number on the carrier’s website (DHL, UPS or FedEx) to follow the parcel.
Tracking information can take 24–48 hours to appear after dispatch, so if the number does not work straight away, try again a little later. If you still cannot track your parcel, get in touch and we will look it up for you.
What is a good temperature to work in?
Touch-up paint can be applied in temperatures as low as about 30°F (−1°C). It will dry, but it will not flow well.
For the best result — paint that flattens out and hides the repair — work between roughly 65–75°F (18–24°C). Below that, use a hair dryer to keep the paint and the panel warm while the paint dries.
Can I apply the paint with an airbrush?
Yes. Thin the paint with cellulose thinner; the ratio depends on your airbrush, pressure and needle, but three parts paint to one part thinner is a good starting point.
Stay below 18 psi and hold the airbrush more than 1 cm away. Do not spray onto one spot — move along the scratch in two or three passes. At this low pressure overspray is not a concern.
What are the differences between the kits?
All three kits contain paint mixed to your car’s colour code plus everything needed to apply it. They differ in how much paint and cleaning solution you get.
- Basic — 25 ml paint, 50 ml cleaning solution, 25 ml carnauba-based wax, 25 ml paste.
- Plus — 50 ml paint, 50 ml cleaning solution, 25 ml wax, 25 ml paste.
- Pro — 100 ml paint, 100 ml cleaning solution, 25 ml wax, 25 ml paste.
- Pro + Ceramic — everything in Pro, plus the 9H ceramic coating kit to seal and protect the finish after the repair.
Choose by the size and number of repairs: a few stone chips need the Basic kit, while several scratches or a larger area are better served by Plus or Pro.
Can I find my paint code by VIN?
Usually not directly — on most cars the VIN itself does not spell out the colour. Your dealer, however, can pull the factory colour and its paint code for your exact vehicle from the VIN in minutes, and for some makes online VIN decoders show it too.
The faster route is the paint label on the car itself: a small plate in the door jamb, under the bonnet or in the boot. Our paint code guide shows where it sits on 56 makes, with photos of the real labels.
Will the paint match if my car's paint has faded?
The kit is mixed to your paint code — the original factory formula, not a colour match by eye. On panels that still carry their factory paint, that reproduces the exact original tone.
Sun-bleached panels sit a little lighter than the formula, and a resprayed panel no longer answers to the code at all. There, work in thin layers and check the tone as you go — Correct'N'Clear removes the fresh touch-up safely at any point, so you can adjust without risk. And if the paint doesn't match your code, we remix it or refund you.
How long does a repair take, and how fast does the paint dry?
Most chip and scratch repairs fit in under an hour, drying time included. The paint goes on in thin layers, and each layer is dry enough for the next in about 10 minutes.
Temperature matters more than the clock: between 18–24°C (65–75°F) the paint flows and flattens best — see “What is a good temperature to work in?”.
What happens if the colour doesn't match my car?
Two promises cover every order. If the paint does not match the code on your car's label, we remix it or refund you — your choice. And if you are unhappy for any other reason, return the kit within 30 days for your money back.
The details are on our sales guarantees page.
Does it work on deep scratches, down to the metal?
Car paint is four layers thick, and the answer depends on how deep the damage goes. Clear-coat and paint scratches are exactly what the colour-matched kit is for. A scratch down to bare metal wants a thin coat of primer first — that one is worth a second look before you order.
Damage wider than a few centimetres, or bare metal across a large area, is body-shop work — we would rather say so than sell you the wrong fix. For the walkthrough, see how to fix a scratch.