4 Things To Consider When Selecting A Paint Color For Your Car

Posted on: 16 November 2017

Owning and operating a vehicle can be difficult at times. Not only do you need to worry about filling it with gas and paying insurance premiums, but ongoing maintenance is also necessary to keep it running well. Unfortunately, most people do not place enough emphasis on the overall look of their vehicles. Basic driving causes wear and tear to your vehicle's body over time. Dents, dings, scratches, and even fading or discolored paint can affect the look and value of your vehicle dramatically. Body work will restore your vehicle's look and value, but you will know where to start when choosing a color of paint. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a new color of your car's body work.

Local Climate

You may be surprised to learn that you should take your local climate into consideration when selecting a paint color for your vehicle.

The ultraviolet rays from the sun can affect your paint, causing it to fade quickly over time. In addition, the salt left behind to clear snow and ice from roads can build up on your vehicle's body. This will lead to rust and corrosion that affect the metal and the paint on the body of your car.

Clear coat finishes should be applied to your car if you live in sunnier areas of the country or if your local climate experiences a lot of snow and ice. This added layer of clear paint acts as a protective layer between the environmental elements and the paint and body of your car.

The temperature inside your car is also affected by the color of your paint. A darker exterior will increase temperatures inside your car. If you live in a hotter climate, choose a light colored paint for your car's exterior. Lighter colors, such as white or silver, will help your car stay cooler even when temperatures are higher outdoors.

Insurance Premiums

Many people believe the color of your car affects your insurance premiums. Bright red and yellow may look more flashy, increasing the risk of police officers pulling you over and giving your tickets. Fortunately, this is a myth, since your insurance company will not even know the color of your car.

On the other hand, your insurance rates may be affected if you have a custom paint job on your car. Custom paint colors and details will increase the value of your car, which will make your car more expensive to repair if it is involved in an accident. If you have invested in custom paint jobs,  be sure to notify your insurance agent.

Theft and Vandalism

Most people are also surprised to learn the color of their car can also increase or decrease the risk of it being stolen or vandalized.

Thieves do not want to draw attention to themselves, so they will usually avoid cars that are red, yellow, or another bright and bold color. If your car is black, white, green, or even gold, it may be more at risk of being stolen or vandalized in some manner.

Cleaning and Maintenance

After investing in a body repair and new paint job at a place like Custom Kar Tops, you will want to ensure it stays clean and in good condition. Washing and waxing is beneficial, but certain colors can be more difficult to maintain and keep clean.

Darker colors, such as dark blue and black, will show dirt, fingerprints, and imperfections easily. Dirt and mud will show easily on white and light grey car colors, but these lighter colors are great at hiding imperfections, such as scratches and dings.

If you are restoring the body of your car with new paint, researching the different color options is smart. With this guide and your body technician's help, you will be able to choose the right color of your car.

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