One of the most fun things about car restoration is picking the color of paint for the finished car. Even though it is fun to start the process of picking your restoration’s paint color, it can also be quite difficult! Picking the perfect paint color takes patience and homework. Because of this, we have decided to offer you some tips on picking a paint color for your car restoration or vehicle color change in general.

Changing the color of your car.

Before you pick a brand-new color, consider the possibility of using the original paint color. This is an especially useful tip for those who are restoring a classic car. Paint colors from the 50s, 60s, and 70s are much different than today’s bright and bold colors. You can find the exact paint color of a classic car by looking at its identification tag or plate. If that does not work, you might be able to find the color under a bolt or a piece of trim. If there is no reference and you want to start from scratch, check out some pictures of other vehicle colors from that time period.

Choosing a “safe” color for your car.

While it has not been proven yet, there have been studies done that indicate having a bright red vehicle makes it more likely that you will be pulled over by police. Some insurance companies also charge higher premiums for vehicles that have bright colors like red or yellow. Other companies may charge a lower price for cars that have a “safe” color such as white or silver. Their reasoning for this is that white and silver colors give the car great road visibility.

Picking an easy to maintain paint color for your car restoration.

Certain colors are harder to maintain than others. This is especially true for the color black. Even though black is one of the most popular colors for cars, it is also the easiest to get dirty. Dust and dirt show up very easily on black paint so if you are going to go for a black paint job, keep in mind that you will have to wash and wax that car at least once per week. Black paint is wonderful to look at but is not practical for those who do not have a lot of time to maintain their cars.

If you paint your car yellow, be prepared to deal with the fact bugs are attracted to that color. Bees and other insects may not be able to distinguish between your car and a bright yellow flower. Bugs will collide with your car and make it sticky mess. If the bugs are not removed, they can damage your new paint job. Do not consider yellow if you live in a region that has a lot of bugs.