Car Knowledge and FAQs

Side view mirror replacement costs about $150 to $350, including parts and labor at an auto repair shop. Your cost will be less if you install it yourself, but the actual cost to replace a side view mirror depends on your car's make and model and the repair shop's rates, if you use one. You can lower your cost by ordering a replacement side view mirror and installing it yourself.

If you're considering giving your car a fresh look with a new paint job, expect to pay between $1,000 to $2,000 for an average-quality paint job. A good quality paint job is worth the expense if you’re really concerned about your vehicle.  WHY A GOOD PAINT JOB IS VERY IMPORTANT Car paint isn’t as essential as an engine, but good paint is important to maintaining a smooth running vehicle for years to come. Your vehicle's paint protects it from rust and other exterior damage that can eventually reach the frame. Plus, a good paint finish just looks good, keeping your vehicle looking new even if it's several years down the road. QUALITY OF PAINT JOBS Car paint job costs can vary significantly based on the quality of the paint and the level of service you choose. Here's a general breakdown: Basic Quality Paint Job: $300 to $750 A budget-friendly option suitable for those looking for a quick color change. However, it may lack the durability and longevity of higher-quality options. Medium Quality Paint Job: $1,000 to $2,000 This is often the sweet spot for many car owners. It provides a balance between cost and quality, offering a more durable finish that can withstand the elements. High Quality Paint Job: $2,500 to $7,500 or more If you're aiming for top-tier, showroom-quality results, a high-end paint job is the way to go. This option includes meticulous preparation, premium paint materials, and multiple layers for a flawless finish. CAN YOU JUST TOUCH IT UP INSTEAD? If the cost of a full high-quality paint job is more than you’re ready to pay, a touch-up paint job might do the trick. Touching up paint is a good idea if you have a few minor spots to take care of. Using touch-up paint can help you preserve most of the factory finish from your vehicle's original paint job, which you can’t replicate except with the highest quality paint jobs. If you're having a body shop take care of the work, you can expect to pay about $300 for minor repairs. Do it at home, and touch up paint typically costs about $50, plus supplies for sanding, filling in scratches and dents, priming, and clear coat. IS A CHEAP CAR PAINT JOB BAD? Bargain paint jobs usually look just like that: a bargain. A bargain vehicle paint job will paint your vehicle but typically cut corners to make supplies and labor more inexpensive. Most will use synthetic enamel paint instead of brand-name paint, and the areas where technicians paint and mark off will be significantly different with this type of paint job than a higher-quality paint job.  For example, the shop may not paint inside the door jams or the hood. The shop may also not remove your trim and other parts, instead masking them off, which can cause edges to develop, or worse, have you end up with paint overspray from spray painting. QUESTIONS TO ASK TO ENSURE QUALITY PAINT JOB Shopping around for an auto paint service? Ensure you're getting an adequate paint job by asking these questions: What types of paint do you use?  Lower-quality shops will often use inexpensive synthetic enamel paint. Look for shops that offer brand-name paint that is of higher quality. Do you remove trim and parts before painting? Shops that offer a higher quality paint job will remove your trim and other parts rather than simply masking over them. How do you prep the exterior?  Prep at a low-quality paint shop may not be more than a quick wash and basic sanding before spraying it down. But a higher quality shop will completely sand your vehicle and remove rust spots and dents to ensure a smooth finish. You’ll be advised of any critical repairs you should make before painting. How many coats of paint do you apply? Low-quality shops may only apply a few coats of paint, but better shops will have at least three, including a clear coat for a smooth, glossy look. For comparison's sake: the highest quality shops will often apply 20 or more layers of paint, including up to eight clear coat applications. What is your warranty policy? Warranties can vary from six months to a lifetime, depending on the quality of the paint shop. Typically, medium-quality paint jobs will warranty their work for five years and repaint your car if needed. Can I see recently completed vehicles? The answer should always be yes. Take a look at freshly painted cars and see what you think about the quality of work. Ask which service level they selected, and note any imperfections that you'd be unhappy with. In addition to asking these questions, it's a good idea to seek out recommendations from family and friends. Be sure to read reviews online before committing to an auto paint shop. TIPS FOR SAVING MONEY ON YOUR NEXT PAINT JOB If a premium paint job is out of your budget, there are still ways to save money without compromising quality: Look for discounts online: Many auto body shops offer promotions on social media, websites, or daily deal platforms. Inquire about DIY prep work: Some shops allow customers to perform their own prep work, saving on labor costs DO IT YOURSELF AUTOMOTIVE PAINT JOBS Do-it-yourself auto repair often saves money, and painting is no exception. But it's important to note that painting isn't exactly your average auto repair. This job requires specialized tools and supplies that can be expensive to buy or rent.  Painting your vehicle can be very time-consuming, requiring lots of attention to detail and patience. Additionally, professional shops have access to tools that the average vehicle owner just can't use, such as a paint booth that minimizes dust and other debris that can cause problems with the finish. Whether you choose a body shop paint job or one in your garage, painting your vehicle protects it from the elements and can add years to the life of your vehicle -- not to mention a better look. CONCLUSION In the realm of car paint job costs, finding the right balance between your budget and the quality you desire is key. Whether you choose a professional service or embark on a DIY project, investing in a quality paint job not only enhances your vehicle's appearance but also protects it from the elements, adding years to its life. Before making a decision, gather quotes from reputable auto body shops, read reviews, and consider your long-term goals for the vehicle. After all, a well-executed paint job is an investment in both aesthetics and preservation. Now that you have a clearer picture of what goes into the cost of a car paint job, you can make an informed choice that suits both your style and your budget. Happy painting!

As you shop for painted car parts, you might see terms including aftermarket, CAPA, OEM. What do they mean and how do they affect the quality and price of your car parts? While CAPA and OEM parts can offer the assurance of manufacturer guarantees, they’re not worth the additional expense for most car owners replacing exterior painted car parts.

ReveMoto's painted car parts offer superior matching and ideal pricing and efficiency for customers who need vehicle replacement parts. With a painted car part from ReveMoto, you'll enjoy the convenience of having your replacement part delivered directly to your door already painted, cured, and ready to install. This can save you time, money, and hassle -- and we use better paint than many body shops, at a better price. Read on to learn more about ReveMoto's paint, our processes, and our lifetime guarantee on paint and checkout our painted parts reviews.   What Makes ReveMoto's Paint Superior ReveMoto offers custom color matched painted parts with a lifetime guarantee on paint. Each part is painted to order and color matched to ensure your part will look perfect with the rest of your vehicle. And while ReveMoto delivers a premium service that can be very expensive at the body shop, with ReveMoto, you'll enjoy a fair, affordable price with convenience and efficiency. With a set price for each painted car part, you can ensure that your purchase will be both fair and affordable. Unlike some body shops, ReveMoto will not try to nickel and dime you according to your knowledge about paint prices. Rather, every customer will pay the same affordable price for each part. ReveMoto's paint process also offers convenience and efficiency. While at a body shop, you may have to rent a car and leave your car behind to paint, blend, and cure the finish, then install the part, all you have to do with ReveMoto is place your order, take delivery, and follow simple installation instructions. Even if you have your part installed by a professional, you'll save both money and time, as your part won't have to be painted or blended with paint cure time: it arrives ready to go.   ReveMoto's High Quality Paint Product ReveMoto exclusively uses Lesonal paints, which are custom mixed in-house. This high quality solvent based paint product is known for its perfect color matching and durability and is trusted by leading dealerships and reputable body shops nationwide. Lesonal meets the highest quality standards on the market with easy to match, durable colors that have a great finish. ReveMoto trusts Lesonal paint for perfect results with a lifetime warranty.   How ReveMoto Paints Car Parts Each car part that ReveMoto paints is painted in our paint booth. This booth is well ventilated and cleaned frequently to minimize dust. After each part is painted, we perform a quality inspection to check for paint drips or dust. Any imperfections are buffed out so that you can enjoy a perfect finish on your newly painted car part. ReveMoto's painters are trained by our paint vendor, learning the proper techniques for applying paint and creating custom paint codes to generate color matches for our customers' vehicles. And as new techniques and system upgrades are introduced a few times a year, our painters receive training updates, so they're always on top of the latest in painting knowledge.   How ReveMoto Ensures Perfect Color Matching To ensure a perfect color match for your painted car part, we require your vehicle identification number (VIN) or paint code and year. This allows us to use our system to generate a perfect match. Our paint manufacturer frequently takes in paint samples and conducts research on paint fading for different car panels over time. Each paint code variant will match a particular car's year, make and model. With your VIN or paint code and year, we are able to input the paint code, and our system will generate the perfect color to match your existing paint -- including the typical fade experienced over the years.   Sending in a Part for Paint Matching While our color matching is typically perfect with just your VIN or paint code and year, you can send in a paint sample if you'd like. With a sample, we are able to color match by comparing it to our large paint sample inventory, and will adjust grams of paint as needed. Sending in a part is not necessary to get a perfect match on paint, but if you prefer to send it in, you can follow this process: Order the part Find your confirmation email with your order number Email sales@revemoto.com with your order number to inform us that you're sending in a sample Cut out a 6x6 inch piece of the damaged part, or remove your gas cap Send your sample to: ReveMoto (Attn: Paint Dpt) Order #: XXXX, Customer Name11515 Tanner RoadHouston, TX 77041 Returns and ReveMoto's Lifetime Paint Warranty While ReveMoto's process ensures that your new painted car part should match perfectly, if it doesn't, you can send it back. If you need to make a return for paint match, simply follow this process: Contact us at sales@revemoto.com and send us photos of the part side-by-side with your car ReveMoto will reply and send you a shipping label to return the mismatched part, as well as a shipping label to send us a paint sample Upon receipt of the return and the paint sample, a new part will be painted to match the sample, and the part will be delivered to you ReveMoto's high quality paint product is guaranteed for life. Our paint is designed to last as long as your car does: under normal conditions, our paint should never show any peeling, fading, or cracking. If you notice any problems with your paint, simply contact us at sales@revemoto.com to arrange for a new painted part under our lifetime paint warranty. Have questions about our paint, paint processes, returns, or lifetime paint guarantee? Simply contact us at sales@revemoto.com. We're happy to answer questions!

In the last decades, the aftermarket industry has experienced an enormous boom and car owners are galvanizing more and more towards quality aftermarket parts for their vehicles. One prominent reason for this growth is the constant influx of high-quality aftermarket auto parts. This makes repairing or replacing certain parts so much easier.  Using aftermarket parts to replace or repair damaged car parts will help extend the lifespan of your car and boost its resale value. Yet, some people are still skeptical of aftermarket parts. So. let’s take a closer look at aftermarket parts and the changes they underwent throughout the years. The history of the aftermarket industry It is common knowledge that a couple of decades ago OEM (original equipment manufacturer) parts were the only parts for vehicle repair. It is also popularly known that OEM parts were almost never available or prohibitively pricey. As sourcing for OEM parts became a hurdle and too big for most budgets, the aftermarket parts industry was created. In its infancy, the aftermarket parts industry was known for producing notably low-quality parts, however, during the years, the industry has made enormous strides and has significantly improved the quality of its parts. Unfortunately, some still are reluctant to use aftermarket parts due to its former reputation. However, with the new developments and technological advancements in the automotive parts industry the quality of aftermarket parts has increased tremendously - sometimes even matching the quality of OEM parts. Today, there exist a plethora of options in aftermarket parts - mostly manufactured in Taiwan. Using aftermarket parts to replace or repair damaged car parts will help extend the lifespan of your car and boost its resale value. No one is going to pay top dollar for a vehicle with damage parts. Yet, some people are still skeptical of aftermarket parts. So, let’s take a closer look at aftermarket parts and the changes they underwent throughout the years.  The different types of aftermarket parts Regardless of the brand, age or manufacturer, as a car owner, you always want the best replacement parts. But replacement parts differ. The most known is the original equipment manufacturer parts (OEM) and aftermarket replacement parts. OEM parts In the past, car manufactures would create all their parts, but in our ever-connected world most parts are outsourced. OEM parts are made a third-party company to manufacture auto parts in contract to sell ONLY through a car dealership such as Toyota, Honda, Ford, etc. OEM parts will have their respective badging on their part. Whereas aftermarket parts do not pay for the right to make parts with a company’s logo, like the Chevy bowtie or the Toyota ovals. OEM car parts are aftermarket car parts Some car owners adamantly purchase only OEM parts for their many advantages such as:   Easy to Purchase: The parts are readily available at the dealership and purchasing OEM means you’re purchasing piece of mind. This means that you won't have to assess the quality of different brands and prices. Greater assurance of quality: One thing is for sure; an OEM part will work exactly like the one you are replacing, because it is a replica of OE (original equipment) part the vehicle was manufactured with. Peace of mind: If you are a car enthusiast or own a special edition vehicle, you will generally tend to by OEM parts to keep your vehicle closer to its original condition. This may help with resale value but for most of us with regular cars, our car depreciates as soon as we drive it off the lot. The price may not justify the peace of mind. For example, Mopar is an independent auto parts company owned by GMC that only sells to licensed car dealerships. Denso is a Japanese company that makes safety and electrical parts to be installed in vehicles on the assembly line. Because of their many advantages, OEM parts rank highest among auto repair and replacement parts. However, OEM parts also have some disadvantages such as: They are more expensive: according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI), OEM parts will usually cost at least 60 percent more than aftermarket parts. Are only sold by dealerships: Dealers are limited! Which makes purchasing OEM parts quite stressful at times. Your local mechanic can order OEM parts for you, but it may take longer for your vehicle to get repaired. Even though the internet provided the possibility to purchase OEM parts through online merchants, repairs of your car will still take time as these orders will need to be delivered to your mechanic first. Quality vs Price: Many years ago, OEM parts, were vastly better than aftermarket parts. Topically that guarantee does not exist anymore as some aftermarket parts are equal to OEM parts. So, you might be paying extra just for the brand name.   CAPA certified & Regular aftermarket parts These are more affordable than OEM parts and are made by a 3rd party manufacturer. There is an important distinction between the two. The difference between CAPA is the manufacturers strictly adhere to the independent Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA) requirements during the manufacturing process. We’ll get into more detail on CAPA parts further down the article. Regular aftermarket parts do not have adhere to the same process. Both CAPA and regular aftermarket parts are made by the same facilities. It’s safe to say they are both made using the same processes. Aftermarket & CAPA parts are usually available from independent shops and typically offer more options as well. Just like OEM parts, CAPA parts also have some major benefits:   Less expensive: Aftermarket parts are commonly more affordable than OEM parts. Usually 10-30 percent more than aftermarket parts. Quality is equal to OEM auto parts: CAPA parts are using advanced technology to create their products. Which means that in some cases, you may end up with the same quality part that you started with. Wide variety: There are numerous companies that manufacture aftermarket CAPA parts. A wider variety means greater selection and competitive pricing. Better availability: Unlike OEM, aftermarket parts are sold in any auto parts store or local collision shop. This gives you more options on where to take your car for service.   But aftermarket parts are not without their cons. Some of the disadvantages that can come with aftermarket parts are:   Quality varies: Even though most aftermarket companies produce high-quality parts, there are some factories that use less materials. Also, the quantity in which they are made may affect some batches of parts. It is, therefore, best to only purchase from trusted sources. Very wide selection: Since so many companies produce aftermarket parts, the chance of you picking a part that is of lower quality becomes greater. Aftermarket parts are comparable to the OEM parts but occasionally there will be some bad parts out there. Consult your mechanic for advice if you are not familiar with aftermarket parts. Warranty varies by distributor: Usually, aftermarket parts come with their own warranty, but it will only cover the quality of the part which may be void if you already painted the part. It varies for every resale company. This can also be the case with an OEM part.   Regulations and certifications for aftermarket parts As we mentioned before, most aftermarket parts are made in Taiwan - which means that they are not manufactured by the vehicle manufacturer (or a subcontractor on behalf of that company) that made the parts on your original vehicle—the OE parts. These companies in Taiwan make parts designed to function the same with the correct fitment and durability as the original parts. Still, it remains important to inquire about the quality of the parts. For this reason, Federal administrations, like the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have safety regulations for many aftermarket car parts, and states are free to create additional regulations. Another important note, these 3rd party manufactures pay car companies for the rights to manufacture their parts. Companies such as Ford, GMC, Honda, Toyota, etc., all set forth standards to which these manufactures must abide by to sell the likeness of their part. When it comes to aftermarket parts, most retail distributors obtain the auto body part from the same manufactures overseas. You are essentially buying the same parts from the same original manufactures. "CAPA" certified. Certified Automobile Parts Association (CAPA) has set high standards and created guidelines for aftermarket parts. CAPA tests the quality of materials, production, and integrity of the parts. In order to receive a CAPA certification, the result of the testing must conclude that the parts are functionally equivalent to OEM parts as OEM is the standard that some insurance companies use to evaluate replacement parts. CAPA requires that a manufacture follow strict guidelines regarding the facility, equipment, materials and the process in which the parts are made. Each CAPA certified parts is labeled with a distinguishable hologram sticker and its own serial number. Manufactures who sell CAPA parts must submit parts for approval and after approval are subject to random screenings by CAPA. General aftermarket parts do not undergo the same CAPA testing certifications and are generally more affordable than OEM and CAPA certified parts. All aftermarket parts are evaluated for their functionality and quality. General aftermarket parts are the least desired consumers due to their misconceptions. When aftermarket parts first became available, yes, the quality was not good. Things have certainly changed in the past decade and aftermarket parts are now indistinguishable from OEM auto parts.  Insurance companies only use aftermarket parts for repairs due to the pricing compared to OEM parts. Collision shop will also use aftermarket parts to minimize their spending and maximize their profits.   Conclusion Aftermarket parts have been a great help to most car owners over the past decades. Due to its less than favorable quality parts in its infancy years, many people still have misconceptions - even though the aftermarket parts industry has undergone a complete metamorphosis and now offer great quality parts that are comparable to OEM parts. Aftermarket auto body parts are more popular than they have ever been. It is the most commonly used product by consumers and collision repair specialists. Aftermarket parts save consumers and body shops money on the cost of repairs, and in the end, it saves insurance companies money which makes aftermarket parts the best option in many cases. Written by, Stefany Land

Got a scuffed bumper or cracked mirror? Skip the costly body shop visit; there’s a smarter way to repair your car. With ReveMoto’s pre-painted, color-matched auto parts, you can order online, skip the paint booth, and get your car looking brand new again in no time.

Have you ever felt tempted to draw a happy face and write “wash me” on someone’s heavily soiled car? But halt to the thought of, what is it covered in? Where has it even been? Or, has it ever been washed? In fact, not everyone washes their car as often as they should. Routine car washes, waxes, and hygiene maintenance are more essential than you think. Not only can it be eye sore but daily contaminants will damage your cars painted exterior over time.   The BasicsGenerally, auto professionals recommend washing your vehicle every two weeks or so. That may seem like a bit much but if you regularly wash, it’s most likely a quick rinse more than anything. Washing a clean car is faster and easier than a filthy one. Other factors to consider are your geographic location, the weather/climate, city driving vs rural areas, and lastly if the vehicle is garage kept.  According to a survey on The Telegraph, 31% of 1100 adults polled have never washed their own car and only 12% of those who had, did it regularly. Washing and waxing your vehicle routinely is important because our car’s exterior deals with many environmental factors. Contaminants such as bird droppings, tree sap, pollutants, dust, grime, pollen, dead bug splats, and salt can adhere to your vehicle and can wreak havoc on your cars paint job. If you think the rain will wash your cars grime away, think again! The accumulation of dirt and acid rain on your paint job is just as bad. Another good reason to keeping your car clean through regular washes is to avoid the spread of harmful germs. You take your car to many public places and all those contaminants can get on and in your car’s interior. Most importantly, regular washes will prevent you from having to spend lots of money fixing your exterior paint coat.   When to Wash your CarWe’ve established the importance of car washes and suggested number of times to wash your car; every 2 weeks. Of course, not everyone can or should have to follow this recommendation. This also depends on what kind of environment you mostly drive in and how often you take your car out of the garage. If you drive in an area with great exposure to the elements, then you will need to wash your vehicle more frequently, perhaps, weekly. This is generally for folks that use their vehicle for off-road, or even heavy city driving. The area and time of season also play a factor. Heavy rain, areas with a lot of snow fall, extremely hot regions, will all need proper washing and protective coating. On the other hand, if you only drive your car occasionally or in a small radius, you could probably stretch out the recommended 2 weeks into maybe once a month. If your vehicle is garage kept it gets even better, quick rinses will do the trick or whenever you see accumulation of dirt.   Proper Washing TechniquesWe’re not going to get into a detailed step by step process on how to wash your car or the right material and liquids to use. There is a preferred “two-bucket” system as well as other tip, tricks, does and don’ts. There are too many too list, so we’ll be brief and concise. Instead we’re going to opt of a very generic and standard approach. The most basic of tools you need are as follows. A bucket (make sure its clean and free of debris) Clean water (preferably soft water, contains less calcium and magnesium) A car wash mitt, brush, towel, foam cannon. (we recommend the mitt) Car wash soap (do not use dishwasher or any other kind of soap) A water hose or spray gun to wash off the soapy water. A microfiber towel or shammy Clay Bar/Mitt and, or Car Wax   The process is simple, so simple you already know how to do this. It’s important to make sure there is no dirt or debris in the water, bucket or on the car wash mitt. Have small rocks or debris will further complicate your wash by making small scratches on the painted surface. When you apply the soapy water, make sure that you have lots of foam bubbles upon application. Be sure to wash every nook and cranny. If you are cleaning your wheels, use a different wash mitt and water bucket. You will most definitely pick up debris from the rim and tire. Once the car is fully covered in soap, wash it off and dry your vehicle. We recommend using a damp microfiber towel. It will not only dry your car but also pickup dirt and debris. Whereas the shammy will drag the debris across the surface of your paint. In addition to regular washes, you may have to clay bar your vehicle. Sometimes debris/dirt will embed itself on the topcoat that a wash will not remove. The clay bar is very tacky and will pull the dirt out exposing pours where the dirt once was.  Waxing your car is another crucial step to protecting your vehicle’s exterior. It is the process of applying a thin layer of protectant on your car’s surface exterior to protect its clear coat from the world’s damaging elements. It is applied by hand or by using a polisher after the car has been thoroughly washed and dried. The wax fills in the micro scratches and gaps strengthening the clear coat and provides a nice shiny finish. Professionals recommend waxing your car 3 to 4 times a year and always after your clay bar your vehicle.   Final ThoughtsAs you can see, car washes and waxing are just as important as any other type of vehicle maintenance you do routinely. If neglected, your cars exterior will begin to fade, peel and even rust. The only remedy for restoring your natural shine can be through expensive auto detailing or as a last resort, repainting the vehicle. Besides keeping your vehicle’s exterior at its best condition, it could prevent you from having to pay hundreds to thousands in the long run. Therefore, making it a habit of adding a car wash and occasional clay bar/wax to your repertoire is well worth it.

Have you ever looked at your car and find imperfections on its surface? Whether they are rock chips, swirl marks, fine streaks, or deep scratches in the clear coat, they can make your car look dull and lifeless. Fortunately, these flaws can be fixed with paint correction on any painted auto body part. What is Paint Correction? Paint correction is a tedious process of removing the imperfections in a vehicle’s finish to restore and rejuvenate the paintwork. To better understand what paint correction is, we will briefly go through the different types of damage or flaws that would require restoration of the paint. This process not just merely covers up the spots and blotches, it should properly eliminate them bringing your car’s finish back to the state that show only true reflections under direct sunlight. For those with newer cars won’t have to worry about paint correction at all. The most affected people are those who have had their vehicle for several years or who buy used cars. For most people simple car wash and claying will do the trick. For the unlucky few, wet-sanding and buffing will be our only option. If you have scratches, rock chips, dirt in the clear coat (if you painted or have had your car recently painted) or you just want that beautiful mirror-finish for your car then the latter steps are for you. The Paint Correction Process The process of paint correction is very detailed, extensive, and labor intensive. It consists of 4 major steps: washing and decontaminating the vehicle, wet-sanding or leveling, buffing and polishing, and sealing and waxing. Everyone has washed their car, but the rest of the steps can be tedious and require some level of experience. Once you get into wet-sanding and beyond there is a lot of other methods and techniques that are not common to the everyday person. We’ll try and cover these steps briefly without getting too technical.                 Washing and decontaminating- this important and practical first, step removes any loose dirt and debris on the car’s exterior. The next step is to clay bar the painted exterior to safely remove any surface contaminants that are firmly bonded to the vehicle. It is not essential to use a clay bar, but if you have large embedded debris or your car feels rough after a wash; it’s the next step in the process. For all the DIY folks out there, a clay bar is a non-abrasive method to remove dirt and is generally regarded as safe method. It’s often better to avoid having any dirt sitting on the surface of the car paint before moving to the following steps. Not cleaning the car’s surface will result in causing further damage to the its painted exterior. You do not want to polish dirt and contaminants, you want them removed. You may be neglecting your wonderful car. Check out our article on washing your car for more information. Sealing and waxing; this step will be split up into parts. For most you out there, you’ll only need to wash, clay bar and wax your car. After washing and clay bar step, lastly, a layer of sealant is applied to cover up the vehicle’s paint to protect it from further harm. In addition, it adds a superior gloss to the color of your vehicle. When applied, please allow the wax 5-10 minutes to settle over the paint. There are many types of wax and sealants, but the main difference is that sealants are synthetic, and waxes are derived from the carnauba tree. Waxes will fill in any microscopic pours in your painted surface and provide a warm or enhanced tone to your vehicle. For most us, this where our work will end. For those who have more to deal with and are not afraid putting in more work; buffing is our next step. Wet-sanding or leveling is the first part of the buffing process. this step is to remove fine scratches, dirt, imbedded debris and blemishes in the exterior clear coat. If you take great care of your vehicle or have a newer car then you could stick with the steps; washing to waxing. For the rest of us who have older cars or have had our car repainted, you’re in the right place. There is some dirt and debris that cannot be removed by a clay bar and that’s when you may want to wet-sand the dirt or debris. Its very important to note that wet-sanding is an abrasive method that will cut your clear coat removing very thin micro-layers of clear coat every time you wet-sand a painted surface. This should be no surprise to most, but wet sanding requires water and lots of it. You should never dry sand your car because it would be too harsh of a cut on the clear coat and require more work buffing the scratches out. Wet sanding- will remove any type of dirt and, or level any type of imperfection in the clear coat. There are many grades of wet-sanding paper, but for removing dirt or debris we do not recommend going lower than 2000 grit sand paper. The lower the sand paper the more abrasive it is, the higher the grade the less abrasive it is. We use sand paper between 1000-5000 grit but very seldom anything under 2000. With the lower sand papers, you will be cutting or leveling the clear coat very harsh. Sandpaper grit at 1000 and 1500 should only be used experienced auto detailer and only on extremely dirty or difficult panels, when needed. For the rest of us, 2000 grit will do the trick. You can also stop at 2000 grit and buff the sanding marks away, but it will be a lot easier on you if you go higher in sand paper grit. If you start at 2000 you would follow that with 2500 and finish off at 3000 or 5000. The last two grades of sand paper are not usually needed unless you are working on dark colored panels/car. Black is the hardest color and white being the easiest color to wet sand and buff. When you wet sand, you want to let the paper do the work and not put too much pressure on the affected area. You don’t want to cut the clear coat too much or you will leave small scratches on the clear coat even after you buff. Let the paper do the job and just gently rub the dirt or debris away. Use your judgment and those eagle eyes to catch any micro scratches on the panel you are wet-sanding. When you see small scratches, it will help to go to the higher sand paper and it will also be less work for your buffer. There are two methods when wet sanding, crosshatch and circular sanding. The circular method is generally used for small isolated sanding and crosshatch is intersecting parallel lines (think an “X”) used for larger areas. When you wet sand, it is important to stay within the same area of sanding resulting in a solid white or foggy look. No spaces in between or small trails outside of the sanded area. You will thank me later. Buffing and polishing- The previous step involved cutting the clear coat to eliminate any imperfections and leveling the out the clear coat. This process includes different grades of polish used from heavier to finer compounds to remove surface materials and marks, ultimately refining the finish. The materials used are often labeled in sequential steps from 1 to 3. This includes the pads that need to be used to the types of compounds. The main difference between buffing and polishing, is that buffing takes out the wet sanding you previously did, and the polishing will remove and micro scratches, haziness caused by buffing. This is usually done with finer, softer pads and different polishing compounds different from the initial buffing pads and cutting compounds.  The materials used are as follows. Buffer – Rotary, Fixed Orbital, Dual Action Forced Rotation, Dual Action Random Orbital Liquid Products – Waxing agents vary but there are specific to each step. 1,2,3 Pads – Foam pads are best per step. Avoid the wool pad unless you are skilled at buffing. Wetting Agents- You can buy specific wetting agents but water with a little bit of soap is all that’s needed. Micro-fiber towel- Any will do. You do not want to wipe your finish with anything to abrasive causing more harm. We most recommend using only the foam pads for all steps, they are less abrasive compared to a wool pad. Outside temperatures and the temperature of the painted panel will affect how you buff. Steel panels will withstand much higher degrees of heat where plastic auto parts will have a lower threshold to heat. Let’s say it’s 100 degrees outside, you may have to apply more compound and wait longer between buffing/polishing. It’s also very important that you continuously are moving the buffer and do not let sit idle. These buffers can spin up 500 rotations a second which generate a lot of heat themselves. Colder temperatures are of course, more forgiving. Use your judgement, the last thing you want to do is burn through the paint coat and having to pay for a new paint job. Sealing and waxing- (part 2) after all the correction work, lastly, a layer of sealant is applied to cover up the vehicle’s paint to protect it from further scratches. This process is the same as we previously mentioned, waxing the exterior. We are going to diverge into ceramic coating, which is very different than waxing. Ceramic coating is synthetic material that is more durable and last longer than wax. Ceramic coating creates a semi-permanent bond over the paint adding more protection and shine over your paint coat. Ceramic coating is one of the best options, which also means it’s the more expensive option. No matter which decision you choose, it’s always best to protect your car’s exterior after buffing or polishing the painted car or auto part. Paint correction is the process of eliminating scratches and imperfections on a vehicle’s exterior paint work. Paint correction can be a lengthy and costly procedure. A trip to a professional detailer, depending on the corrections needed, the size of your vehicle and color (black is the hardest), it could cost up to $600 or more. Thus, maintaining your vehicle in great condition is valuable. Washing your car properly and routinely will prolong the life of your automotive paint. To avoid a complete reconditioning of your automotive paint, use non-abrasive materials when washing and drying your car. It’s a multi-step process that completely corrects a vehicle’s surface appearance resulting in no swirl marks, scratches, or blemishes when viewed to the naked eye. Remember, whether it’s you doing the hard work or paying a professional to buff your car, make sure you follow the correct steps to keep the life of your automotive paint looking amazing.

What is automotive clear coat? Is a clear plastic resin that protects your cars paint job and panel panels from rust and  paint oxidization. We'll run down the process on how panel gets painted and why the clear coat is extremely important.

So, you just finished doing your weekly grocery shopping, yay! Feeling as productive and lucky as ever, you walk back to your car feeling like a champion just to find a deep, yawning scratch on your bumper. Suddenly, you feel this heat in your head, your blood boiling, and the desperate feeling of, “What now!?” Thinking, “This is going to cost a fortune!”, “Should I contact my insurance?”, “What if I can’t fix it myself?” When something unfortunate happens to your car, the first thing that pops into your head will most likely be to contact your insurance company. After all, it is quite an expense that we pay in case something happens to our vehicle. However, is it wise to initiate a claim? Or, should you just take it to a professional? Perhaps, maybe DIY? Here is some information for you to consider when deciding what to do with any type of damage to your vehicle. Should I contact my insurance company? Do not file an insurance claim right away. Not all car scratches are created equal. There are so many variables that come into play, depending on your auto policy and the cause of the scratch. Damage caused by different factors are covered differently. Comprehensive Scratches – Generally a damage NOT caused by collision. Frequently seen as a non-fault claim because of an unpreventable damage (e.g. vandalism, falling objects, theft, etc.)                                    (Image Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-566327/The-street-vandals-scratched-single-parked-car-caused-250-000-worth-damage.html) Collision Scratches – Typically a damage caused by hitting another object. (e.g. another vehicle, guardrail, tree, etc.)                                    Not sure how your car got scratched? – Contact your auto insurance carrier and speak with a claim adjuster. He or she will be able to identify the cause of the scratch then determine what type of claim you should file. Furthermore, the location of the scratch could affect the price. If the scratch is on a removable part, it’s probably more affordable to replace it. But if it’s located on the frame, roof, rear quarter panel, or door, a large area must be painted to cover the scratch and blend in the new paint. (Image Source: http://driving.ca/auto-news/news/hit-a-car-and-thinking-of-running-shame-on-you) Sometimes, you are better off fixing the scratch and not filing a claim. Checking your insurance policy first is the best way to decide if a claim is to your advantage. Here is some additional information to consider when deciding whether you should file a claim on your insurance: Ineligibility for renewal: Some insurance companies may not renew your policy if you have had more than two claims in 3 years. Hence, paying for your own repairs costing under $1,000 is often worthwhile to prevent the possibility of no coverage in the future ( CNN Money - Car Insurance: Things to Know). Deductible costs: A “deductible” is the out-of-pocket portion you must pay before your insurance pays for a claim. The national average of vehicle insurance deductible is $500. If the cost of your deductible is higher than the cost to fix your car damages, it is better to pay for the damages upfront instead of filing a claim with your insurance provider. For instance, you verified that your policy covers Comprehension Damage and you decide to file a claim. You take your vehicle to a body shop for a free estimate and realize the total cost for repair is $1500. You will have to pay the $500 deductible to your insurance provider for them to take care of your $1500 damages. Monthly premium increase: Insurance companies usually have two onsets when insurers file a claim. If the damage is less than $1,800, your rate may not go up. However, if the cost of repairs is between $1,800-$2,800, your rate may increase. For most insurance companies, the magic number is $2,800 or more. If your damage cost is more expensive than that number, your premium will rise significantly. (How Much Does Insurance Go up after an Accident?) Ineligibility for discounts: There are about 20 types of discounts you could be receiving on your auto insurance, saving you quite a bit of money! However, filing a claim could cost you from taking advantage of those enticing money savers. Now that we have an idea on how an insurance claim works and if you decide it’s to your advantage to file it, you have the option to have the claim check made to your name so you could spend it toward your repair or replacement costs. If filing a claim is not to your advantage, the next step is to determine the best course of action to repairing your car depending on the severity of the damages.   Is the scratch fixable? Your car’s paint is more important than just for looks, it protects the exterior from corrosion and rust. Therefore, it’s important to try and mend the scratch as soon as possible since it may worsen over time causing additional, costly problems. If it is a minor, superficial abrasion, you can try these DIY steps. Generally, the depth of the scratch will determine whether it’s a repair you can do yourself, or if it will require an automotive professional. A great way to see if a scratch is repairable, is by performing a test using your fingernail! That’s right, if your fingernail can fit in the scratch, you can possibly touch it up yourself or by a paint tech who is experienced in automotive touch up paint. But, if the scratch is too deep (usually cutting into the metal or plastic of the car part), the only proper way to fix the damage is to repair and repaint the area. If the scratch is somewhere in-between, not too deep, it can probably be buffed out by a professional, which will cost much less than repairing the area. A good way to check if the scratch is repairable, is to see if your fingernail cannot fit in the damage area. Car part painting costs could range from $300 to $7,500! Here is more information about car paint jobs.   What if the scratch requires repair work by a professional? If your scratch is beyond DIY repair, you will want to get an estimate on the cost to repair the damages by an automotive professional. Often, it is more cost effective to replace the entire car part rather than getting it repaired and repainted due to the number of labor hours a shop will allocate to get your job done. Therefore, you’ll want to get an estimate before deciding whether it’s best to repair or replace your part. If you decide to replace the car part, here are some choices for you to consider: Dealership Dealerships are usually the standard when it comes to any kind of car repair. They will do a great job to make certain your vehicle is back to its original state. Dealerships provide Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car parts which may give you greater assurance. Your car may even be under warranty depending on date of purchase or if you have an extended warranty. It’s a great option for high quality repairs. You’ll get the best paint products, the best high-tech equipment and practices. Dealerships usually employ highly skilled and experienced mechanics and technicians making it a worry free option when it comes to repairs. Dealerships spare no expense when it comes to their quality. Reputation is key in any industry and dealership know this better than anyone. If there are any issues with any type of work, the dealership will right its wrongs. Body Shop This option has the most variety. Body shops are the most common form or practice for any car repair. There are specialty shops that specialize in show room vehicles from luxury vehicles to economy cars. There are great mom and pop shops that have a great reputation not only with the community but also partner with insurance companies to handle their repairs. Just like any industry, you’ll awesome shops and terrible shops. Beware of shops that cut corners and do very low skilled repairs. You should always do your due diligence when choosing a body shop. There are many ways to cut corners when it comes to repairs but everything depends on “how” the repairs were made or the correct steps in repairing damages. Body shops out number dealerships, so they will have different methods and equipment that get the job done. It all depends on the quality and experience of the body shop technicians. There are many right ways to fix damages and twice as many ways to do it wrong. In the eyes of an insurance company, a repair is repair, plain and simple. Insurance companies cannot dictate to their customers on where to service their vehicle, it’s illegal! Insurance companies will pay the proper dollar amount for repairs but it’s up to the shop you choose to execute those repairs the proper way. Body shop will differ based on the experience of their technicians and staff, so make sure to choose a reputable one! Painted Auto Body Part Stores There is an ever-growing number of pre-painted auto body part stores online. Make sure to choose a reputable one that provides auto parts that meet the same standards of the original (OEM) parts. There are many companies that manufacture aftermarket car parts for all the major automobile brands but not all manufactures are created equal. While you are generally safe in purchasing aftermarket parts today, some companies put a lot more time and care into their process while others cut corners. Pay attention to certifications such as ISO-9001 and CAPA. All parts meeting those two standards are generally sold in the USA and Canada and are used by body shops and insurance companies nationwide. It is important for a reliable online painted parts shop to offer color matching to ensure that your painted replacement car part corresponds with your vehicle. High quality paint plays an important role when purchasing a pre-painted car part! The quality of the paint will not only determine perfect color matching, it will also guarantee durability of the coat that protects your auto body part.  Always do your due diligence when purchasing anything on the internet. Don’t be afraid to ask about each online store’s paint process, quality of paint, and if they offer any guarantees and warranties

Whether you're ordering painted replacement parts or touch up paint, paint matching is essential. Choose the wrong color paint, and you could have a new part or painted area that sticks out like a sore thumb. But finding your vehicle's paint code can sometimes be tricky. In our guide, you'll find out where to look for your car's paint code, as well as the paint code format your vehicle make typically follows. This makes it easy to order accurately painted replacement parts and touch up paint knowing you've found the right shade. Why it's Important to Find Your Car's Paint Code It's never a good idea to simply guess the color of your car. A red car isn't just red. It's fire engine red, brick red, or even a candy paint red. That's why choosing "red" for your touch up paint just isn't going to cut it. With even a slightly different shade, you'll be able to plainly see the difference as soon as it's applied, and the poor matching job on your paint touch up may look worse than what you're trying to cover up in the first place. Locating Your Car's Paint Code Unlike information like your vehicle's VIN or tire pressure settings, there's no single predictable location to find your vehicle's paint code. Each manufacturer may do something different than the others, and it may not even be the same for each model. This means you may need to look in a few different places before you can successfully find your car's paint code. Try these spots first: Driver door sticker: Often, you can find your paint code right where you find your tire pressure settings. This is the most common location for paint codes, so be sure to try it first. Another place to look on the driver's side door is in the hinge area, or in the passenger door, sometimes on the pillar. Makes that may use this location:: Acura, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Mazda, Mercedez Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Toyota, Volvo Under the hood: Some will place the code above the strut towers, fender edges, or frame rail, or along the engine wall or fire wall just between the engine compartment and the interior. Others will have a sticker on top of hood deck lid or front of the radiator support. Makes that may use this location:: BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Infiniti, Isuzu, Jeep, Mazda, Mercedez Benz, Mini, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Suzuki, Volvo Inside the trunk: The sticker may be under the deck lid, inside the rear compartment, spare tire cover, or even on the wheel housing. Makes that may use this location:: Acura, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Volkswagen In the glove box or middle console: Check inside the glove box or middle console, either on the door or inside the interior of the box, removing items if necessary. Makes that may use this location:: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, Hummer, Isuzu, Suzuki Inside the wheel well: Look inside all wheel wells for a sticker. Some use the front passenger, others the rear driver's side, so it's best to check all of them. Makes that may use this location:: Buick, Cadillac On the floor: This one's tricky, but you can check on the floor behind the back passenger's seat or under the front seats. Makes that may use this location:: Chevrolet, Chrysler, GMC What You're Looking For Will you know your paint code if you've found it? Typically, you're looking for a white or silver paper sticker. Just like locations, the paint code format for many vehicles is significantly different. Most related manufacturers, such as the General Motors group including Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC, will use the same format, which can make it easier to identify them. Paint code formats for selected models: Acura: NH-XXXX Audi: May be 2-4 numbers long and can include letters BMW: Three numbers Buick: Starts with WA, BC/CC, or U, may be prefaced by a three digit number and letter combination Cadillac: Starts with WA, BC/CC, or U, may be prefaced by a three digit number and letter combination Chevrolet: Starts with WA, BC/CC, or U, may be prefaced by a three digit number and letter combination Chrysler: Starts with P, Q, G, or T, 3 digits with letters and numbers. May be prefaced by PNT. Dodge: Starts with P, Q, G, or T, 3 digits with letters and numbers. May be prefaced by PNT. Ford: Two digits with numbers and/or letters GMC: Starts with WA, BC/CC, or U, may be prefaced by a three digit number and letter combination Honda: NHXXXX or YRXXXXX Hummer: Starts with WA, BC/CC, or U, may be prefaced by a three digit number and letter combination Hyundai: Two digits with numbers and/or letters Infiniti: Three digits with numbers and/or letters, may be fourth digit after a space Isuzu: Three digits with numbers Jeep: Starts with P, Q, G, or T, 3 digits with letters and numbers. May be prefaced by PNT. Older Jeeps may be two digits long. Kia: Two digits with numbers and/or letters Lexus: Three digits with numbers and/or letters, usually prefaced by CTR Lincoln: Two digits with numbers and/or letters Mazda: Two or three digits with numbers and/or letters Mercedez Benz: DB-XXX Mini: Three digits with numbers and/or letters Mitsubishi: NH-XXXX Nissan: Three digits with numbers and/or letters Subaru: Three digits with numbers and/or letters Suzuki: Three digits with numbers and/or letters Toyota: Three digits with numbers and/or letters, usually prefaced by CTR Volkswagen: Two to four digits with numbers and/or letters If You Can't Find Your Paint Code Even if you know where to look and what you're looking for, it's not always easy to locate your car's paint code. But you do have options. First, check your owner's manual. Some manufacturers will explain in your manual where you can find the paint code. If that doesn't work, use your VIN. Your VIN is easy to find, located in the dash. If you write down this number, you can call a local dealership to ask them to find your color code based on the VIN. Finding your car's paint code is sometimes tricky, but it's always worth it to get an exact match. With the right paint code, you'll have the perfect match for your painted replacement part or touch up paint.

So you're ready to order a new painted car part from ReveMoto: but what happens after you place your order? ReveMoto carefully matches paint codes, professionally paints each part, and performs a top of the line process for quality control and inspection, packaging, and shipping. Getting your new part shipped out quickly and in perfect condition is our highest priority. Ordering Your Painted Car Part: Processing and Shipping from Start to Finish Most orders will arrive at your door 3 weeks after your place your order. This depends on our paint queue, quality control, and shipping times. When our lead times are short, you can receive small parts such as side mirrors as fast as five days from placing your order, or as long as three weeks for fenders and bumpers. If you're in a rush to receive your new painted part, please contact us at sales@revemoto.com to ask about our current lead times and find out how long we expect to take to get your part painted, inspected, packaged, and shipped to your door. Painting Your New Auto Body Part At ReveMoto, a proper paint match must meet our highest quality standards. That's why we ask for both your paint code and VIN. With these numbers, we verify each order to ensure the paint code we use is correct for your vehicle. This paint code is used to generate a perfect match for your vehicle in our system. If you prefer, you can send in a part for color matching, but this is usually not necessary: all we ask for is the VIN and paint code. Once your paint code is verified, your car part is placed in the painting queue. While in the queue, your order status will read: Awaiting Fulfillment. Depending on demand, your part will be painted within one to five business days of your order placement. Note: ReveMoto does not operate on the weekends. Every car part is painted in our state of the art paint booth using proper techniques for paint matching and applying paint. Our paint booth is well ventilated and cleaned frequently to minimize dust and debris, giving your new part a perfect finish. Once painted, each car part is set to cure for two days. This allows the paint and finish to completely dry and harden, and minimizes smudges, dust, and other issues. After curing, your order status will read: Awaiting Shipment. ReveMoto's Quality Control Standards for Painted Auto Body Parts After curing, each car part will go through our quality control process. In this process, we'll check for visible paint debris or drips. Any small imperfections will be buffed out. If there is a problem with the paint and it is unacceptable for any reason, ReveMoto will fix the problem, either by repainting the part, or painting an entirely new part. Customers will be notified if their order does not pass inspection, and all orders that are repainted through quality control will be placed at the front of the queue to minimize wait times. After repainting, the part will pass through quality control and inspection once again. Products that pass quality control and inspection will be photographed and sent to packaging and shipping. Packaging and Shipping Your Painted Auto Body Part Parts that are painted, cured, and have passed quality control will be ready for packaging and shipping. We carefully package each part to ensure that it reaches your door undamaged and just as perfect as it is in our shop. Note: local pickup in Houston is available by appointment. Local installations are available as well. Parts that are packaged before 2 p.m. will be shipped out the same day, parts packaged after 2 p.m. will be shipped out the following day. We use USPS, freight, and FedEx for shipping depending on the method and part selected when you place your order. Shipping times can vary from 2-3 days for side mirrors shipped via USPS to 7-10 days for bumpers and fenders. Our current shipping times are: via USPS: 7-10 days for bumpers & fenders 2-3 days for side view mirrors via freight: 5-7 days for bumpers, fenders, hoods via FedEx: 4-5 days for bumpers & fenders In shipping, you'll receive a photo of the finished product if available, as well as your shipping information including the tracking number. Once shipped, your order status will be updated to read: Shipped, and you can expect to receive your order within the posted shipping times. After You Receive Your Painted Car Part We encourage you to install your new part as soon as you receive it to verify that you have the proper fit and paint match. If there's a problem, we want to know about it immediately so that we can begin working on a new part that will meet your needs. You'll receive a follow up contact from us to ensure that you're happy with the product, and we encourage you to call or email us with your comments as well. Our products are carefully packaged to minimize the risk of damage during shipping, but if your car part arrives damaged, don't worry: we've got you covered. Our products are insured by our shipping courier, and if your part is damaged during transit, just send us a photo of the damages. We'll put a new part at the top of the queue to ship out to you as quickly as possible at no additional charge. Have any questions about the ordering and fulfillment process? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions, or email us at sales@revemoto.com.

Whether you're driving a brand new car or a beat up old junker, eventually, your vehicle's paint will fade. There's just no stopping the power of the sun and outdoor elements -- but there are things you can do do slow it down and keep your car's paint job looking good for longer. Why Car Paint Fades All paint fades, and a major contributor to paint fade is the sun. Ultra violet rays are the primary contributor to paint fade. However, pollution, salt, insects, residue, and even bird droppings can dish out a beating to your car's finish. But it's not all out of your control: abrasive cleaners can cause damage as well. Other Exterior Damage from the Elements In addition to dishing out a beating on your paint, the sun and other elements can damage your headlights and rubberized trim. And if you don't have tinted windows, your interior may fade and crack as well. How to Protect Your Car's Paint Finish Park under the shade: Whether you're in a garage, car port, or other cover for your vehicle, shade can protect your finish from ultraviolet rays. Look for spots under a tree or other covered parking while you're out, too. If you'll be parking your vehicle under the sun for a while, use a car cover with ultraviolet protection. Wash your car regularly: Every one to two weeks, give your car a good wash to remove pollutants, bugs, tar, and everyday chemicals that can eat away at your finish. Be sure to avoid abrasive washes, and instead of scraping off dirt or bugs, use an automotive clay bar. Dry your car completely to protect your car's paint from minerals left behind by evaporation. Use car wax: Every three months or so, wax your car to give it a better shine and added protection against the elements including the sun, dirt, and pollutants. Think of it as sunscreen for your vehicle. But be careful not to wax too often, as it can build up. Don't wax the car when your paint is hot, or in the direct sun. Consider tinted windows: Protect your car's interior from sun damage with tinted windows that block out ultraviolet rays. Or, get a windshield screen to put up when you're parked. How to Fix Faded Car Paint If your vehicle's paint begins to oxidize, you'll need to act quickly to stop it. You'll need to thoroughly wash your car and use an automotive clay bar to remove dead paint and other contaminants. You'll then need to use a polish and finish it off with a car wax. For paint with flaking clearcoat and other more serious issues, it may be necessary to repaint parts of the vehicle, or replace them with painted parts, as they can't be restored just by polishing them. Nothing can stop paint from fading in the sun and other elements, but with good care, you can slow down the fading process and keep your vehicle's finish looking new.

Even when you're using factory matched touch up paint, it's possible that your actual paint color won't match up. This can be frustrating, especially when you've made sure that you've found the right match. What went wrong? We'll explain a few of the reasons why your paint may not match -- and what you can do about it. Why Touch Up Paint Doesn't Match There are a few different reasons why your touch up paint may not match your existing factory paint. These include: Difficulty replicating factory finish: When you use touch up paint, you may be simply painting on a layer or two of paint. But in the factory, your car is sprayed several times, producing a different finish. Fading from the sun: Your touch up paint will be the original factory color -- but the paint on your vehicle might not be that same shade anymore. After sitting in the sun and being subjected to weather, the paint on your vehicle may have faded slightly, making it a lighter shade that the original, unfaded color of the touch up paint. Metallic finish: Metallic paint colors can be more difficult to match accurately, as they include small reflective flecks of metal in the paint. If they're not distributed well throughout the touch up paint, it can look different than the existing paint when applied. How to Get a Better Match It's not always easy to get an exact match on touch up paint, even if you're using the factory finish. But don't panic: if it's still wet, wait a while, as it may blend better when the paint has dried. For others, simply waiting a few months to allow the new paint to fade with the sun and outdoor elements may produce a better match. There are steps you can take in the application process that make a difference as well: Use your factory paint code: When purchasing touch up paint, always order paint that matches your vehicle's factory paint code. Always test first: Before applying paint to say, your driver's side door, test on an inconspicuous section of your vehicle first. This will allow you to double check your color match as well as get a feel for application. Properly prep your painting area: You should wash your vehicle and use wax and grease remover to make sure you're getting right down to the paint. If there is rust or any texture, be sure to lightly apply sandpaper before painting. Shake paint before applying: Paint may have natural separation, so remember to shake it well for at least a full minute before you begin. Metallic paint in particular will have flecks included that need to be distributed. Fake a factory finish: In the factory, your vehicle is painted with multiple thin coats. So that's exactly what you should do with your touch up paint. Apply several extremely thin coats with a light hand to blend in the new color. Each coat should be just slightly larger than the last for optimal blending. Apply paint with a toothpick: For very small chips, dip a toothpick in paint and apply a small amount of paint to the ding. Avoid trying to completely fill the ding with each layer -- simply let it dry for a few hours, then apply a bit more until you've applied several layers that match up. Use a clear coat: Your factory finish has a base coat and clear coat, so adding this step can help you avoid painted sections that stick out as different. Paint in the shade: Ideally, you'll want to paint your vehicle in the shade without high humidity conditions. You should at least avoid direct sunlight to allow the paint to dry slowly. Paint a larger area: If you're still not happy with the way your touch up paint looks, it may be necessary to repaint a larger area. With careful application, and an accurate shade of paint, you can ensure that you'll get the best touch up paint match for your vehicle. This is a great way to protect your car's finish from rust and outdoor elements, plus it keeps your vehicle looking great.

Accidents happen. It's a simple, but unfortunate, fact of driving. And while most fender benders don't leave permanent damage, it's always better to simply avoid getting into an accident than it is to fix what's already happened. Of course, avoiding an accident may be easier said than done. Some accidents just can't be avoided -- but many can. In fact, it's believed that human error is to blame, at least in part, for 90% of all car crashes. And even if you're a great driver, that doesn't mean that all of the other cars around you have drivers with your skills. That's why it's important to play it safe and practice defensive driving techniques on the road. These defensive driving tips can help you become a safer driver and when practiced, may reduce your risk of being involved in an accident: Predict what other drivers will do: No, you don't need psychic abilities to be a great driver (though that would help!). But developing an intuition about what you can expect other drivers to do is a smart way to stay safe. For example, that sports car zipping around other vehicles in your rear view mirror is likely to do the same to you, and that sedan in the next lane that keeps inching to the left is probably just about ready to switch into the next lane -- with or without a blinker. Watch for these and other signs that can tell you what's coming up next, even when other drivers don't clearly signal their intentions. Keep an eye out for hazards: You should always be scanning the horizon and quickly checking your mirrors to look for dangers up ahead such as stopped traffic or other drivers hanging out in your blind spot. If you can identify hazards early on, you will have more time to stop and avoid them. Steer clear of aggressive drivers: Everyone gets annoyed behind the wheel sometimes. It's OK to get upset, but keep your emotions in check. Don't let aggressive drivers get under your skin. Stay as far away as you can from drivers who are speeding, driving erratically, tailgating, or making frequent lane changes. It's also a good idea to move over for tailgaters so you can both get on with your lives. If you find yourself getting upset, remember it's normal to feel that way, but important to stay calm on the road. Remember that you have nothing to prove with your vehicle: all you have to do is get where you're going safely. Don't drive impaired: Certainly you've heard by now that you shouldn't drink and drive or drive while under the influence of drugs. But this is important enough that it bears repeating. Just don't take a chance on this. It's never a good idea to drive after you've had too much to drink, or if you've used drugs before getting behind the wheel. Plan ahead if you know you'll be indulging and use a designated driver, call a cab, or find other ways to avoid driving while impaired. You could save yourself from being involved in a deadly accident. Slow down: Speeding may get you to your destination a little faster, but the time you make up is usually hardly worth the risk. The few minutes you shave off of your travel time could prove to be deadly if you're going too fast to be safe. Leave earlier, slow down, and take your time to get there safer. It's also a good idea to slow down further in bad weather conditions, as wet and other inclement weather could make it more difficult to stop your vehicle. Practice courteous driving: Give other drivers a heads up and signal your intentions by using a blinker every time you need to turn or change lanes. While it's true that some drivers will intentionally block you out when they see your blinker, most will make space for you if they notice your signal. When other drivers know you're making a move and can adjust for it, your turn or lane change will be safer. It's also a good idea to yield right of way whenever required, and in some cases, even when you don't have to. If other drivers seem pushy or aggressive, just let them go ahead as it often takes less time to just let others go than it does to jockey for a better position. Give yourself time to react: It's always smart to maintain a proper following distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. This will give you more time to react and slow down if there's an issue up ahead. Under normal driving conditions, you should keep at least two car lengths ahead of you. If you're driving in bad weather or following a large vehicle like an 18 wheeler, increase the distance by at least one car length. Never text and drive: Distracted driving, such as texting and driving, is practically just as bad as drunk driving. Texting, surfing the web, even looking up directions can take your eyes off of the road for precious seconds and cause you to miss seeing important things on the road: pedestrians, other vehicles, and other serious accidents just waiting to happen. Make your vehicle a distraction-free zone: set your GPS route before you head out and store your phone in the back seat or your glove box to avoid being distracted while driving. Always wear your seat belt: No matter how safe of a driver you are, there's always a chance you'll be involved in an accident. Wearing a seat belt can make the difference between life and death, and it's always a good idea to wear yours to help prevent injury and death in the event of an accident. If you're concerned about getting stuck in your seat belt, consider investing in a low cost vehicle emergency tool that can cut seat belts and break windows if you ever need it. Defensive driving doesn't offer foolproof driving safety, and even with the most careful and aware drivers, accidents can happen. But by practicing better awareness, safe driving habits, showing courtesy to other drivers, and other defensive driving techniques, you can make your next drive a safer one.

There are a ton of paint brands and products that exist under each paint line. For the sake of simplicity, we’ve broken up the paint brands by class. Keep in mind, however, that we simply categorize the products according to the brand’s standards and not to a universal standard. For instance, although Wanda by AkzoNobel is listed under “Economical Automotive Paint”, it may be superior to Dimension by Sherwin Williams. However, Wanda is considered an economical option in comparison to AkzoNobel’s other two lines, Lesonal and Sikkens. While there are several other paint options available, we’ve decided to focus on solvent-based paint products that are most often used in North America. Economical Automotive Paint Each paint brand offers their version of an economy paint line. This line usually offers efficient, quality, economical finishes. Usually consisting of simple, easy to use mixing systems, they deliver a balance between performance and price. Wanda (AkzoNobel) Wanda paint is the economical automotive paint refinish line in the AkzoNobel lineup. You may have heard of U-tech as well, but this paint is mainly used for fleets and commercial line productions. Wanda, however, has been introduced as the cost-effective option for body shops and painters. Wanda’s paint system uses a simplified approach to mixing ratios of clear, primer and 2K color and utilizes a universal hardener. These fewer components makes it easier to use and reduces inventory, therefore saving on costs. Shop-Line (PPG) Shop-Line is an efficient, quality, and economical refinish system available from PPG. The compact mixing system makes it easy to use. With a complete range of refinish products from pre-treatments to topcoats to clear coats, Shop-Line offers improved color matching with fewer coats needed. Nason (Dupont) Nason paint products are designed to go on fast and easy, while drying quickly to help improve efficiency. With Nason Ful-Base Color Mixing System, you should only need one mixing machine to product thousands of paint colors. Nason’s tagline is “Value in a Hurry” and their simplified products do just that. Limco (BASF) Limco is BASF’s economical paint solution and was engineered to provide simplicity to their user-friendly systems. The new LIMCO LP620 provides primer surfacer and sealer in one to help you put in less effort while staying productive and profitable. This product line is offers a wide range of refinishers and is focused on color matching and fast drying times. Finish 1 (Sherwin Williams) Finish 1 is Sherwin William’s value product line designed for smaller shops, over the counter sales and price conscious buyers. Finish 1 products are easy to use with the majority of product mixing ratios being 4:1. High Quality Automotive Paint The high-quality, mid-tier paint category usually consists of paint systems with a complete range of refinish products. These paint products offer superb color accuracy and ease of use, while maintaining the profitability of businesses. Lesonal (AkzoNobel) Made from AkzoNobel, the same makers of the Sikkens paint line, Lesonal is a high-quality, full mixing system. They have full color documentation and a wide variety of colors including metallics, pearls, and solids. Their full range of products enable use on a wide variety of jobs and offer perfect color matching. Omni (PPG) Omni Is a compact mixing system made from PPG. The line offers performance for cost conscious repair shops and has a complete range of products from pre-treatments to topcoats. Omni’s unique paint system can accommodate various operational and cost considerations since their system is capable of mixing topcoat qualities with a wide range of primers and clears. Cromax/Chromabase (Dupont/Axaltacs) Chromabase is part of Dupont’s (Axaltacs) Cromax product line. It is a 4:1 paint system designed to streamline the process to help promote better productivity and fewer mistakes. The paint is an easy to use two-component system that does not require reducers and offers great color and flake control. Diamont (BASF) Diamont is an R-M solvent borne basecoat system under the umbrella of the BASF company. Their paint offers efficiency and ease of use with clear economic advantages in rapid flash off times and minimum material consumption. Diamont’s covering power allows you to be more efficient while using less product to save on costs. Dimension (Sherwin Williams) Dimension Overall Refinish System is a mid-range coatings system from Sherwin Williams. This paint is ideal for facilities specializing in high volume overall repaints, and offers a complete paint system including primers, sealers, single stage colors, basecoats and clearcoats. Premium Automotive Paint Top-of-the-line, premium paint are considered the best of their brand. Delivering superior performance, these paint products are made to meet expectations in high productivity, cycle time and color match. The paint provides superior finish and is often used for cars in show rooms or other high-end jobs. Sikkens (AkzoNobel) Sikkens is the premium automotive paint product made by AkzoNobel and has partnerships with high end car makers such as McLaren to come up with new coatings for the demanding Formula 1. It provides excellent coverage, metallic control and sprayability to match OEM solid, metallic, and pearl color effects. Sikkens paint offers superior protection from the environment while ensuring optimal color match capabilities. Deltron (PPG) Deltron, made by PPG, is the best-selling refinish system in North America. It offers a full range of easy to use products and solutions that cover every conceivable need. Backed by PPG’s Paint Performance Guarantee Program, any repairs made with the Deltron System is promised to be good for as long as the customer owns the vehicle. With a range of powerful color tools, Deltron’s paint system is superb for color match and OEM alignment. Global (PPG) Also made by PPG, Global products were developed in Europe to meet the demand for a high-performance, high-solids system that delivers superior color matching for vehicles sold around the world. Global paint products are also backed by PPG’s Paint Performance Guarantee Program. Standox (Dupont) Standox is a premium paint product made by Dupont. This superior paint product is not just for any technician, but designed for those who approach refinishing as an art. Standox has been in the market for over 55 years and is used in more than 80 countries in the world who have a passion for perfection. Spies Hecker (Dupont) Another premium paint product made by Dupont is Spies Hecker. They provide refinishing solutions for the industry’s best collision repair businesses. Spies Hecker offers advanced, innovative refinishing technology solutions to ensure great color matching and very good gloss and flow. Glasurit (BASF) Glasurit is a premium automotive refinish paint system with over 100 years of outstanding quality. It stands alone as the global standard of excellence in refinish paint. Glasurit paint achieves the ultimate blend of speed, ease of use, color match and durability. This comprehensive system helps deliver perfectly matched products and processes from primer to clearcoat. Ultra 7000 (Sherwin Williams) Ultra 7000 is Sherwin Williams’s top of the line refinish paint system. This versatile solvent-bourne product line delivers premium urethane performance to customers expecting the highest in productivity, cycle time and color match.

With today’s price conscious consumers, buying an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or aftermarket car part can make a huge difference in savings, anywhere from 26 to 50 percent, according to I.I.I. But, are you getting the same quality for both parts? Will an OEM part last longer? Will the aftermarket part fit? Are you really saving money in the long run? These are all viable questions. And, when it comes to spending a few hundred dollars, you want to make sure you're getting the best bang for your buck. How do you go with the most cost effective alternative, but also make sure the car part will fit your car, and it won’t rust within a matter of years? Let’s dig in to the differences and which part might be right for you. Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) Car Parts OEM car parts are made by the vehicle’s manufacturer and is the same exact part you’d get if you took your car apart. You can purchase OEM parts through car dealers, which often means you’re paying a much higher premium. However, since OEM parts are the original parts your dealer would provide, you can rest assured that they’re going to meet high quality standards and are guaranteed to fit your car. Aftermarket Car Parts Aftermarket car parts are generally made by manufacturers that did not take part in manufacturing your vehicle’s original car parts (although, they could be). Instead, aftermarket car parts are created AFTER your car rolled off the assembly line. There are different types of aftermarket parts, including parts sold by car dealers but under their own brand, independently manufactured parts, remanufactured and reconditioned parts. Since there are different types of aftermarket car parts, they all differ in quality and standards. You have high quality aftermarket car parts, which are often comparable to OEM parts. Some high quality aftermarket car parts are even vastly improved versions of OEM parts, due to companies finding faults in the original design and correcting them before producing a better product.  On the other end of the spectrum, there are lower quality aftermarket car parts, which are the ones that give “aftermarket parts” a bad reputation, are cheap to produce, and may not come close to OEM standards. There are always aftermarket car parts far in between, and it really comes down to the notion, “you get for what you pay for”. Choosing between OEM or aftermarket As you decide between OEM or aftermarket car parts, you also have to consider what type of parts you need. There is much more risk in purchasing an aftermarket bumper beam that may or may not meet crash safety tests, versus purchasing aftermarket bumper covers which mainly serve a cosmetic purpose. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, cosmetic auto body parts, such as the fender or bumper cover, do not affect the vehicle strength or safety ratings. Aftermarket issues to look out for in these cases are merely cosmetic - including fit, finish and durability. Although some bumper covers are designed to reduce shock, they do not make as huge of an impact as that of a structural bumper beam – which could mean the world of a difference in a head-on collision. Another thought to consider is how important cost is to you. By purchasing an OEM car part, you know exactly what you’re getting – the exact part that came off your car, produced by the same manufacturer. There is no guessing involved and the part is guaranteed to fit and work with your car. However, be prepared to pay a high price for these parts. OEM parts are controlled by car dealers, which means there is minimal price difference between these dealers. On the other hand, aftermarket car parts are manufactured by different companies from different countries – and, they’re all competing with one another. Aftermarket car parts, therefore, will be much cheaper than OEM parts, but will greatly vary in quality and price. You may only save 20% compared to OEM car parts but get the same quality, if not better. Or, you can save 50% compared to OEM car parts but get a car part you’ll need to weld, drill and force to fit your car. The Verdict High quality aftermarket parts are the way to go if you want to save money, while ensuring you keep your car in great condition. There is no point in paying a premium for the brand name, OEM part when you can get the same quality part at a discounted price. However, it is also not worth it to pay a very cheap price to get a part that won’t fit your car and may end up costing you much more in labor and replacement costs in the end. Aftermarket car parts are used by most body shops nationwide and are generally accepted by most insurance companies. However, make sure you review your state’s policies in regards to using aftermarket car parts. Also, know your seller or the company you’re buying from. If it’s a reputable company, chances are they’re selling quality parts and wouldn’t risk giving you low quality parts to prevent you from coming back. A trustworthy company will have good customer reviews, a reasonable return policy and offer great customer support. Don’t forget to check if they offer warranties to ensure you’re taken care of in the long run.

A few days ago, a customer walked in asking us to give him an estimate of how much it would cost to fix his 2004 Infiniti FX35 front bumper and fender. Needless to say, after we quoted him, his car is now sitting in our shop waiting for us to finish painting his Infiniti FX35 front bumper and fender. Apparently, he had gone to a few body shops around Houston and the cheapest he was able to find to replace the FX35 front bumper and fender was going to cost him about $1600 for the parts and to get them painted. So, he asked us what our price would be and we were able to save him about $800! The reason local body and paint shops or dealerships quote customers so much higher is because: Standardized labor costs - The average labor costs are $65-$95/hour, so not only are you paying for the paint but you're also paying them for painting services at an hourly rate. Paint expenses - Since most body shops repair individual cars one-by-one, they often don't order a large quantity of paint supply (thus, they pay a higher price point for paint products). Insurance quotes - Although unethical, some places will quote you based on how much they think the insurance companies will offer. So, they'll simply inflate the pricing because they know you can pay it. Here's a breakdown of our pricing vs. the one our customer received: ReveMoto.com Other Houston shop Parts cost: $507 Parts cost: $800 Paint/labor cost: $350 Paint/labor cost: $800 Total cost: $857 Total cost: $1600 Overall, our customer was able to save almost $800 (or 46%) of the lowest estimate they were quoted! We're happy to have earned his business, and we'll be posting pictures soon of how the Infiniti FX35 front end turned out! Stay posted!