How Much Do Dealerships Charge for Touch‑Up Paint?

Most car dealerships charge between $20 and $60 for a small bottle or pen of factory touch‑up paint, with some luxury brands and special colors reaching $70–$100 or more. Prices vary by brand, paint type, and whether you are buying just the paint or paying for the dealer to apply it for you.

What Touch‑Up Paint from a Dealership Actually Is

Touch‑up paint from a dealership is typically a small, color‑matched product designed to fix chips, scratches, and minor blemishes. It’s usually sold as a pen, small bottle with a brush, or a combo stick that may include clear coat. Because it’s matched to your car’s paint code, it’s considered the most reliable way to get an exact color match, especially for newer models or unusual finishes.

Typical Price Ranges at Dealerships

Dealership pricing for touch‑up paint is not fully standardized, but industry patterns and recent dealer catalogs show several common price brackets depending on the vehicle segment and paint complexity.

• Mass‑market brands (Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, etc.): touch‑up pens or small bottles generally range from $18 to $40 for a single color.
• Mid‑tier and near‑luxury brands (Mazda, Subaru, Volkswagen, Acura, Lexus entry models): typical price range is $25 to $50 for a factory touch‑up kit, especially if it includes clear coat.
• Luxury and premium brands (BMW, Mercedes‑Benz, Audi, Lexus high‑end, Porsche): touch‑up products often fall between $35 and $70, with some special colors reaching or exceeding $80.
• Special or limited‑edition colors (pearls, multi‑stage, matte, or custom finishes): kits can reach $60–$100+ because they may require multiple components (base coat plus clear or pearl coat).
• Older or rare models: if still available, these paints usually cost similar to other paints from the same brand, but may need to be special‑ordered, which can add time rather than cost.

These price ranges reflect the paint product itself, not labor. The main driver of cost differences is the brand’s pricing policy and whether the color requires extra components like a pearl layer or additional clear coat.

What Affects the Cost of Dealership Touch‑Up Paint?

Several factors influence how much you will pay at the dealership parts counter for a small can, bottle, or pen of touch‑up paint.

• Brand and segment: mainstream automakers tend to charge less than premium or luxury brands, which often mark up parts more aggressively.
• Paint type: metallic, pearl, tri‑coat, or matte finishes are more complex and often cost more than solid colors.
• Size and format: single pens or small bottles are cheaper than multi‑piece kits that include separate base coat and clear coat.
• Included clear coat or primer: kits including clear coat and sometimes primer will be priced higher than paint‑only pens.
• Dealer markup: two dealerships of the same brand can charge different prices due to local pricing policies and regional parts markups.
• Online vs in‑store: the same OEM touch‑up pen is sometimes a bit cheaper through the brand’s official online parts store or third‑party authorized retailers than at the local parts counter.

Understanding these pricing drivers helps explain why the same small volume of paint might cost twice as much from one brand or location as from another, even if both are genuine OEM products.

How Much Dealerships Charge to Apply the Touch‑Up Paint

Buying the paint is one cost; asking a dealership to apply it is another. While many people do the work themselves, some dealerships offer quick cosmetic services for chips and scratches.

• Basic chip touch‑up: if done as a quick favor during a service visit, some dealers apply a small amount of touch‑up paint at no charge or a token fee, especially for very minor chips.
• Minor scratch or chip repair (cosmetic only): a simple touch‑up service with cleaning and dabbed‑on paint usually runs about $50 to $150, including materials.
• More visible areas or multiple chips: when more prep work is needed, dealers may charge between $150 and $300, sometimes involving light sanding and layered paint.
• Blend and refinish work: once a dealer recommends blending or repainting a panel, the job moves beyond “touch‑up” and can cost $400–$1,000+ per panel, closer to body‑shop pricing.
• Package add‑ons: some dealerships sell “appearance protection” or “scratch repair” packages at the time of purchase that effectively pre‑pay for future touch‑ups; these can be expensive relative to the actual work done.

Labor charges can quickly exceed the price of the touch‑up paint itself. For very small chips, many owners choose to purchase the OEM paint and apply it on their own to avoid these added costs.

Dealership vs. Alternatives: Cost and Trade‑Offs

Drivers often compare dealership touch‑up paint to aftermarket kits, online sellers, and professional body shops. Each option has its own typical price range and pros and cons.

Dealership (OEM) Touch‑Up Paint

Factory paint sourced directly from a dealership or the automaker’s official parts channels remains the reference standard for color accuracy, especially on newer vehicles.

• Cost: usually $20–$60 for a pen or small bottle; up to $100+ for premium or specialty colors and kits.
• Pros: best chance of exact color match; correct paint code; compatible with factory finish; clear customer support through the brand.
• Cons: higher cost than many aftermarket products; may require special order; dealer markups can vary widely.

OEM paint is often the safest choice when you care about resale value, exact matching, or have a newer car with complex finishes.

Aftermarket Touch‑Up Kits and Online Sellers

Third‑party suppliers and online retailers offer color‑matched paints using your vehicle’s paint code, often at a lower price than dealerships.

• Cost: typical kits range from about $15 to $45, depending on whether they include primer and clear coat.
• Pros: often cheaper; can include complete systems (primer, paint, clear); convenient online ordering and shipping.
• Cons: color match may be slightly off; quality varies by brand; support and return policies are less standardized than dealer parts.

For older vehicles or drivers less concerned with a perfect match, reputable aftermarket brands can provide good value at lower prices.

Body Shops and Mobile Cosmetic Repair Services

Professional refinishers can use precision‑mixed paints and more advanced techniques to repair larger or more noticeable damage, but at a higher overall cost.

• Cost: for minor chip and scratch touch‑ups, about $75–$200; for panel refinishing, typically $300–$1,000+ per panel.
• Pros: better cosmetic results; ability to blend and polish; can fix deeper damage that paint pens cannot handle.
• Cons: far more expensive than DIY or simple dealer pens; may require leaving the vehicle for a day or more.

Body shops and mobile services make sense when the damage is large, highly visible, or when you’re preparing the car for sale and want a professional finish.

How to Check Your Exact Cost Before Visiting a Dealership

Because dealership prices vary by location and brand, it’s wise to verify the cost of touch‑up paint before you buy or schedule any work.

• Look up your paint code: check the driver’s door jamb sticker, under the hood, in the owner’s manual, or search your VIN on the automaker’s website to find the exact paint code.
• Call the parts department: give them your VIN or paint code and ask specifically for the price of the “touch‑up paint pen” or “touch‑up bottle” for your color.
• Compare multiple dealers: prices may differ between dealerships of the same brand in your region; a few calls can quickly reveal cheaper options.
• Check the automaker’s online parts store: many brands list official pricing online, sometimes with promotional discounts.
• Ask about application costs: if you want the dealership to apply it, request a written estimate or at least a range for labor, separate from the price of the paint.

Doing this legwork typically takes only a few minutes and can prevent surprises, especially where labor or high markups could significantly increase the total bill.

Is Dealership Touch‑Up Paint Worth the Price?

Whether dealership touch‑up paint is worth its cost depends on the value of exact color matching, the age of your car, and how visible the damage is.

• New or late‑model vehicles: OEM paint is often the best choice to preserve resale value and ensure an accurate match, particularly on metallic or pearl finishes.
• Leased vehicles: small chips fixed with factory paint may help avoid excess wear charges when you return the vehicle.
• High‑end and luxury cars: paying extra for the official paint is usually justified, as buyers of these cars tend to be more sensitive to cosmetic imperfections.
• Older or budget cars: aftermarket paint can be a more economical way to prevent rust and improve appearance without the premium cost of OEM products.
• Very minor or hidden damage: in some cases, a slightly imperfect color match from a cheaper option is acceptable if the area is small or not highly visible.

When appearance, matching, and resale matter, paying dealership prices for touch‑up paint is often reasonable. When budget is the priority and perfection is less critical, aftermarket solutions can work well.

Summary

Dealerships typically charge $20–$60 for a small bottle or pen of factory touch‑up paint, with luxury and specialty colors running higher, sometimes $70–$100+. If you pay the dealer to apply it, minor cosmetic touch‑up services often land between $50 and $150, and more extensive work can climb much higher, nearing body‑shop pricing. OEM touch‑up paint offers the best chance of an exact color match, which is particularly valuable for newer, leased, or high‑value vehicles, while aftermarket kits and professional refinishers provide alternative options at different price and quality levels. Checking your paint code, calling multiple dealers, and comparing online prices are the most reliable ways to find the exact cost for your specific car.