What’s the difference between factory paint and touch-up paint?

Our new car got slightly scratched by someone — just a tiny mark. We want to fix the paint, but unfortunately, it’s the original factory paint. We’d like to know: what’s the difference between factory paint and touch-up paint?

“Original car paint,” also known as “factory paint” or “OEM paint,” differs from “refinish paint,” also called “repair paint.” Both types meet the requirements for appearance and corrosion resistance on a car’s surface, but the application methods are very different.

Factory paint is applied automatically by robotic systems, meaning parameters such as paint viscosity are fixed and consistent, resulting in excellent paint quality. Touch-up paint, on the other hand, is usually applied manually in less controlled environments, so the overall finish quality tends to be slightly lower — not because the paint itself is poor, but due to application conditions.

The paint that comes with the car from the factory is undoubtedly the best. However, minor scratches and bumps are inevitable during daily use. If the damage is very small, polishing might be enough to make it look fine again; for extremely tiny spots, touch-up pens can also do the job.

As for the front and rear bumpers, there’s no need to worry about factory paint since they’re made of plastic. For metal parts, it’s better not to repaint unless necessary — as long as there’s no exposed metal and no risk of rusting, it’s fine. Repainted areas may show slight color differences over time. Therefore, it’s best to drive carefully, but if repainting becomes necessary, we should go to a reputable workshop. Although it might cost more, the workmanship is usually much better.

If the scratch is on a plastic part, we can simply use the MR SPRAY PAINTS “Bumper Black” series to lightly spray and recolor it ourselves. If it’s on metal or aluminum parts, small spots can be fixed with a touch-up pen, but larger areas should be handled by professionals — since exposed primer on metal could lead to rust.

When repainting small areas rather than large ones, body shops often apply filler (putty). Our MR Spray Paints primer provides the best support for putty, preventing cracking or peeling.

Factory paint is robot-applied, precisely controlled, baked at high temperatures, and built up in multiple layers, resulting in an even film thickness. Refinish paint, however, is manually sprayed, so quality largely depends on the painter’s skill.

Our products are designed to support professional repair technicians, offering formulas that are highly color-accurate, easy to apply by brush or spray, and perfectly suited for automotive refinishing work.