2024 Subaru Forester Paint Codes

Quick reference

Where to find your paint code

For your 2024 Subaru Forester, the paint code can typically be found on a sticker located on the driver's side door jamb. Open the driver's door and look for a label—it's usually white and rectangular—that contains various vehicle information. The paint code is often labeled as "COLOR," "PAINT," or "C/TR" and will be a short alphanumeric code, usually three characters long, like the ones listed in the table above.

Occasionally, the sticker might be located on the B-pillar (the structural support between the front and rear doors when the front door is open) or sometimes under the hood, but the door jamb is the most common location for Subaru vehicles.

Best touch-up paint sources

When it comes to touching up minor scratches or chips on your 2024 Subaru Forester, several reputable sources offer high-quality paint products:

• Dupli-Color: A widely available brand, Dupli-Color offers aerosol spray cans, paint pens, and brush bottles. You can often find their products at automotive parts stores like AutoZone, Advance Auto Parts, and Pep Boys. They provide a good balance of affordability and ease of use.
• AutomotiveTouchup: This company specializes in custom-mixed touch-up paint to match your vehicle's exact factory color. They offer a range of products including touch-up pens, brush bottles, aerosol cans, and larger quantities for more extensive repairs. Their color matching is highly regarded, especially for metallic and pearl finishes.
• Tcoat custom-mix: Tcoat provides a personalized service, mixing paint specifically to your Forester's paint code, ensuring an excellent match. They are a great option for those seeking precise color accuracy.
• Dealership: Your authorized Subaru dealership can also supply genuine touch-up paint specifically formulated for your vehicle's color. While sometimes a bit more expensive, this ensures an exact match straight from the manufacturer.

How to use touch-up paint

Achieving a seamless repair with touch-up paint requires a few careful steps:

1. Clean: Thoroughly clean the area to be repaired with soap and water, then follow with a wax and grease remover. This ensures proper adhesion of the paint.
2. Primer: For deeper scratches that expose bare metal or plastic, apply a thin coat of automotive primer. Let it dry completely according to the product instructions.
3. Base Coat: Apply thin, even layers of your chosen touch-up paint (the base coat). Allow each layer to dry for several minutes before applying the next. Build up the paint gradually until it's level with the surrounding surface.
4. Clear Coat: Once the base coat is dry, apply a clear coat. This protects the paint, provides a gloss finish, and helps blend the repair with the surrounding paintwork. Apply in thin layers, allowing adequate drying time between coats.

Color matching tips for pearls and tri-coats

Your 2024 Subaru Forester offers several pearl colors, including Crystal White Pearl, Crystal Black Silica, and Horizon Blue Pearl. Pearl paints contain special reflective particles that create a deep, iridescent shimmer. Tri-coat paints (which some pearl finishes effectively are, with distinct base, pearl, and clear layers) can be particularly challenging to match perfectly because the final appearance depends heavily on the thickness and evenness of each layer.

• Practice: If possible, practice on a scrap piece of metal or an inconspicuous area first to get a feel for applying the paint and clear coat evenly.
• Thin Coats are Key: For pearl and metallic colors, applying multiple thin layers is crucial. Thick coats can cause the metallic or pearl flakes to clump, leading to an uneven appearance.
• Blend Gradually: When applying the base and clear coats, try to feather the edges of the repaired area into the surrounding paint. This helps to minimize harsh lines.
• Lighting: Always check your work in different lighting conditions (natural daylight, shade) as this can reveal differences in color and texture.

For the best results with pearl or tri-coat finishes, consider professional assistance for larger repairs, or if you're aiming for an invisible mend. Accurate color matching for these finishes often requires specialized techniques and equipment.

Find a trusted body shop on Repairius.