2018 Toyota Highlander Paint Color Codes & Touch-Up Guide

Whether you are fixing a minor scratch, addressing rock chips from the highway, or planning a more extensive bumper repair, getting the exact paint match for your 2018 Toyota Highlander is essential. Toyota offers a beautiful range of colors for the Highlander, many of which feature complex metallic and pearl finishes.

This guide provides a comprehensive list of the 2018 Toyota Highlander factory paint codes, instructions on where to find your vehicle’s specific code, and tips on applying touch-up paint for a flawless finish.

Quick reference

Below is the list of factory paint colors offered for the 2018 Toyota Highlander. If you are unsure of your color, always verify your paint code before ordering supplies.

Color Name	Paint Code	Type
Blizzard Pearl	070	Pearl (Tri-coat)
Predawn Gray Mica	1H1	Pearl / Mica
Celestial Silver Metallic	1J9	Metallic
Midnight Black Metallic	218	Metallic
Salsa Red Pearl	3Q3	Pearl
Ooh La La Rouge Mica	3T0	Pearl / Mica
Toasted Walnut Pearl	4W5	Pearl
Alumina Jade Metallic	6W4	Metallic
Shoreline Blue Pearl	8V5	Pearl

Note: Always confirm your specific paint code via your vehicle's identification sticker or by providing your VIN to a local Toyota dealer or paint supplier.

Where to find your paint code

Locating the paint code on a 2018 Toyota Highlander is a straightforward process. Toyota typically places the vehicle identification sticker (often called the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard or FMVSS certification label) inside the driver's side door area.

1. Open the driver's side front door.
2. Look at the door jamb (the area where the door latches to the vehicle body) or the B-pillar (the vertical post right behind the driver's seat).
3. Find the black and white (or sometimes barcode-style) factory sticker.
4. Look toward the bottom left of this sticker for the letters "C/TR" (which stands for Color/Trim).
5. The three-character alphanumeric code immediately following the "C/" is your paint code. For example, if it says "C/TR: 070/LA20", your paint code is 070 (Blizzard Pearl).

If the sticker is missing or unreadable, you can call any Toyota dealership parts department, provide them with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), and they can look up your exact factory paint code.

Best touch-up paint sources

Once you have your paint code, it's time to source your paint. For a 2018 Toyota Highlander, you have several excellent options depending on the size of the repair:

• Dealership Parts Department: Your local Toyota dealer sells OEM touch-up paint pens and small brush bottles. This is highly recommended for exact factory matches on small rock chips.
• AutomotiveTouchup: Known for precision, they offer custom-mixed paint in bottles, paint pens, and aerosol spray cans. They are an excellent choice for larger repairs like bumper scuffs.
• Dupli-Color: A widely available and affordable option found at most local auto parts stores (like AutoZone or O'Reilly). They offer the "Exact-Match" line of aerosols and scratch-fix pens.
• Tcoat Custom-Mix: Another great online retailer that provides custom-mixed paints tailored perfectly to your specific factory code.

How to use touch-up paint

For the best results, proper preparation and application are key. Follow these steps for repairing minor scratches and chips:

1. Clean the area: Wash the damaged area with dish soap and water, then wipe it down with a wax and grease remover or rubbing alcohol. There should be no dirt, rust, or wax left in the chip.
2. Apply primer (if necessary): If the scratch goes all the way down to bare metal or plastic, apply a very thin layer of automotive primer. Let it dry completely.
3. Apply the base coat: Shake your touch-up paint vigorously. Using a fine-tipped brush or a toothpick (for tiny rock chips), dab the color into the scratch. Do not brush it like you are painting a wall; rather, let the paint flow into the chip. Apply 2-3 thin coats, allowing 15-20 minutes of drying time between each coat.
4. Apply clear coat: Once the base coat is completely dry (usually after 30-60 minutes), apply the clear coat. The clear coat seals the paint, provides UV protection, and restores the factory gloss.

Color matching tips for pearls and tri-coats

The 2018 Highlander features several complex colors, most notably Blizzard Pearl (070). This is a tri-coat paint, meaning the factory finish consists of a base color, a mid-coat containing pearl flakes, and a protective clear coat.

• Practice first: Tri-coats are notoriously difficult to match. Practice on a piece of glossy cardboard or scrap metal to determine how many mid-coats you need to match the factory brightness.
• Feathering: If using aerosol spray for a larger repair, you must blend or "feather" the new paint into the old paint to avoid a harsh transition line.
• Mica and Metallic paints: Colors like Midnight Black Metallic (218) and Predawn Gray Mica (1H1) contain metal flakes. Ensure you shake the paint bottle or pen thoroughly and frequently during application so the metallic flakes are evenly distributed.

For larger damage, blending tri-coat paints often requires professional experience to avoid a "patchy" look on the panel.

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