As my primary job is an automotive painter, I often get questions about what is the best undercoat paint to use on a particular car. Much like any other painting question, I feel that there are a few good options depending on what type of vehicle you are painting.
As a professional painter, I am a big fan on finding a particular undercoat to fit your exact car. Undercoat paint is a fantastic option on any vehicle, and will increase the looks and value of your vehicle if you use it correctly. Like any other paint, using undercoat paint on your car has a learning curve.
We will explain what is undercoat paint, how you may use an undercoat paint, and you will find five that are perfect for your needs. You are creating a design that will turn your car into a showpiece, and you will enjoy choosing paints that create profile that is far safer what you are accustomed to.
Your search for a proper undercoat will lead you in many different directions, and you will learn there are many brands that will suit your needs. You will find the brands easy to use, and that will spray easily. Below we will look into the ins and outs of using undercoat and finding the best undercoat paint for your particular vehicle. If you want to skip all the reading and just go to our pick for the #1 undercoat paint for your vehicle, you can click the button below to get in-depth reviews.
#1 Undercoat Paint for Your Vehicle
What is Undercoat Paint?
Undercoat paints are similar to primer paints in that they are used before a paint job is done. In the automotive industry, professional painters will use an undercoat paint on a car’s surface before starting the paint job.
Using undercoat paint on a wheel well
Undercoat paint is also used to help prevent rust on a vehicle. The goal of an undercoat is to provide a smooth, even surface for the initial paint job.
How to Apply Undercoat
Most undercoat paints come in a spray can, so they tend to be different then if you were using a paint sprayer. Because each product is slightly different it is wise to choose products that have good spray capacity, utilize only 1 or 2 coats and come from a trusted company. Let’s take a look into our top 5 undercoat paints.
Undercoat Paint Reviews
#1: 3M Undercoat Aerosol
3M is the gold standard in the industry of painting and chemicals, and they have created an undercoat that will protect the base of the vehicle. It is difficult to protect the undercarriage when you cannot see it, and it is pelted with debris all the time.
If you live up North and have a car that deals with a full year of rain, snow and other conditions, 3M is a great choice.
The undercoat from 3M will help you protect the vehicle, and it will work in one coat. The paint is powerful in that it will protect against anything, and it will last for quite a long time before it must be renewed.
3M is known for being on the cutting edge of the industry and is often credited as being the best DIY undercoat. Here are some other characteristics of the 3M undercoat.
- Great for bedliners
- Helps prevent rust and blemishes
- Quick drying and fast acting
- Great spray coverage
- Especially good for undercarriage of automobiles
#2: SEM Aerosol Undercoat
SEM has created its own undercoat, and it comes in an aerosol can that you may use easily. The SEM undercoat sprays easily, and offers a great spray range.
SEM Repair & Refinished products is one of the top names in protective coatings, rust prevention and a number of other products for automobiles.
One of the main parts that I use the SEM Undercoat for is when I am using undercoating on wheel wells of large trucks. SEM is great at quickly spraying the full wheel well and almost never requires a 2nd coat. One of the my keys when doing undercoat paint reviews is to look for products that can be done in one coat, this is a time and money saver in my eyes.
Using SEM will help you ensure you have a coat that will be quite heavy, and you must ensure you have used it to cover every inch of the undercarriage. Any gap in coverage will leave the vehicle unsafe, and you may begin to rust or damage in that area.
Besides what we covered, here is what others have to say about SEM Aerosol Undercoat
- Great for wheel wells & undercarriages
- Great spray reach
- Sprays on smooth with little chunks
- Works well with all types of paint
#3: Dupli-Color Undercoats
Dupli-Color has created more than one color of undercoat paint that you may want to use on your vehicle, and you may coordinate it with the paint on the top of your car. You will find it simple to choose the paints you need, and you may spray them onto every part of the vehicle that is exposed to the elements.
Coordinating with the paint colors of the rest of the car is quite a good idea as you will have consistently when people notice the wheel well, and you may use a complimentary color that is a bit like the lining of a jacket or dress.
Dupli-Color gives you enough color options, and it is often the best undercoat for those looking to use a bright color on their automobile. With this undercoat, one can easily paint over the undercoat and not worry about it blending bad with other colors.
Here are some of the highlights of Dupli-Color
- Rubberized coating
- Protects metal surfaces from corrosion
- Great for use with exotic paint jobs
- One of the best DIY undercoat paints
#4: Wurth High Build Underbody UnderSeal
The Wurth High Build Underbody UnderSeal is a powerful paint that was created for large vehicles that log millions of miles a year. The largest trucks and vehicles on the road will have the worst paint jobs, and they will go through much of the worst wear and tear due to road conditions. They are driven so hard that they will begin breaking down if they are not painting properly.
As someone who used to paint airplanes in my early days, I can only imagine the amount of undercoat paint and traditional paint that it would take to paint a semi-trailer. After talking with a colleague who has experience using an airless sprayer on a semi, he said it took him a month to paint a tractor trailer by himself.
You will find it easy to apply to any vehicle, and you will see the coat begin to build on the surface of the body. You will note how it is rubberized, and it will appear to be much stronger than other paints in the industry. You may spray one aerosol can on your vehicle, and the undercarriage will be perfectly-safe.
- Best undercoat for large trucks
- Used mostly on semis, RVs and other large vehicles
- Useful for cars that need extensive paint jobs
#5: Cyclo C35 Rubberized Undercoat
The final on the list of best undercoat paints is the rubberized undercoat from Cyclo that was made with the rubber texture in-mind. The company created something that will offer the level of protection you are seeking, and you must ensure you have sprayed is on every part of the vehicle’s lower surface.
If you have a car that drives on bad roads, then this is a great choice for you. IIt faces the ground, and it receives the worst of the road’s pebbles and fluff. Many people don’t realize how bad their undercarriage is until they jack it up and begin to paint with this spray.
Cyclo C35 created a texture that is heavy as they believe it is easier to protect the vehicle when the paint is as thick as possible. You will see it begin to pile up when you are spraying, and you will find it quite interesting to begin your paint job when the rubber exits the can. You will see a level of protection that is tangible to the naked eye, and you must not be afraid to spray every piece of the undercarriage. Let’s take a look at some of the best parts of this spray.
- Great to use for cars that ride in bad conditions
- Great at blocking out salt from undercarriages
- Great on rust
- Lower price than most other undercoats.
Final View on Finding the Best Undercoat Paint for Your Vehicle
Much like paints, not every undercoat paint is the same. Depending on what type of vehicle you use, your DIY skill and the amount of painting that needs done one of the five choices above should fit your needs.