The Right Auto Paint: Finding Your Car's Code Number

If you're looking to find the paint code for your car, there are several ways to go about it. The paint code is typically 3-4 letters or numbers printed on a metal plate or sticker. It can usually be found on the driver's door jamb, under the hood, or on the window sticker of a new vehicle. If you can't find the paint code, you can contact your car dealer and provide them with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) to get the information. Additionally, your owner's manual should tell you where the code is located, and you can also refer to colour charts to find the right match.

Check your owner's manual

The vehicle colour code is a number that corresponds to the specific colour the manufacturer used for your car's paint during production. This code is important as it guarantees the accuracy of your car's colour.

The owner's manual will not tell you what the paint colour code is, but it should tell you where the code is located. This is because the placement of the paint code varies depending on the make, year, and model of your vehicle. For example, some car manufacturers place the code in odd places, such as under the bonnet, on the door jamb, door frame, door hinge, or even under the trunk carpet in the spare tire compartment.

If you do not have the owner's manual, you can try searching your car repair records if you have had any work done. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) will be written on these documents, which you can then use to contact your dealer and ask for the paint code.

Additionally, if your vehicle is relatively new, you may find a sticker affixed to the driver's side window, known as the Monroney sticker, which provides specific information about your car, including the paint code.

Look for a sticker on the driver's side window

If you are looking for your vehicle's paint colour code, there are several places you can look. The location of the code depends on the make, year, and model of your vehicle. You can refer to your owner's manual to find out where the code is located, although it won't tell you what the colour code is.

One place you can look is on the driver's side window. Newer vehicles will have a sticker here, known as the Monroney sticker, which provides specific information about the make and model of the car, including the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) and the paint code.

Other places to look include the driver's door jamb, under the hood, the trunk, and around the spare tire. Some car manufacturers place the code in odd places, so you may have to check several locations. For example, the Audi A4 has its colour code hidden underneath the trunk carpet in the spare tire compartment on the right side.

If you cannot find the code, you can contact your dealer with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and they should be able to provide you with the information.

Check the door jamb, door frame, or door hinge

Checking the door jamb, door frame, or door hinge is a great way to find your car's paint code. The paint code is typically a small metal plate or sticker with 3-4 letters or numbers. It may also be located on the driver's side door jamb, so check there too.

Many vehicles have their paint codes located on the door jamb. This includes Ford, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Nissan, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Jaguar, Infiniti, and Mini. For Ford vehicles, the paint code is often located on the driver's side door jamb, above "Exterior Paint Code". Honda, Hyundai, and Kia codes are usually found in the same place. Nissan and Mini paint codes can also sometimes be found on the driver's side door jamb.

Some car manufacturers place the paint code on the door frame or door hinge. This includes Ford, Kia, Porsche, Peugeot, and Mini. For Ford vehicles, the paint code may be found on the door frame. Peugeot and Mini paint codes can also sometimes be found on the door hinge.

If you can't find the paint code in any of these locations, don't worry! The paint code may be located elsewhere in the vehicle. Try checking the glove box, trunk, or under the bonnet. You can also refer to your car's manual to see if it lists the exact location of the paint code.

Check under the bonnet

Checking under the bonnet or hood is one of the most common ways to find your car's paint code. The paint code is usually printed on a label or sticker, and may be accompanied by terms like "EXT PNT" or "BODY COLOR CODE".

Some car manufacturers, like Ford, tend to use colour names rather than paint codes, but both are often present. Ford paint codes can be found in the door frame, boot lid, or under the bonnet. Honda paint codes can usually be found under the bonnet or in the door hinge, while Hyundai paint codes can be found in front of the radiator under the bonnet catch.

For classic cars, it can be more challenging to find the paint code. Many classic vehicles were manufactured before the DVLA established a database linking registration numbers with vehicle details, such as colour. In these cases, you can check the vehicle identification plate or sticker, which is typically found under the bonnet, in the boot, or inside the door jamb.

It's important to note that the location of the paint code may vary depending on the car model. For example, Mazda models typically have the paint code located on the driver's side door jamb, but for older models, it may be found under the hood, trunk, etc. Similarly, Mini paint codes can be found in the door frame, boot lid, or under the bonnet, but for older Mini models (pre-2000), they use British Leyland or Rover paint codes.

Contact your car dealer

If you are unable to find your car's paint code, you can contact your car dealer. The car dealer should be able to provide you with the paint code information if you supply them with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN is a unique 17-character combination of letters and numbers that can be found on your vehicle title, a legal document you receive upon purchasing your car. It is important to note that the VIN itself does not provide the paint code but helps in finding it.

Before contacting your dealer, you can try using an online reg lookup tool to search their database and check if they have a colour match for your car paint based on your registration. If they cannot find a match, you can then proceed to contact them directly.

When you do get in touch with the dealer, be prepared to provide them with your VIN, as well as your car's make, model, and year. This information will enable them to accurately look up the paint code for your vehicle.

Additionally, if you have your vehicle's handbook or paperwork, you may be able to find the paint code or colour name within those documents. It's worth checking these sources before reaching out to the dealer, as the colour name can be used to match the paint for certain vehicle models. However, it's important to note that the manufacturer's exact colour name is required, not just the general colour registered with the DVLA.

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