Where to find your car paint code
Date 
2024-10-14
Where do I find my car's paint code?
Whether it is a small touch-in or a full panel respray, the right paint code decides the result. The colour has to match your car exactly. So where do you find that information?
What does a paint code look like?
A paint code is a combination of letters and/or numbers, and every manufacturer builds it slightly differently. Audi, for instance, uses a four-character mix of letters and numbers starting with an "L" (LC1Z, for example), while Peugeot uses two or three characters (KNJ).
Method 1: check the vehicle plate
Depending on the make and model it can sit in several places on the car:
- in the boot (common on Audi, Porsche, Seat, Skoda)
- near the spare wheel
- on the B-pillar (Toyota, Volvo)
- under the bonnet (BMW, Chrysler, KIA, for example)
Method 2: decode the VIN
No time to go hunting? Contact an authorised dealer for your make - their staff can identify the paint from a VIN lookup.
Not sure which wing or touch-up pen to order? Just send us your VIN through the contact form and we will check your car's paint code for you.
Your car's paint code - what else is worth knowing
Even with the correct code, remember that paint changes over time. UV light, weather, knocks and harsh cleaning products make the original shade fade or shift slightly. That is why even a perfectly matched paint can differ a little from the surrounding panels.
