When it comes to car colours, red is not just red and yellow is not just yellow. Within each colour, there is a wide range of tones, from the darkest to the lightest, and varying undertones. That is why there are millions of shades created out of just seven basic hues. Every year, manufacturers add a few more colours to the list, each identified by a unique code. If you ever have to get your car repainted, you will need the exact colour code.
A paint colour code is essential to facilitate repair work and to keep the car true to its original form. This guide will help you learn all there is to know about car colour code and how to find it.
What Is Car Colour Code?
In case of a minor dent or scratch, you just need to cover the affected area with paint. Even a minor difference of shade on the smallest area of your car can seem like an ugly blotch in daylight. The car colour code guarantees an accurate match whether you are going for a touch-up or a complete refresh. Changing a car’s paint can also upgrade your car and give it an expensive look.
A car colour code is a unique combination of letters and numbers. It is typically 3 to 6 characters long and different from the colour name. In case manufacturers plan to make a variant in the paint, they will always update the paint code.
All cars carry the colour code on a sticker or metal plate on the bodywork, although this information may not be in the same place for every car brand. Depending on the vehicle’s brand, paint codes for cars may be a combination of letters and numbers or sometimes just letters or just numbers.
How Can I Find the Paint Code of My Car?
The most common places to find it are the bonnet or the trunk of your car. However, some brands may have it written elsewhere. This code can also be identified through the VIN number of your car. Let’s take a look at two ways to find this code.
Find the Car Colour Code Within the Car
If you want to identify the paint by its colour code on a car without having to contact the dealer, you should look for a label, plate or some type of sticker found on the bodywork.
Most cars manufactured after the 1980s have a sticker with vehicle identification. The sticker is a combination of bar code along with the details of manufacturing date and country. You can also check your car’s manual and find out where the sticker is placed in your vehicle.
As a general rule, the label that contains the paint colour code is usually placed somewhere it is easy to find. The door frames, the hood, the trunk or the surroundings of the spare wheel are some of the most common areas, but not the only ones.
Depending on the model of the car, you can find the code inscribed on a sticker or plate stuck on the edges or beams of the doors, inside the trunk door or another similar place. For example, Mercedes Benz has its car colour code on the passenger door.
You can also find the code on the following places, in your car:
- Inside the door jamb
- On the interior dash of the driver’s side
- On the front side of the engine, under the hood
- Above the tire or near the rear wheel
Find Paint Code by VIN Number
Where do you find the paint code on a VIN number? For this, you first need to identify the VIN of your vehicle. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a series of alphanumeric digits unique to each car. It is also sometimes known as the vehicle chassis number, although that number contains only the last ten digits of the VIN.
To search for the colour code associated with the VIN, you need to call the dealer and they will look up the information in their database. That’s said, once you have found it, you will be able to indicate the code of the car’s paint through the dealer.
The VIN is usually on a small plate screwed into the dash, near the windshield, inside the vehicle. However, sometimes it can be in the trunk or even on the chassis, in the rear wheel arches. You can also find it on your vehicle registration paper, car insurance documents or near the washer reservoir.
The most frequent places where we can find it is on the hood of the car or in the trunk where the spare wheel is kept, although there are car manufacturers that put them in other places.
Car Colour Code of Popular Cars
Following are some car brands along with their car colour code locations:
- BMW: You can find codes for BMW paint colours either under the hood or near the left and right wheel.
- Chrysler: The paint codes of Chrysler newer models are on the door jamb, while for older models you can look under the hood, on the firewall and passenger or driver’s side door.
- Ferrari: Ferrari car colour code can be found under the deck lid.
- Ford: Ford colour code can be found on the driver’s side door jamb or at the door edge.
- Honda, Jaguar, Kia, Toyota, Peugeot: Driver’s side door frame.
- Audi, Volkswagen and Alfa Romeo: On the spare wheel.
- Mazda: On the firewall or the driver’s side door jamb.
- Mercedes: On the radiator.
Why Is It Important to Search for Paint by Car Colour Code?
When repairing damaged car paints, scratches or bumps, the primary objective is that the car remains the same as it was earlier. Therefore, automotive manufacturers provide manuals to find paint according to the original colour code of the car.
There are some factors that why you need car colour codes to search for paint:
- Multiple colour Names: One of the important reasons to find paint colour codes is that many car manufacturers use the same colours with different names and codes. For example, a luxury sports car manufacturer might name the colour Shining pearl, while an SUV maker can name it Lunar White, which means that the colours can be the same with different names. If you determine your car paint through code, you will find the right match.
- Subtly Different Shades: Automotive manufacturers might create the same model of a car with multiple colour variants in one year. For example, a car can be Dull Gold, Metallic Gold, Original Gold, etc. This kind of variation makes it challenging to conceal the flaw perfectly. However, a paint code finder can save you.
- Online Paint Shopping: Many car enthusiasts buy colour online; however, many colour shades can appear different on the screen due to visual settings and resolution. To get the required match, you need a car colour code.
FAQs
How can I find a colour code on motorcycles?
For motorcycles, you can find the car colour code inscribed on a sticker or plate placed under the seat. The chassis number also may have details about your bike’s colour code.
Does the vehicle manual have a car colour code?
Yes, if you are unable to find a paint code in your car or near the door jamb, then check the car owner’s manual. Manufacturers often include that information in the manual.
Now you know all there is to know about car colour codes. When buying a used car in the UAE, it is recommended to inquire about the colour code, especially if you feel the car needs some touch-ups.
Stay tuned for the UAE’s top blog for more guides on auto insurance, car maintenance ideas and other tips and tricks.
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