How to find your car's paint code: where to look and how to read it

Find your car's paint code on the factory plate: most often on the driver's door (jamb or edge), under the hood, or in the trunk. It's a 1–4 character code (letters and digits) next to a label like Color, Paint, C/TR or K. This exact code is what's used to mix the precise shade for a repair.

What the paint code is and why you need it

The paint code (color code) is the factory identifier of your body's shade. There is no single "silver" or "black": every manufacturer has dozens of tones that differ in pigment and effect (metallic, pearl, matte). Without the code a painter can't match the tone so that, after the repair, the panel doesn't stand out from the rest of the body.

You'll need the code when you want to: touch up a chip or scratch, repaint a bumper or fender after an accident, or order a spray can or 2K paint for a specific color.

Where to find the paint code

Check these spots one by one — the plate with the code is in one of them:

• Driver's door (jamb or edge) — the most common spot. Open the door and look for a sticker or metal plate.
• Under the hood — on the slam panel, wheel arch or inner fender.
• In the trunk — under the mat, by the spare wheel or on the side wall.
• Service book or vehicle documents — sometimes entered by the dealer.
• By VIN — if there's no plate, an official dealer can identify the color from the VIN.

How the code looks across brands

The format depends on the manufacturer — look at the label next to it:

• VW, Audi, Škoda, SEAT — a "Color" field with a code like LY7W or "L" + 3 characters.
• Toyota, Lexus — after the C/TR mark, a 3-character code (e.g. 1G3, 040).
• BMW, Mini — three digits, often with a name (e.g. 475 Black Sapphire).
• Mercedes-Benz — a "Paint No." field, a code of 3 digits + a letter.
• Renault, Dacia, Nissan — a "P" field or next to the VIN.
• Tesla — a letter code (PPSW — Pearl White, PMNG — Midnight Silver, PBSB — Solid Black, etc.).

What to do once you have the code

Next comes choosing materials: base paint of the right code, clear coat, hardener and thinner. For metallics and pearls, the factory formula for the code matters — otherwise the shade drifts. For bigger repairs (a bumper, several panels, a color blend) it's best to leave the paint job to a pro: they do a computer color match and a blend so the repair stays invisible.

On UA-Pro you'll find car parts and repair materials, plus auto-service and body-repair specialists in your city — with prices and online booking, no phone calls needed.