Finding your vehicle’s paint code is an important step if you need to touch up scratches or repaint body panels.
While it is possible to find the paint code by VIN, the VIN does not actually contain any information about the paint code.
Below, I will show you the easiest way to get your paint codes and also how to use your VIN to get your paint codes if necessary.
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Table of Contents
Where to Find the Paint Code on Your Vehicle
The best place to find the paint code for your car is by locating a label the manufacturer placed on the car with all the codes you’ll need. Here are the most common locations where you can find this label:
- Driver’s side door jamb
- Passenger’s side door jamb
- Glove box
- Under the hood near the firewall
- Trunk lid or spare tire well
- Radiator support
- Rear wheel well
Refer to your owner’s manual for the exact location of your specific vehicle make and model. The paint code is typically a combination of numbers and letters, such as “NH623M” or “8867”.
How to Get Paint Code With VIN
If you’re unable to find the paint code on your vehicle, you can contact your local dealership and provide them with your VIN. The dealership can look up the paint code in their database using your VIN.
This method is useful if the paint code tag on your vehicle is missing, damaged, or illegible of if the vehicle is not available for whatever reason.
Using Online Resources
Several online resources allow you to look up your vehicle’s paint code by entering your VIN. These websites maintain extensive databases of vehicle information and can provide you with the correct paint code. Some popular online resources include:
Keep in mind that while these online tools can be helpful, they’re not always accurate and it’s always best to verify the paint code on your vehicle whenever possible.
Decoding the VIN for Paint Code Information
In some cases, you may be able to narrow down the paint code options by decoding your vehicle’s VIN.
While the VIN does not directly contain the paint code, it does include information about your vehicle’s manufacturing location, production date, and other specifications that might lead you to the paint codes.
To decode your VIN, you can use online VIN decoders or consult a VIN decoding chart specific to your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Cars With Multiple Paint Color Codes
In some rare cases, a single color may actually require two different paint bottles to achieve the correct color match, usually labeled as a “groundcoat” and “midcoat”. If you receive two bottles for one color code, the instructions usually are:
- Apply the groundcoat first, one coat at a time, until you start to see the color effects.
- Then apply the midcoat over the groundcoat, also one layer at a time, until the color fully matches your vehicle’s paint.
- Allow 30 minutes of drying time after the last midcoat layer before applying clear coat on top.
Conclusion
It’s fairly easy to locate the paint code of your car by simply finding one of several sticker placed on your car. But for those who cant find these stickers or dont have access to their car, you can find your paint codes by VIN via contacting a dealership of the same manufacturer for the car.
