Vehicle Paint Code Lookup: Why Your Door Jamb Is Key, Not Your VIN

Understanding Vehicle Paint Codes

A paint code is a manufacturer-issued identifier that specifies your vehicle’s exact colour and finish (solid, metallic, pearl, or tri‑coat). For a precise vehicle paint code lookup, don’t rely on the VIN itself—those 17 characters do not encode paint information. Instead, use the label on the vehicle that lists the actual paint code.

If you’re asking “where is my car’s paint code,” start at the driver’s door jamb. The certification or tyre/pressure label often includes a dedicated “Paint,” “Color,” or “C/TR” field—the most reliable door jamb paint code source. While some tools claim to find paint code by VIN, they work by querying manufacturer build data tied to the VIN; it’s useful, but can be wrong if the car was resprayed or the record is incomplete.

Common car paint code location by brand:

Toyota/Lexus: Driver’s door jamb label marked “C/TR” (e.g., C/TR 040/FA10; “040” = Super White).
BMW/MINI: Door jamb or engine bay strut tower; label shows name and code (e.g., A96 Mineral White, 668 Jet Black).
VW/Audi/SEAT/Škoda: Boot/spare wheel well or service book; codes like LB9A Candy White, LZ9Y Phantom Black.
Mercedes‑Benz: Door pillar or under bonnet; three‑digit codes such as 775 Iridium Silver.
Ford: Driver’s door jamb; look for “Paint” or “Ext Pnt” followed by a two‑character code.
Honda: Driver’s door jamb; formats like NH‑731P Crystal Black Pearl.
Nissan/Mazda/Hyundai/Kia/PSA: Typically on the door pillar; may also appear under the bonnet.
Motorcycles: Under the seat, on the frame headstock, or in the owner’s manual.

Code versus colour name matters. “Crystal Black Pearl” or “Reflex Silver” can span years and formulas; the alphanumeric code (and any suffix like “P” for pearl or “M” for metallic) is what ensures an exact match.

Once you have the code, use an automotive paint code finder to confirm it or search by registration, colour code, or model for a 100% colour-matched touch‑up product.

Why Accurate Color Matching Matters

Accurate vehicle paint code lookup is the difference between an invisible repair and a patch you notice every time you walk up to your car. Modern OEM finishes use complex formulations—metallics, pearls, and tri-coats—where pigment size, flop, and pearl load affect how the color reads in sun and shade. Even a small deviation can create a halo at the edge of a chip repair or make one panel look slightly greener or duller.

Many drivers try to find paint code by VIN and are surprised when it doesn’t match their vehicle’s finish. A VIN identifies the car, not the exact paint formula. The authoritative source is the door jamb paint code on the manufacturer’s label. If you’re asking “where is my car’s paint code?”, check these common car paint code locations:

Driver’s door jamb or B-pillar: Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Mazda, Tesla
Under bonnet/engine bay strut tower or slam panel: BMW, Mercedes-Benz
Boot/trunk spare wheel well or service booklet: Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda, SEAT
Glove box or spare tire cover (older models): GM/Vauxhall/Chevrolet

Precision matters because OEM colors often have multiple variants under the same name/code based on factory, year, or region. For example, a silver with the same code can have “coarse” and “fine” metallic variants that flop differently across viewing angles. Using the exact code—and the right variant—ensures your aerosol or touch-up pen blends cleanly into adjacent panels and keeps resale value and corrosion protection intact.

Touch Up Paint Factory removes the guesswork. Use our automotive paint code finder to search by registration, colour code, or model, then we custom-mix your order with a 100% Colour Match Guarantee. Choose precision touch-up paint pens for chips, custom-mixed aerosol sprays for larger areas, or vehicle-specific paint kits with primer, colour, and clear. If you can’t locate the label, our team can guide you to the correct car paint code location before you buy.

What is a Vehicle Identification Number?

A VIN is a 17‑character code that uniquely identifies a vehicle. Standardised since 1981, it’s used for registration, recalls, theft prevention, and parts cataloguing. The characters are grouped into sections that describe the vehicle, not its colour.

What it contains:

World Manufacturer Identifier (first 3 characters): brand and country of origin.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (characters 4–9): body style, engine, restraint system; includes a check digit.
Vehicle Identifier Section (characters 10–17): model year (10th), assembly plant (11th), and serial number.

Common places you’ll see it include the lower windscreen on the driver’s side, registration documents (V5C/logbook), and a certification label on the door pillar. It’s essential data, but not the answer to where is my car’s paint code.

Why this matters for vehicle paint code lookup:

The VIN does not encode the paint colour. You generally cannot reliably find paint code by VIN alone.
Dealers may use a VIN to access a manufacturer build sheet, but aftermarket systems often can’t, and the VIN still won’t show shade variants.
Paint colours can have multiple variants within the same code and year, especially metallics and pearls.

To match paint, you need the OEM paint code printed on the vehicle’s information label—often on the driver’s door jamb (hence “door jamb paint code”). Other car paint code location spots include under the bonnet, inside the boot lid, spare wheel well, or a glovebox/service sticker.

Illustration for Vehicle Paint Code Lookup: Why Your Door Jamb Is Key, Not Your VIN

Typical code formats you might see:

Ford: “FZ” (Frozen White), “TZ” (Moondust Silver)
Toyota: “040” (Super White), “1G3” (Magnetic Grey)
BMW/MINI: “A96” (Mineral White), “B39” (Mineral Grey)
VW/Audi: “LC9A” (Deep Black), “LY7W” (Light Silver)
Honda: “NH-731P” (Crystal Black Pearl), “B-92P” (Nighthawk Black Pearl)

Touch Up Paint Factory’s automotive paint code finder lets you search by vehicle registration, model, or colour code. For the fastest, most accurate result, read the label on the vehicle and enter that code—we back the match with a 100% Colour Match Guarantee.

VIN's Role: Not for Paint Codes

It’s a common misconception that your 17‑character VIN will reveal your paint colour. It won’t. The VIN identifies the vehicle’s make, model, engine, restraint system, and plant—paint isn’t encoded under ISO 3779. Dealers can sometimes retrieve paint from factory build data using your VIN, but that’s a database lookup, not information contained in the VIN itself. If you’re trying to find paint code by VIN alone, you’ll almost always hit a dead end.

For a fast, accurate vehicle paint code lookup, go to the physical label on the car. The door jamb paint code is the most common location, typically on the driver’s side compliance or tyre‑pressure label. The label will say “Paint,” “Color,” “PNT,” or show a paint field alongside trim.

Typical car paint code locations and examples:

Ford: driver’s door jamb label, field “EXT PNT” or “Paint” (e.g., Z2 Frozen White, YZ Oxford White, J7 Magnetic).
Toyota/Lexus: door jamb or engine bay, “C/TR” (first three characters are paint, e.g., 1F7 Classic Silver, 218 Attitude Black).
BMW/MINI: under bonnet or door jamb on a paint sticker (e.g., A52 Space Grey, B39 Mineral Grey).
Volkswagen/Audi/SEAT/Skoda: boot near the spare wheel well or service booklet; newer models may show it in the door jamb (e.g., LA7W Reflex Silver, LC9A Pure White).
Mercedes‑Benz: radiator support/under bonnet (e.g., 775 Iridium Silver, 040 Black).
Honda: driver’s door jamb (e.g., NH‑731P Crystal Black Pearl, R‑81 Milano Red).
Vauxhall/Opel: door jamb or glovebox (e.g., GAZ Summit White, Z20R Power Red).
Peugeot/Citroën: door jamb with three‑letter code (e.g., EWP Bianca White, KTV Cumulus Grey).

If you’re asking “where is my car’s paint code” and the label is missing, check the spare tyre well, firewall, or service book. On bikes, look at the frame/headstock plate. Vans and trucks follow the same rules—start with the door aperture and under‑bonnet labels.

Touch Up Paint Factory makes this easy with an automotive paint code finder designed for UK drivers. Use our vehicle paint code lookup by entering your registration, colour code, or model to narrow matches, then confirm against the label. Once you have the code, we custom‑mix aerosols, precision pens, and complete kits with a 100% Colour Match Guarantee.

Locating Your Door Jamb Sticker

For an accurate vehicle paint code lookup, start at the driver’s side door area. The paint code is usually printed on the manufacturer’s certification label on the door edge or the B‑pillar (the vertical post between the front and rear doors). This rectangular sticker also shows the VIN, tyre pressures, and build date—your door jamb paint code will be in a field labeled Paint, Color, PNT, or similar.

How to spot it quickly:

Open the driver’s door and check the door edge and B‑pillar. If not there, try the passenger side.
Look for labels reading Paint, Color, C/TR, EXT PNT, PNT, or Lack/Lacquer.
The code is typically 2–4 characters (letters/numbers) and may include a prefix/suffix.

Brand examples:

Ford (EU/UK): Box labeled EXT PNT or Paint; e.g., Z2 (Frozen White), J7 (Magnetic).
Toyota/Lexus: Plate shows C/TR 1F7/FA09; the first part (1F7) is the exterior color.
BMW/MINI: Sticker may say Farbe/Color; e.g., A52 (Space Grey).
Mercedes‑Benz: 3–4 characters, sometimes with U; e.g., 775 or 775U (Iridium Silver).
Vauxhall/Opel/GM: May read 41/WA8555 (Black); on door jamb or a parts label in the boot.
VW/Audi/SEAT/Škoda: Codes like LA7W (Reflex Silver); often on the B‑pillar, sometimes in the boot or service book.
Nissan: Short alphanumeric like K23 (Blade Silver) or KH3 (Black).
Hyundai/Kia: Field labeled PAINT; e.g., UD (Clear White), SWP (Snow White Pearl).
Mazda: Code near the door latch; e.g., 46G (Machine Grey), 46V (Soul Red Crystal).
Jaguar Land Rover: Format LRC 820 (Santorini Black) on the door or under the bonnet.
Tesla: Codes like PPSW (Pearl White Multi‑Coat) may appear on the door label.

If you’re asking “where is my car’s paint code” and don’t see it on the door, check the boot lid, spare wheel well, under‑bonnet slam panel, or your service booklet.

Avoid trying to find paint code by VIN—the VIN doesn’t reliably encode color. Once you have the code, use our automotive paint code finder or search by registration at Touch Up Paint Factory for a 100% Colour Match in aerosols, touch‑up pens, or full repair kits.

Deciphering the Door Jamb Paint Code

For an accurate vehicle paint code lookup, start with the information label in the driver’s door jamb. This factory label is the authoritative source for the exact paint formula used on your vehicle. The VIN is primarily an identification and specification number; it typically does not encode the exterior colour, which is why find paint code by VIN searches often return incomplete or generic results.

On the label, look for fields such as Paint, PNT, Color, or manufacturer-specific abbreviations:

Toyota/Lexus: C/TR followed by two sets (e.g., C/TR 1F7/FA10; paint = 1F7 Classic Silver)
Honda/Acura: codes like NH-731P (Crystal Black Pearl) or R-94
Ford: two-character codes such as UX or YZ; some tri-coats include an additional formula note
Volkswagen/Audi: codes starting with L (e.g., LA7W Reflex Silver)
BMW: three-digit codes like 300 (Alpine White) or A52 (Space Grey)
Mercedes-Benz: numeric codes such as 775 (Iridium Silver)
Nissan: three-letter codes such as QAB (Pearl White)

Not seeing it on the driver’s side? Common car paint code locations include:

Passenger door jamb or B-pillar
Under the bonnet on the radiator support, slam panel, or strut tower
Glove box (common on some GM vehicles)
Boot/trunk lid underside or spare wheel well (Mazda, Mitsubishi)
Fuel filler flap (certain European models)
Motorcycles: under the seat or on the headstock
Vans/trucks: inside the driver’s door or bulkhead area

Two-stage and tri-coat paints may list multiple references. For example, a pearlescent white might show a main code plus a ground/pearl indication. Don’t confuse trim codes with paint; Toyota’s C/TR lists colour first, trim second.

Tips:

Photograph the entire label in good light to capture all characters.
Match the full code, including suffixes (e.g., “P” or “U”).
If the label is missing or the vehicle was resprayed, a dealer may confirm colour from the build record via VIN—but always verify against the door jamb paint code when possible.

Use your code with an automotive paint code finder. On Touch Up Paint Factory, you can search by registration, paint code, or model to order a precise match.

Alternative Paint Code Locations

If your door jamb label is missing or unreadable, don’t stop your vehicle paint code lookup there. The car paint code location varies by brand, model year, and even market. Check these common spots:

Engine bay: On the radiator support, firewall/bulkhead, or strut tower. Examples: BMW/MINI often place the paint code on a strut tower; Mercedes-Benz on the front crossmember; Nissan and Mazda on the bulkhead; Subaru on the strut tower.
Boot/trunk area: Sticker in the spare wheel well, boot side panel, or underside of the boot/trunk lid. Volkswagen/Audi/SEAT/Škoda frequently use a boot floor sticker (and a duplicate in the service booklet). Some GM models list it on the spare tyre cover or trunk lid.
Glovebox/console: GM/Vauxhall/Opel may use a “Service Parts Identification” or option code sticker in the glovebox.
Other door pillars: Passenger-side B‑pillar, sliding door pillar on vans, or the door step. Ford Transit and many light commercial vehicles use these positions.
Bonnet/hood slam panel: Common on Jaguar/Land Rover and select Peugeot/Citroën models.
Service booklet: A duplicate label with the colour code often lives in the owner’s service book (especially VAG brands).
Motorcycles: On the frame headstock/steering stem, under the seat, or inside fairings.
Trucks and vans: Cab door frame, step well, behind the sun visor, or inside the glovebox.

What to look for: The label may say “Paint,” “Colour,” “Ext PNT,” “PNT,” “PA,” or “BC/CC.” Codes can be alphanumeric and may sit near trim codes. Examples include Toyota 040 (Super White), Ford 6G/61 (Moondust Silver), VW LA7W (Reflex Silver), BMW A52 (Space Grey), and Mercedes 775 (Iridium Silver).

Still asking “where is my car’s paint code”? Use Touch Up Paint Factory’s automotive paint code finder to search by UK registration, model, or known code. If necessary, a dealer can often find paint code by VIN within their systems—useful for confirmation—but the VIN alone isn’t the code.

Handling Missing Paint Codes

Sticker missing, scuffed, or painted over? You still have options to complete a vehicle paint code lookup without guessing.

Start by expanding your search beyond the obvious:

Driver’s door jamb: The door jamb paint code is most common, often on a VIN/tyre-pressure label.
Bonnet/engine bay: Radiator support, strut towers, bulkhead, or underside of the bonnet.
Boot area: Spare wheel well, boot lid underside, or side panels. VAG brands (VW/Audi/SEAT/Škoda) often place codes here.
Glove box or centre console: Common on some older GM and Vauxhall/Opel models (SPID label).
Fuel filler door: Seen on certain Land Rover/Jaguar models.
Service book or first owner invoice: Some brands print the code with delivery details.

Brand cues that help:

Toyota/Lexus: Look for “C/TR” followed by the colour (e.g., C/TR 1F7/FA09).
Honda: Codes like NH731P, B92P, or R81P on the door sticker.
BMW/MINI: Alpha-numeric codes (e.g., A52) on an engine-bay plaque or strut tower.
Mercedes-Benz: Three- or four-digit codes (e.g., 775 or 9775) on the B-pillar or under bonnet.
VW/Audi: Codes like LA7W or LY9B; often in the boot or service book.

If you’re asking “where is my car’s paint code” and still can’t find it:

Use your registration on Touch Up Paint Factory’s automotive paint code finder to identify the correct formula by vehicle.
Contact a franchised dealer; while you usually can’t reliably find paint code by VIN yourself, dealers can look it up against their build records.
Cross-check the paint name and code format for your model year; many models have multiple whites, silvers, or blacks.
For two-tone vehicles, note both codes (body/roof). Pearl and tri-coat finishes may list an extra layer.

Before ordering, verify with a quick spot test in a hidden area to account for ageing or previous resprays.

Once you have the code or confirmed match, select the exact product you need—custom-mixed aerosol, precision paint pen, or an all-in-one kit—confident that the colour will align with your car’s original finish.

Online Paint Code Lookup Tools

Online vehicle paint code lookup tools can quickly narrow your search, but they work best when paired with a physical label check. Most manufacturers do not encode paint colour in the VIN, so “find paint code by VIN” tools often return incomplete or multiple results. Use an automotive paint code finder to shortlist possibilities, then verify the exact door jamb paint code on your vehicle.

How to use online tools efficiently:

Start with registration lookup (UK only): Enter your number plate to auto-fill make, model, and year, then browse the likely colour codes for your trim.
Filter by model/year: If you don’t have the reg to hand, select your manufacturer, model, and year to see common codes and colour names.
Direct code entry: If you’ve found the label, type the exact code for a precise match and skip guesswork.

At Touch Up Paint Factory, you can search by vehicle registration, model, or the colour code itself. Once you confirm the code, you can choose the right format—custom-mixed aerosol spray, precision paint pen, or an all-in-one kit—backed by a 100% Colour Match Guarantee.

What to expect from the label you’re matching:

Toyota: C/TR 1G3/FA10 (paint is the first part, e.g., 1G3)
Ford: EXT PNT: UX or M7444
Volkswagen/Audi: LZ7H, LC9A, LY9B
BMW/MINI: A96, B39
Mercedes: 775 or 040
GM/Vauxhall: WA8624 or three-character codes
Honda: NH-731P, B92P

If you’re wondering where is my car’s paint code, check the driver’s door jamb first. Some brands place it under the bonnet/hood, on the radiator support, or in the boot/spare wheel well. Online databases can indicate the typical car paint code location by brand, but the physical sticker beats any digital guess.

Bottom line: Use an online automotive paint code finder to narrow options, but trust the door jamb code for final selection to ensure a perfect match.

Getting the Right Touch-Up Paint

Accurate colour starts with the code, not the VIN. A vehicle paint code lookup should focus on the manufacturer’s paint label—most commonly on the driver-side door jamb—because that’s where the exact colour formula is specified. The VIN identifies your vehicle, but it typically doesn’t encode the paint; relying on VIN alone can lead to near-miss matches.

Wondering “where is my car’s paint code”? Check these common spots:

Door jamb or B-pillar label: Most brands (Toyota, Honda, BMW, Ford EU, Hyundai, Kia).
Under the bonnet: Shock tower or radiator support (some BMW, Subaru).
Boot/spare wheel well or service book: Many VW/Audi/SEAT/Skoda (VAG).
Data card or service booklet: Mercedes-Benz and some premium marques.

Brand examples to help you decode the label:

Toyota: Look for “C/TR.” The paint code follows “C” (e.g., 1F7 = Classic Silver).
Honda: Alpha-numeric like NH-731P (Crystal Black Pearl).
BMW: Three-character code (e.g., A96 = Mineral White) printed with the colour name.
VAG: Codes like LC9A (Candy/Polar White) on a boot sticker or service booklet.
Mazda: Codes such as 46G (Machine Grey).

Why not find paint code by VIN? VIN-based tools may infer a colour used in production ranges, but they can’t confirm resprays, mid-year colour changes, two-tone options, or tri-coats. The door jamb paint code is the definitive reference for an exact match.

How to order the right product from Touch Up Paint Factory:

Locate your car paint code location and note the full code.
Use our automotive paint code finder: search by registration, colour code, or model.
Choose your format: custom-mixed aerosol, precision paint pen, or all-in-one kit.
Add primer and clear coat if needed (especially for metallic, pearl, or tri-coat systems).
For bikes, trucks, and vans, follow the same process—enter the code, and we’ll mix to spec.

Every order is mixed to the manufacturer’s formulation and backed by our 100% Colour Match Guarantee for a seamless DIY repair.

January 5, 2026