Have you bought a used car and want to know its original color? Or are you planning to paint, but are not sure of the exact shade of the factory enamel? Perhaps you are tormented by doubts: was the car repainted after an accident, and how to check this? The question is where is the color of the car written?, arises more often than it seems - and the answer is not always on the surface.

In this article, we will analyze all the possible places where manufacturers and government agencies record body color: from official documents (PTS, STS) to hidden plates on the frame and electronic databases. You'll learn how to decipher factory paint codes, where to look for a VIN number to check history, and why data from different sources may not match. And also - what nuances are important to consider when buying a used car, so as not to run into a “repaint” with a dubious history.

1. Documents for the car: PTS, STS and registration certificate

The first thing that comes to mind when looking for the color of a car is to look at vehicle passport (PTS). And this is the right move: in the column "Exterior color, cabin, body" indicates the official color registered upon registration. However, there are several pitfalls here:

  • 📄 PTS — in column 8 (“Color”) a phrase is usually indicated (for example, “metallic blue"), but without paint code. This is a subjective description and may differ from the factory shade.
  • 🚗 STS (registration certificate) — in paragraph 12 the color is also written, but often abbreviated (for example, "white"instead of"white mother of pearl").
  • ⚠️ Discrepancies — if the car was repainted legally (for example, after an accident), changes may be made to the title. But if repainting is not legalized, the data will remain old.

Important: in the PTS the color is indicated at the time first registration at the traffic police department. If the car is imported, there may be a translation from English (for example, "Blue Metallic" → "metallic blue"), which does not always accurately reflect the shade. For accuracy, it is better to check the factory codes.

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If the PTS color is indicated as “black”, but the car is clearly dark blue, this is a reason to check the history through autocode or traffic police. Perhaps the car was repainted after an accident.

2. Nameplate (nameplate) with color code

The most reliable way to find out original car color - find the nameplate (aka nameplate or nameplate). It indicates paint code (usually 2–4 characters), by which you can accurately determine the shade. Where to look:

  • 🚪 Driver's door pillar - the most common place (open the door and look at the central pillar).
  • 🔧 Under the hood - on the side members, the partition of the engine compartment or the inside of the wing.
  • 📦 trunk - on the back wall (for some models, for example, Volkswagen or Skoda).
  • 🔍 Under the spare wheel - y Toyota, Mitsubishi and other Japanese brands.

The color code on the plate might look like this:

  • 3L5 — metallic gray (for example, at Audi),
  • B5 — black pearl (y Honda),
  • 426 — white mother of pearl (y BMW).

To decrypt the code, use manufacturer database or services like PaintRef. On some plates, the color is indicated not by a code, but by a name in English (for example, “Brilliant Silver”) - this is normal for American and European cars.

Example of a nameplate

The photo shows the nameplate Volkswagen Golf:

- Top: VIN number

- Below: engine and transmission code

- Below: LA7W — color code (in this case "Reflex-silver")

3. VIN number and electronic databases

If the plate cannot be found or the data on it has been erased, VIN number will help you find out the color through online services. Where to look for it:

  • 🔑 Windshield - Bottom on the driver's side (visible from outside).
  • 🚗 Under the hood - on the spar or bulkhead.
  • 🚪 Driver's door pillar - next to the nameplate.
  • 📄 In PTS and STS - in the corresponding columns.

Copy the VIN and check it in one of the services:

⚠️ Attention: If the VIN report shows a different color than the one on the title, it could mean:

⚠️ Attention: Discrepancies between the VIN report and the PTS in color are a sign that the car was repainted, but no changes were made to the documents. This may be the result of an accident, theft or fraudulent sales. Check history via traffic police for restrictions or arrests.
📊 Where do you usually check the VIN number?
On the traffic police website
Via Autocode
In the mobile application
I don't check
Another way

4. Hidden places on the body: where manufacturers hide the original paint

Even if the car is repainted, original color can be found in areas that are rarely touched by painting. Where to look:

Place Example models How to check
Under rubber door seals VAZ, Renault, Kia Gently peel back the seal with your fingernail or a plastic card.
Inside the glove compartment (on metal parts) Toyota, Hyundai Remove the glove compartment or shine a flashlight inside.
Under the gas cap Volkswagen, Ford Open the hatch and look at the inside of the lid.
On the hinges of the trunk or hood BMW, Mercedes Use a mirror or endoscope to examine.
Under the plastic door sills Skoda, Peugeot Remove the trim (a screwdriver may be required).

🔍 Advice: take it with you magnifying glass and flashlight — the original paint may be barely noticeable due to a layer of dirt or rust. If you find an area with factory enamel, compare it to the base color of the body in daylight.

View the color in the PTS and STS|Find the nameplate with the paint code|Check the VIN through the online service|Inspect hidden places on the body (seals, hinges)|Compare the found color with the current shade-->

5. Decoding color codes: how to understand what “A3M” or “QAB” means

Factory paint codes are conventions that manufacturers use to identify shades. They may consist of:

  • 🔢 Numbers and letters (for example, 3L5 at Audi),
  • 📌 Only letters (for example, QAB at Volkswagen — "Deep black pearl"),
  • 🔤 Collocations (for example, Brilliant Silver at Nissan).

Where to find the transcript:

  1. Official catalogs of the manufacturer - on websites Toyota, BMW or Ford There are PDF manuals with paint codes.
  2. Paint selection services - for example, PaintRef.com or Autocolorlibrary.com.
  3. Owner forums - on Drive2 or Club-Toyota transcript tables are often posted.

Example decryption for Volkswagen:

  • LA7W — Reflex-silver,
  • LZ9S — Dark blue mother of pearl,
  • LC9A — Black pearl.

⚠️ Attention: the same code from different manufacturers can mean different colors! For example, B5 at Honda - this is "black pearl", and Mazda — "dark gray metallic"Always check the code in the context of the specific brand.

6. Checking the car history: why the color may not match

If color data from different sources does not agree, this may indicate:

  • 🔧 Repainting after an accident - even if the color is visually the same, the car could have been restored.
  • 📝 Error in documents — when registering with the traffic police, the color may have been entered incorrectly (for example, "gray"instead of"silver").
  • 🚨 Theft or “interruption” of VIN — if the color in the PTS does not match the VIN report, this is a reason for an in-depth check.
  • 🎨 Tuning - owners sometimes change color for aesthetic reasons (for example, with white on matte black).

How to check authenticity:

  1. Order full VIN report (for example, via CarVertical or Autocode).
  2. Check registration history on the website traffic police - if the car was stolen, there will be a mark there.
  3. Inspect body with traces of paint: unevenness, smudges, mismatch of shades on different parts.
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If the color on the PTS and on the nameplate are the same, but visually the car looks different, most likely it was repainted. This is not always bad (for example, after a minor accident), but requires additional verification.

7. What to do if the color cannot be determined

If none of the methods help, try these tips:

  • 📞 Contact your authorized dealer - based on the VIN, they can issue a certificate with the original color.
  • 🔍 Use a spectrophotometer - a device for accurately determining the shade (available in car services).
  • 🛠️ Remove the paint layer - in workshops they can carefully sand the top layer down to the factory level (for example, on the inside of a door).
  • 📸 Compare with catalogs - take a photo of the car and compare it with the manufacturer’s palettes (for example, on DuPont website).

If you are buying a car and have doubts about its history, it is better to refuse the deal or reduce the price taking into account the potential risks. Repainted car may have hidden problems: corrosion under a new layer of paint, poor repairs after an accident, or even traces of theft.

💡 Useful life hack: if the seller assures that the car is not painted, ask him to provide photo of the painting process (if there was one) or receipts from a car service center. Refusing this is a reason to be wary.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about car color

Is it possible to find out the exact shade of paint from the VIN, and not just the name of the color?

Yes, but not in all databases. Services like PaintRef or Autocolorlibrary show not only the name (for example, "metallic blue"), but also manufacturer code, according to which the auto shop will select the exact paint. Free reports (for example, traffic police) usually indicate only the general name.

What should I do if the color code on the nameplate is erased?

Try:

  1. Wipe the sign alcohol or solvent — sometimes dirt hides symbols.
  2. Use UV lamp — some paints glow in ultraviolet light.
  3. Contact to the dealer - they can recover data using VIN.

If all else fails, all that remains is to look for the color in hidden areas of the body or through the VIN report.

Can the traffic police refuse registration if the color of the car does not match the title?

Yes, if the discrepancy is obvious (for example, in the PTS "red"and the car green). In this case you will need:

  • Repaint the car in the original color (with receipts provided).
  • Or officially make changes to the title (you need a certificate from the repainting service).

If the difference is minimal (for example, "gray" vs "silver"), the inspector can turn a blind eye to this.

How to check whether a car has been painted if the color in the documents and on the plate are the same?

Even if the data agrees, inspect:

  • 🔦 Paint thickness - use thickness gauge (norm: 80–150 microns; if more, paint).
  • 👓 Color transitions — at the junctions of parts (for example, wing-door) there should be no difference in shade.
  • 🧲 Magnet - if it does not stick to the metal, there may be putty.

Also check repair history through Carfax or Autocode.

Where is the color indicated in the electronic PTS?

B electronic PTS (from 2020) the color is listed in the "Vehicle data" → "Color". To view:

  1. Go to portal.gosuslugi.ru.
  2. Select "Transport and driving" → "Electronic PTS".
  3. Find your car by VIN or license plate number.

The data there is the same as in the paper PTS, but with a digital signature from the traffic police.