A car's color number is not just a set of numbers and letters, but a key to accurate paint selection during repairs. An error in just one character can cause the repaired body part to have a different shade, especially in bright sunlight or at different angles. Many car owners are faced with the need to find this code when preparing for a paint job, purchasing spare parts, or even when checking the car's history before purchasing.

In this article we will look at all possible ways to determine the color number - from standard places on the body to hidden service marks that manufacturers hide in the most unexpected places. You will learn how to decipher VIN code, where to look for information in documents and how to use online databases. And also, what pitfalls can you encounter when searching for color codes on cars of different brands.

We will pay special attention to situations where standard methods do not work: for example, if the plate with the paint code is erased, and the PTS does not have the necessary information. For such cases, we have prepared alternative solutions, including contacting official dealers and using professional scanners. At the end of the article you will find answers to frequently asked questions that will help you avoid common mistakes.

If you are planning body repair or just want to know more about your car, this manual will become your reliable guide. It doesn't matter what car you have - VAZ 2110 2005 or Tesla Model 3 2023: the principles of searching for a color code are universal, and we will analyze the nuances for each brand separately.

1. Where to look for the color number on the car body

The most reliable way to find out the paint code is to find the nameplate on the body. Manufacturers place it in standard locations, but the location may vary depending on the brand and model. Here's where to look first:

  • 🚗 Under the hood: on the side members, the inside of the wing or the partition between the engine compartment and the passenger compartment. Often the sign is attached with rivets or double-sided tape.
  • 🚪 On the driver's door pillar: This is the most common location for European and Asian cars. Look for a metal plate with inscriptions PAINT or COLOR.
  • 🪟 In the trunk: Under the spare wheel, on the inside of the cover or on the rear panel. Some models Toyota and Honda The sign is hidden under the trim.
  • 🔧 On frame or suspension: Rare, but found on SUVs and commercial vehicles (e.g. Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter).

On the plate itself, the color code can be indicated in different ways:

  • 🔢 C/TR, COLOR, PAINT - standard designations.
  • 🎨 EXT. CLR (external color) - for body color.
  • 🔤 INT. CLR (interior color) - for the interior color (not to be confused!).

The code format depends on the manufacturer:

⚠️ Attention: By car Volkswagen Group (VW, Audi, Skoda) color code may consist of 2–3 parts: for example, LA5W - base color, and B9B9 - shade of mother-of-pearl. If you don't take into account the second part, the paint will be different!

Example of a sign Toyota Corolla 2018: 



TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION


MODEL: AE110R-NKPZKW


PAINT: 1G3 (Super White II)
💡

If the sign is rusty or covered with dirt, do not try to clean it with a stiff brush - this will remove the paint from the inscriptions. Use WD-40 and a soft cloth.

2. How to decipher the VIN code to determine the color

VIN code (Vehicle Identification Number) contains information about the characteristics of the vehicle, including body color. However, not all VIN symbols are responsible for paint - you need to know which positions to decipher.

VIN code structure (17 characters):

  1. 1–3 characters — WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier, manufacturer code).
  2. 4–8 characters - VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section, vehicle description). Color may be encoded here.
  3. The 9th character is a check digit.
  4. The 10th character is the model year.
  5. 11th symbol - assembly plant.
  6. 12–17 characters - serial number.

For most manufacturers, color is coded in 7th character of VIN (for American and European cars) or in 10–11th (for Japanese and Korean). For example:

  • 🇺🇸 Ford Mustang 2020: VIN 1FA6P8CF0L5123456 → 7th character F = color Race Red.
  • 🇯🇵 Mazda CX-5 2019: VIN JM3KFBCM5K0123456 → 10–11 characters KM = color Machine Gray Metallic (46G).

To decrypt VIN, use the official databases:

⚠️ Attention: Some online decoders do not show the exact color code, but only its name (for example, "Metallic Black" instead of A27). This is not enough for painting - check the code with your dealer!
📊 How often do you check your car’s VIN code?
Only upon purchase
Before renovation
Regularly (once a year)
Never

3. Color number in the car documents

If the plate on the body is missing or unreadable, check the documents. They may indicate the paint code, but not always explicitly. Where to look:

  • 📄 PTS (Vehicle Passport): in the column “Body color” a code is sometimes written (for example, 666 (Gray)). However, more often there is only a verbal description (“Metallic Blue”), which is not enough for an accurate selection of paint.
  • 📋 Certificate of Registration (CTC): Color is indicated in text only, without code.
  • 📑 Service book: There may be a code in the Technical Data section or on a sticker on the back cover (for example, B59 (Deep Blue Pearl)).
  • 📊 Sales and purchase agreement: If the seller indicated a color code at checkout, it may be in the car description.

Example of a PTS entry: 



Exterior color (cabin, body): 444 (Dark Blue)

Here 444 - this is the factory color code for Lada Vesta.

If the documents contain only the color name without a code, use the correspondence table for your brand. For example, for Hyundai:

Color name Manufacturer code Model example
Phantom black UY Tucson 2020–2023
Polar white YN Solaris 2017–2022
Titanium silver SM Santa Fe 2019–2026
Azure blue QR Elantra 2016–2021
⚠️ Attention: In documents for used cars, the color may be indicated incorrectly if the car has been repainted. Always check the data with the plate on the body!

4. Online services for determining the color code

If a physical examination and documents do not help, use specialized online databases. They collect data from manufacturing plants and dealerships. Best services:

  • 🔍 PaintRef — code base for 40+ brands (including BMW, Mercedes, Audi). Allows you to search by model, year and color name.
  • 🎨 AutoColorLibrary — a catalog with paint samples and their codes. There is a shade comparison function.
  • 🚗 Car Query API - for developers, but there is public access to the VIN and color database.
  • 🇷🇺 Vinformer — Russian-language service with support for domestic and Chinese cars (Chery, Geely).

How to use PaintRef:

  1. Select your car brand (for example: Nissan).
  2. Specify model (Qashqai) and year of manufacture (2021).
  3. Find the color name in the list (for example, "Gun Metallic").
  4. Copy the code (KAD) to order paint.

On some services (for example, AutoColorLibrary) you can upload a photo of a car - the system will select a similar shade using a recognition algorithm. The accuracy of this method is ~85%, which is not enough for professional painting, but will help when choosing vinyl film.

☑️ Check color code online

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5. Features of searching for color codes for different brands

Each manufacturer uses its own color coding system. Let's look at the nuances for popular brands:

🇯🇵 Japanese cars (Toyota, Honda, Nissan)

The color code usually consists of 3 characters (numbers + letters). For example:

  • Toyota Camry: 1G3 (Super White II), 4R3 (Attitude Black).
  • Honda CR-V: B-526M (Lunar Silver Metallic).

Look for the inscription on the sign COLOR NO. or EXT. COLOR. U Mitsubishi The code may be duplicated on a sticker under the rear seat.

🇪🇺 German cars (VW, Audi, BMW)

The code consists of 2–4 characters, often indicating the type of paint:

  • Audi A4: LY7D (Daytona Gray Pearl Effect).
  • BMW 3 Series: A30 (Alpine White).

U Volkswagen there may be two lines on the plate: the top one is the base color (LA5W), lower - effect (B9B9 for mother of pearl).

🇺🇸 American cars (Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep)

Codes most often alphanumeric, 2–5 characters. Feature: one code can represent different shades depending on the year. For example:

  • Ford Focus 2018: UX (Ruby Red), and in 2020 the same UX - this is Race Red.
  • Jeep Wrangler: PRV (Sting-Gray Clearcoat).

🇰🇷 Korean cars (Hyundai, Kia)

The codes are short (2-3 characters), but can be duplicated for different shades. Always check the year of manufacture! Examples:

  • Kia Rio 2021: UY (Aurora Black Pearl).
  • Hyundai Tucson 2020: YM (Amazon Gray).

🇷🇺 Russian cars (Lada, UAZ)

The codes are simple, usually 3 digits:

  • Lada Granta: 666 (Grey).
  • UAZ Patriot: 302 (Metallic green).

On new models (Lada Vesta NG) code can be alphanumeric (QAB).

Why can one color have several codes?

Manufacturers sometimes change the composition of the paint, maintaining the visual shade. For example, Toyota in 2015 updated the "Silver Metallic" formula from the code 1D5 on 1D7 due to stricter environmental regulations. Old and new codes may look the same but produce different results when mixed.

6. What to do if the color code is not found

If none of the above methods work, try alternative methods:

  • 🔧 Contact your authorized dealer: Based on the VIN, they can issue an official color code. The service is paid (from 500 to 2000 ₽), but reliable.
  • 📞 Call the manufacturer's call center: y Toyota, Hyundai and Kia There are free hotlines for such requests.
  • 🛠️ Use a spectrophotometer: a device for accurately determining shade. The service is offered by car body repair shops (cost ~1000 ₽).
  • 📸 Upload a photo to the mobile application: ColorCar (Android) or Color Grab (iOS) will select a similar shade based on the photo.

If the car has been repainted, none of the methods will be 100% accurate. In this case:

  1. Find an area with original paint (such as under the hood or on the inside of a door).
  2. Compare it with samples in AutoColorLibrary.
  3. Order a paint sample and apply a test coat of masking tape.
⚠️ Attention: On cars after an accident, the color may differ even on adjacent parts! If you are planning a complete repaint, order the paint using the original code, not the current color.
💡

When buying paint, always check with the seller which standard is used: manufacturer's factory code or universal code RAL/Pantone. For example, BMW A30 (Alpine White) is not the same as RAL 9016 (Traffic White).

7. Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Even experienced car owners make mistakes when searching for a color code. Here are the most common:

  • 🔍 Body code and color code are confused: the sign may have several lines, for example: 
    

    MODEL: XW8GH4
    

    COLOR: 1G3
    

    TRIM: FA20

    Here 1G3 - color, and XW8GH4 - body model.

  • 🎨 Ignores paint effects: code LY7D at Audi includes pearlescent pigment. If you order only the base color (LY7), the result will be matte.
  • 📄 Only PTS is trusted: Documents often give a generic name (for example, "Blue"), while the actual code is 8U8 (Pacific Blue Metallic).
  • 🔢 The code is not checked for relevance: manufacturers update the palette. For example, QM1 at Skoda in 2018 it is “Quartz Grey”, and in 2021 it is “Graphite Metallic”.

How to avoid mistakes:

☑️ Check the color code before ordering paint

Done: 0 / 4

Case study:

Car owner Renault Duster 2017 found the code on the sign 606 and ordered paint. After painting the bumper, it turned out that the color did not match. Reason: on its modifications (Duster Phase 2) code 606 stood for "Platinum Grey" rather than "Metallic Beige" as in Duster Phase 1. Solution: I had to order paint using a new code 745.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to determine the color code from a photograph?

Exactly - no. The color in the photo depends on the lighting, camera settings and screen. However, services like AutoColorLibrary can choose a similar shade (error ~15%). This is not enough for professional painting, but it is suitable for selecting vinyl film or accessories.

What should I do if the color code plate is missing?

Try the following steps:

  1. Check alternative locations: under the rear seat, on the frame, in the glove compartment.
  2. Decipher the VIN code using Vinformer.
  3. Contact your dealer for VIN information.
  4. Use a spectrophotometer in a car service.

If the car has been repainted, you will not be able to find the original code - you will have to select the paint visually.

How to find out the color code if the car is repainted?

In this case:

  • Find an area with original paint (such as under the hood or on the inside of a door).
  • Compare it with the catalog AutoColorLibrary.
  • Order a sample and apply a test coat.
  • If the original color cannot be found, select the paint based on the current shade using a spectrophotometer.
Important: Repainted parts (eg bumper) may have a different code, even if the color is visually the same.
Is it possible to order paint by color code to paint it yourself?

Yes, but consider the nuances:

  • The code indicates base paint, but may require varnish for full coverage (especially for metallics and pearls).
  • Order paint at aerosol cans (for local repairs) or in cans (for complete painting).
  • Check with the seller if you need primer and hardener for your paint type.
  • For quality results, use spray gun, not a brush.

Popular paint stores: Chip1, Motip, Dupli-Color.

How to check if a car has been repainted?

Signs of repainting:

  • 🔍 Color mismatch on different parts (for example, the hood is lighter than the wings).
  • 👆 Rough surface at the joints of parts (a consequence of poor-quality grinding).
  • 💡 Different degrees of shine when illuminated with a flashlight at an angle.
  • 📏 Paint thickness, measured thickness gauge (normal: 80–150 microns; repainting: 200+ microns).

For an accurate check, use ultraviolet lamp — the original paint glows evenly, but repainted areas may have spots.