Paint code vs. VIN: which one do you need?
Your VIN identifies the car, your paint code identifies the color. How to use both to order the right paint.
It is one of the most common questions we get: "Here is my VIN, what is my paint code?" The short answer is that the VIN identifies your car, but in most cases it does not contain the paint code. Here is how the two work together.
What the VIN tells you
The VIN (vehicle identification number) is 17 characters long. It encodes the manufacturer, the model, the model year, the plant and a serial number. You will find it at the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side, on the driver's door jamb, and on your registration and insurance documents.
What it usually doesn't include is the exterior color. Manufacturers record the color separately, so two cars with almost identical VINs can have completely different paint.
What the paint code tells you
The paint code is a short code, often 2 to 6 characters, such as 040, NH731P or UX. It points to one exact factory formula. It is printed on the paint plate or sticker, most often in the driver's door jamb, and on some brands under the hood or in the trunk. See where to look for your brand.
| VIN | Paint code | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | Always 17 characters | Usually 2 to 6 characters |
| Identifies | Make, model, year, plant | The exact factory color |
| Where | Windshield, door jamb, documents | Paint plate: door jamb, hood or trunk |
| Enough to order paint? | No, but it narrows the choice | Yes |
How to use your VIN on our site
Paste your 17-character VIN into the search box at the top of our home page. We read the make, model and year from it and show every factory color offered on that car. Then compare those colors with your paint plate and pick the one whose code matches.
A dealer's parts or service desk can also look up your original paint code from the VIN in their system. If you can't find the plate and can't reach a dealer, send us your VIN and a photo of the car and we will help.
Why we always ask for the code
Some colors look the same but are different formulas, and some codes were used on different colors in different years. Ordering by code is the only way to be sure the paint we mix is the paint your car left the factory with.