How to find out the car paint code by VIN code?

Anna Tkach

AutoPortal editorial team

1,316 views 3 min read

Every car owner sooner or later faces the need to touch up their car's paint — whether it's a small chip, scratch, or full body repair. To ensure the paint color exactly matches the original, it's important to know its exact code. In this article, we'll figure out how to find out the car's paint code by VIN, where to look for this information, and what alternative methods exist.

What is a VIN code and why is it needed

A VIN code (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique identification number consisting of 17 characters (letters and digits) assigned to each vehicle during its production. This number is not repeated for any other vehicle and serves as a kind of "passport" for the car. The VIN code is applied to the body, chassis, and duplicated in technical documentation. The VIN code allows determining key vehicle characteristics: manufacturer, engine type, body type, model, country and year of manufacture, as well as the plant where it was assembled. Such information is used when registering a vehicle, insuring, servicing, buying spare parts, and during sale. The VIN is especially valuable when buying a used car - it allows checking the operation history, involvement in accidents, mileage, restrictions, and even theft. But most importantly, what is especially important for many car owners - by the VIN code you can find out the exact paint code of the car used in its factory painting. This allows avoiding mistakes when selecting a color and maintaining the car's appearance at a proper level after repair or partial painting.

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1. Official manufacturer websites

Most car manufacturers provide services where you can enter the VIN code and get detailed information about the car, including the color. For example:

Volkswagen - contact an official dealer or use VW databases;
VAZ (LADA) - call technical support or visit the official website;
Toyota, BMW, Ford, etc. - have online catalogs with VIN decoding.

Example query: how to find out the paint code of a VAZ car by VIN code - the LADA dealer or online VIN decoding resources will help answer this.

2. Online VIN decoding services

There are many websites where you can enter the VIN and get data about the color. Reliable resources:

VINformer
Vindecoderz
AutoDNA
Carvertical (partially paid)

Some of them will show the paint code by VIN code, especially if the car is of European or American assembly. For example, how to find out the paint code by VIN code for Volkswagen - such a query can be resolved through special VW VIN decoders.

3. Plate (sticker) with paint code

On many cars, the paint code is indicated separately from the VIN - on a plate in the engine compartment, trunk, or on the door frame. It may contain the inscription: Paint Code or Color Code and a combination of letters and digits (for example, LY9B for Volkswagen). If you have a VAZ, look for a sticker under the hood or on the body plate. In some cases, the paint code of a VAZ car by VIN code will be indicated there.

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What to do if the paint code is not found

If you cannot find the paint code by VIN, you can:

Contact an official service or dealer center;
Use a spectrophotometer - a device that reads the color from the body (available in body shops);
Find information on forums of owners of the same model.

How to find out the paint code of a car by VIN code - this is not difficult if you know where to look. This code is important for accurately selecting the color during repair or painting. Use VIN plates, online decoders, or contact dealers - and you will definitely determine the original color of your car.