The paint code for your car is typically located on a vehicle identification sticker or placard found in several common areas. The most frequent locations are the driver's side door jamb, inside the glove compartment, under the hood on the radiator support, or within the spare tire well in the trunk. The code itself is usually a combination of letters and numbers, often labeled as "Paint," "Color," "Trim," or "BC/CC" (Base Coat/Clear Coat). You'll need this code to ensure an exact match when purchasing touch-up paint or for bodywork repairs.
Before you start searching, have your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) handy. Some modern cars require the VIN to decode the exact paint color, especially if there were multiple shades with the same name in a given model year. The following table lists common locations by manufacturer to help narrow your search.
| Vehicle Manufacturer | Common Paint Code Location(s) | Code Label Prefix/Suffix |
|---|
| Ford, Lincoln | Driver's side door jamb, B-pillar | "EXT PNT:" or "Color Code" |
| General Motors (Chevy, GMC) | Inside glove compartment, on trunk lid | "BC/CC" followed by code |
| Honda, Acura | Driver's side door jamb | "Paint Code" |
| Toyota, Lexus | Driver's side door jamb, firewall under hood | "C/TR" (Color/Trim) |
| Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep | Driver's side door jamb, radiator support | "PNT" |
| Nissan, Infiniti | Driver's side door jamb, firewall under hood | "Color Code" or "EXT COLOR" |
| Volkswagen, Audi | Spare tire well, trunk lid, service manual | "Lackcode" or "L" followed by code |
| Mercedes-Benz | Driver's side door jamb, firewall | "Paint" |
| BMW | Driver's side door jamb, strut tower under hood | "Farbcode" or "Color" |
| Hyundai, Kia | Driver's side door jamb, firewall | "Color Code" |
If you cannot find the code in these spots, your next best steps are to consult your vehicle's owner's manual, which often has a diagram, or contact a dealership parts department with your VIN. They can provide the precise code instantly. Online VIN decoders are also a reliable tool for this purpose.
