Can I find my paint color by VIN number?
Yes, you can often find your vehicle's original paint color by looking up the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The VIN contains information about your car's specifications, including the factory-applied paint color. By decoding your VIN, you can determine the exact paint color used on your vehicle.
Understanding VIN Numbers and Paint Colors
A VIN is a unique 17-character code that identifies a specific vehicle. This code contains details about the car, such as the manufacturer, model, year of production, engine type, and other key specifications. Buried within the VIN is also information about the original paint color applied at the factory.
The paint color code is typically located in the 10th digit of the VIN. This digit represents the production sequence and can be cross-referenced with the manufacturer's paint color codes to determine the exact shade used on your vehicle.
How to Find Your Paint Color by VIN
- Locate your vehicle's VIN, which is usually found on the driver's side dashboard, the driver's side door jamb, or the vehicle's registration.
- Identify the 10th digit of the VIN, which represents the paint color code.
- Look up the paint color code in the manufacturer's paint code reference guide or online database to determine the original factory paint color.
- Some manufacturers also include the paint color name or code on the vehicle's original window sticker or build sheet, which can provide additional confirmation.
By decoding your VIN, you can easily find the original paint color of your vehicle and potentially match it for touch-ups, repainting, or other restoration projects.
How do I find my car's interior color?
The easiest way to determine the interior color of your vehicle is to contact the local dealer for your car's make. The parts department can use your vehicle identification number to look up the interior color of your car. If the dealer gives you a color code, ask for the color name.
How to match car paint?
Here is a look at how auto shops match car paint colors.
- Review the Manufacturer's Color Code. Each car comes with a specific paint color code, which is used to match the original paint within a large database of colors.
- Match Paint Shade Using Spectrophotometry.
- Mix a Precise Shade of Custom Paint.
Are car paint codes universal?
Paint codes are not universal; they refer to a unique paint color within a collection of colors. The black on your Ford and your neighbor's Dodge might look the same, but the code for the two colors is completely different.
Can you look up paint code by VIN?
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
However, the VIN does not give us your color code! It only gives us any paint formula variance in an existing color code. Make sure you have found the color code on your vehicle. For more information on paint colors, visit Choosing Paint Colors.
How can I find out the paint code for my car?
In some cases, the information may be located on the metal panel between the engine bay and the passenger compartment or inside the engine bay. Look for a sticker, label, or engraved code that indicates the paint color or paint code. Codes normally look like this: 358, TED58, LB9A, 584/A.
Is there an app to determine paint color?
FindPaintColor is a paint color matching app that finds the best-match paint colors from thousands available from major paint vendors, by analyzing a photo of your unknown color with a specified white color chip available free from your paint dealer.
Can you get Colour code from VIN number?
Q: Does my VIN number include the paint code? No, the VIN number does not include the paint code. The paint code is sometimes printed near the VIN number, although you may need to look for it separately. Common paint code locations include the driver's side door jamb, in the boot and under the bonnet.
Can a VIN tell you the interior color?
Be aware that some manufacturers encode color information within the VIN. If that is the case with your car, you can search an online VIN decoding site for your vehicle, plug in the VIN, and extract the interior color code.
How can I find the exact paint color of my car?
Car color codes are most easily found on your vehicle information sticker, usually located on your dash, in the trunk, or inside your door jamb.
How do I match my existing car paint?
Match Paint Shade Using Spectrophotometry
Over time, a car's original paint color can fade and change hues. To ensure that your car's new paint achieves a perfect match, your technicians may use a device called a spectrophotometer. The spectrophotometer measures the light waves that bounce off of your car's exterior.
