Touch Up Car Paint Guide
Where to look for your vehicle's paint code
Car makers place colour information in different locations, such as door apertures, under the bonnet, in the boot or in vehicle documentation. Look for the manufacturer's colour code rather than relying only on the visible shade of the paint.
The quickest way to get a poor touch-up result is to choose paint by eye. Automotive manufacturers reuse similar colour names, change formulas across model years and sometimes produce multiple variants under the same broad colour family.
Common places to check for a paint-code label
Begin with the driver-side or passenger-side door opening. Look for a manufacturer sticker or plate near the door jamb or pillar. If you cannot find one, check under the bonnet, around the spare-wheel well or boot floor, and the service information supplied with the car.
How to recognise the correct code
Paint codes are usually short combinations of letters and numbers, but their format varies between manufacturers. Avoid selecting an unrelated trim code, option code or VIN: these identify different vehicle information.
What to do if the sticker is missing
Record the make, model, year and registration and ask a paint supplier or manufacturer dealer to help verify the factory colour. Registration results can narrow the search, but they may not establish the exact formulation or account for a previous repaint.
Check the result before ordering
Compare the returned colour reference with any information in the car's documentation. If the vehicle has had accident repairs or panels replaced, the painted surface may differ from the original factory specification. Once the code is confirmed, choose a pen for a small chip, a brush bottle for broader localised loss or an aerosol for a larger prepared repair.
Quick FAQ
Can I find car paint from the registration alone?
Often it is enough to identify the likely manufacturer colour data, but some vehicles need an additional code or variant check before paint is mixed.
Is the VIN the same as the paint code?
No. The VIN identifies the vehicle. It can support colour identification, but it is not itself the paint formula.
Need paint for a small repair? Start with the Touch Up Car Paint vehicle lookup so the colour can be identified from the vehicle details before you choose a pen, bottle or aerosol.
