Why should I check my car colour by registration?
There are several reasons why you may want to know the colour of a car by registration.
Perhaps you saw a car ad that appealed to you, but the seller neglected to mention the colour or include clear photographs of the paintwork. Maybe you’re writing an ad to sell your car, but the faded paintwork makes the original colour difficult to distinguish.
No matter what the reason, if you would like to find out the colour of a UK-registered car, our car colour lookup tool can tell you without delay. Simply enter the reg number into the field above and we’ll take care of the rest!
Check my car colour by reg
Colour matching for car paint
If you need to determine a car’s paint colour for a re-spray, or even a paintwork touch-up, simply knowing the name of the colour will not be sufficient to achieve a seamless finish.
If you intend to restore your car’s paintwork to its original splendour, you’ll need to know the precise ‘paint code’. Whether you choose to re-spray the car yourself or take it to a local garage, you’ll need to know this code to ensure a consistent look.
Does your car paint need a touch up?
You’ll need to locate your car’s paint code which can’t be done online by registration. Read on for full guidance.
How do you find the paint code on a car?
Your car’s paint code should be printed somewhere on your vehicle and can usually be found with a few simple checks.
Some owner’s manuals or service books list the paint code. If yours doesn’t (or you’ve misplaced it), our guide below shows the locations for many popular car makes.
Alternatively, you can contact the dealership where you originally purchased the vehicle for help.
What does a car paint code look like?
Most car paint codes are 2–5 characters long and consist of letters, numbers, or a combination of both, and are sometimes accompanied by a colour name.
They are often printed on stickers or metal plates around the vehicle. You can usually find them in one of the following places:
- Common paint code locations: Door jamb, door frame, under the bonnet, boot/spare wheel well, glovebox – and the owner’s manual or service book (for some models).
Popular car paint code locations
Here’s a quick guide to some of the most common paint code locations for the most popular car brands in the UK.
-
Volkswagen (VW) paint code location
Common Volkswagen paint code locations:
- Under the boot lid, inside the rear compartment, or beneath the boot mat.
- On or near the spare wheel well.
- May also be referenced inside the service book.
Code format: Usually 2-, 3-, or 4-digit numeric or alphanumeric combinations.
Examples: C9A, A7W, I7F
-
BMW paint code location
Common BMW paint code locations:
- Driver’s side door jamb or door shut.
- Under the bonnet – often on the suspension top.
- Near the front of the engine bay, behind the headlamp.
- May also be referenced inside the service book.
Code format: 3 characters (numeric or alphanumeric).
Examples: 300, 475, A83
-
Audi paint code location
Common Audi paint code locations:
- Inside the boot (under the boot lid or on the boot floor).
- Inside the door jamb, door frame, or hinge area.
- Occasionally under the bonnet.
Code format: Usually a 3-digit alphanumeric combination, followed by a colour name.
Examples: A73, P3G, Z9Y
-
Mercedes-Benz paint code location
Common Mercedes-Benz paint code locations:
- Driver’s side door frame or door jamb.
- Under the bonnet – on the upper radiator support bar.
- Boot lid or underside of the boot.
- Older models: VIN plate on the core support near the radiator.
Code format: Usually 3 digits for modern models; older codes may be prefixed with “DB”.
Examples: 359, 792, 650, DB 040, DB 723
-
Nissan paint code location
Common Nissan paint code locations:
- Driver’s side door jamb, pillar, or hinge area.
- Radiator support bar.
- Older models: Under the bonnet – or beneath a carpet flap under the driver’s seat (for Almera and Primera models).
Code format: 3 characters (letters, numbers, or a mix).
Examples: KAD, KY0, Z10
-
Toyota paint code location
Common Toyota paint code locations:
- Door frame or driver’s side door jamb.
- Boot lid.
- Under the bonnet.
Code format: Often labelled ‘C/TR’, followed by a 3-character alphanumeric code.
Examples: 1C0, 202, 070
-
Peugeot paint code location
Common Peugeot paint code locations:
- Door jamb or hinge area.
- Door edge, near the lock mechanism.
- Driver’s side door shut.
Code format: 2-, 3-, or 4-character numeric or alphanumeric code. The first three digits contain the correct colour code; ignore the last digit.
Examples: KTV, EWP, 685
-
Renault paint code location
Common Renault paint code locations:
- Door frame, boot lid, or under the bonnet.
- Often displayed on a sticker with an oval shape.
Code format: 5-character alphanumeric code (the last three digits are the paint code).
Examples: TENNP (NNP), TEGNE (GNE), OV369 (369)
What are the different types of car paint?
If you are planning to re-paint your car (or touch up the paintwork) the paint code is not the only thing to consider - you also need to choose the correct paint type. There are several common types of car paint:
-
Solid car paint
Solid car paint is the most popular variety and provides a uniform colour. A clear gloss lacquer offers additional protection against damage from small scratches and bird lime.
Whilst more understated than other more premium finishes, solid paint is durable, and small imperfections are easy to fix. Solid paint scratches can often be reminded with a touch-up pen or a paint aerosol – and adding a coat of lacquer can provide lasting protection.
-
Metallic car paint
The coveted shine seen on metallic car paint is achieved by mixing tiny pieces of aluminium powder into the paint. When the metal particles reflect light, the paintwork shines. Whilst metallic paint is a premium option for most car models, it is still hugely popular among UK drivers, thanks to its aesthetic appeal.
Unfortunately, metallic paint damage is a little more difficult to rectify – and even manufacturer-approved paint shops cannot guarantee flawless results.
However, if well cared for, a car with metallic paint can be highly sought after on the second-hand market. Depreciation for cars with premium options such as metallic paint also tends to be less steep than their base-model counterparts.
-
Pearlescent car paint
Pearlescent paint contains ceramic crystals that reflect and refract light creating a greater depth of colour than any metallic equivalent. What’s more, under bright light conditions, some lighter shades of pearlescent paint become iridescent, appearing to change colour when viewed from different angles.
Of course, it isn’t cheap: if you opt for pearlescent paintwork with a new car, you can expect to pay an extra £500 – or more.
Unfortunately, pearlescent paintwork is even more susceptible to damage (and more difficult to repair) than the metallic kind. If you own a car with pearlescent paint, you need to take extra care when cleaning it; any pieces of dirt and grit nestled into sponges or brushes can potentially damage the paintwork.
-
Matte car paint
Matte paint absorbs more light than it reflects, which creates a muted sheen - and lends a distinctive texture to the bodywork.
However, matte paint usually comes with a hefty price tag – and requires even more care and attention than pearlescent paint. If your car has a matte finish, you’ll need to clean it regularly with a specialised shampoo and polish.
Changing your car paint colour
Is your current paintwork failing to turn heads? Would you like to make the switch to something with a little more kerb appeal? Enter your reg number into our free car valuation tool to find out how much your current car could be worth.
When buying a new car, it is also worth bearing in mind that your choice of colour can influence its resale value. Therefore, if you plan to sell your next car at any point in the future, make sure you consider more than just personal preferences when selecting a paint colour.
Frequently asked questions
Although the vehicle identification number (VIN) itself does not contain the paint code, it can be used as a basis for finding the paint code.
If you contact a main dealer and provide the VIN number, they may be able to look up your car’s paint code for you.
Yes, if you have changed the colour of your car, you need to need to update the ‘new colour’ line in your V5C logbook and send it to the DVLA at the following address:
DVLA, Swansea, SA99 1BA.
If you have a new style V5C logbook issued from 15th April 2019, you’ll need to complete Section 1. If you have the older style, complete Section 7.
The colour of your car impacts its resale value because certain colours are more popular with used buyers, while others have a more niche appeal.
If your car has a popular paint colour, it will likely sell for more than an identical model in a less desirable shade.
According to the SMMT data, in 2024, grey was the UK’s most popular car colour for the seventh consecutive year.
543,464 grey cars joined the roads in 2024, accounting for 27.8% of all new car registrations.
With long-term wear and tear, the paint code sticker may detach or become obscured. If this happens, you may still be able to retrieve your paint code by contacting the dealership where the car was purchased. They should have your car’s details, including its paint code on file.
Our other tools
We’re rated ‘Excellent’ on Trustpilot
Data presented in webuyanycar car, tax and MOT check contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 of which we assume is correct at the time of presentation to the consumer.