Paint Code

It is printed on a label in the door frame, under the bonnet, in the boot or in the service book. The same colour name can have several codes, and the same code can vary slightly between production batches. Body shops use the code and a colour scanner to mix paint and blend it into neighbouring panels.

Some manufacturers also list interior trim codes on the same label. The VIN can be used by dealers to look up the paint code if the label is missing. Touch-up pens and aerosols are sold by paint code.

The code points to a mixing formula that defines the pigments and effects such as metallic or pearl.

Without the correct code, touch-up paint may look clearly different. Faded paint may need a tinted mix rather than the original formula to match.