It is possible to find the car paint code by VIN. Your vehicle identification number (VIN) is a series of 17 characters that contain detailed information about your vehicles, such as country of origin, manufacturer, car model, and assembly plant.
VIN is your vehicle’s unique identifier. Due to the detailed information provided by the VIN, most people believe that VIN contains the specific car paint code.
This would make determining the car paint code an easy and fast affair. However, this is not true. VIN does not contain your vehicle’s exact paint code, though it can get you close to finding it.
Essentially, VIN is a tool you can use to discover your vehicle’s paint code.
One of the easiest ways to find the paint code is to locate the VIN on the vehicle. The VIN is usually located strategically on the bodywork of the vehicle.
This number can be stamped on a metal plate attached to the car or contained in the vehicle information sticker with other important information.
In most cases, the paint code is listed below the VIN on the sticker; therefore, finding the VIN can help you locate the paint code.
There are several possible locations of the VIN and the paint code, depending on the manufacturer. These include the dashboard near the windshield, driver’s side door jam, spare tire, glove box, trunk floor, and under the bonnet.
You can look at all these possible locations to discover the VIN and see if the paint code is also provided.
Additionally, you can go to vehicle experts such as reputable car bodyworks, give them the VIN, and they will help you uncover the paint code.
Moreover, you can locate your vehicle’s former owner using the VIN. If the previous owner had bodywork repairs done on the car, there is a high chance that they are aware of the car’s paint code or its location on the car.
You can contact them and request that they share this information with you.
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Does The Car Dealer Tell You The Paint Code By VIN?
Giving your car dealer the VIN is a sure way to discover your vehicle’s paint code. When you go to a car dealer and request assistance in determining the paint code for your vehicle, the first thing they ask for is the VIN.
This is because VIN contains information that is specific to your vehicle, which makes the VIN unique. The car dealer can use the VIN to look up the vehicle paint code from various platforms.
By looking up the VIN from their database or external sites like the manufacturer’s website, the car dealer can find the paint code for your vehicle.
Since most car dealers sell vehicle paints, they are more than willing to provide you with your vehicle’s paint code and the associated paint color.
It is thus recommended to contact the nearest car dealership when in doubt about the type of paint for your car to ensure you purchase the correct paint color for your vehicle.
Other Ways To Find Car Paint Color Besides The VIN
There are various ways to determine paint color without the VIN. Foremost, you can find your vehicle’s paint code location using the owner’s manual.
The owner’s manual contains important information about your vehicles, such as maintenance procedures and proper diagnostics procedures.
It can also contain the exact location of the paint code on the car. If you fail to find the paint code on your vehicle’s bodywork, check the owner’s manual to find out if this information is included.
Apart from the owner’s manual, the car paint code can be found in your vehicle’s documentation. The documentation includes the vehicle title, which recognizes you as the legal owner of the car, the vehicle registration certification provided to you by the department of motor vehicles (DMV), and insurance documents.
These legal documents contain important information about the car, including the paint code. You can review these documents to discover your vehicle’s paint code.
Additionally, you can attend car conventions where vehicle enthusiasts and experts meet. By chatting with car experts on the site and showing them a picture of your vehicle, they can help you decipher the car paint color.
Although this method has a large margin of error, it offers a fun way to discover more about your vehicle while making social connections.
In cases where the paint code is not located near the VIN in your vehicle’s bodywork, you can research your car model on the internet to discover the possible paint code locations listed by the manufacturer.
There is a high chance that you will find the exact location of the paint code on your vehicle. The most likely locations of the car paint code are the trunk and the bonnet. Look at these areas first before researching other possible paint code locations.
Decoding The Car Paint Code
Once you acquire the paint code, please take it to experts such as car dealers to decode it and recommend the exact paint color.
Although some people use the internet to decode the paint code, most websites are inaccurate and outdated, increasing room for error.
There are numerous paint colors in the market, with similar names and shades, which make it hard to match your vehicle’s original color.
Moreover, paints are constantly updated, meaning that a particular paint color might change in time to create an entirely different color.
However, certified car dealers eliminate the risk of selecting the wrong paint color. By correctly decoding the paint code, car dealers select the exact paint color of your vehicle, which allows you to maintain the aesthetic quality of your car and eliminates the legal burden associated with changing your vehicle’s color.
Take Away
Finding the exact paint code of your vehicle is essential to maintain the beauty of your vehicle. The VIN is a tool that can help you determine your vehicle’s paint code.
Although the paint code is not included in the VIN itself, there are various ways to determine the paint code using the VIN. You can contact the car dealer and provide them with the VIN, find the location of the vehicle information sticker on the vehicle’s bodywork, or contact the car’s previous owner to determine the paint code.
However, there are other ways besides VIN to discover the car paint color. These methods include looking for the paint code on the bodywork, using the owner’s manual, asking vehicle experts, researching on the internet, and using your vehicle’s documentation, such as insurance documents.
By applying these methods, you can acquire the paint code and use it to determine the exact paint color of your vehicle.
