When it comes to touch-ups or custom spray jobs, getting the colour right matters. Matching by eye alone often leads to disappointment. The most accurate way to find your vehicle’s exact colour? Use its factory colour code.
Here’s how to locate your colour code and what to do with it.
What Is a Vehicle Colour Code?
Every vehicle comes with a manufacturer-issued paint code—usually a short string of letters and/or numbers that identifies the exact colour used at the factory. This code allows paint suppliers like Autohome to match your original finish as closely as possible, even accounting for subtle differences between model years or trim levels.
Where to Find It
Your paint code is typically printed on a label somewhere in your vehicle. Common locations include:
- Driver’s side door jamb (on the door or near the latch)
- Under the hood (on the radiator support or firewall)
- In the glove box or inside the fuel door
- Owner’s manual (sometimes listed with other VIN-related data)
The code may be labelled as “Paint,” “Paint Code,” “PNT,” or just appear as a string alongside other manufacturing data.
Pro Tip: The code often doesn’t include the name of the colour—just the code. So “NH-731P” might be called “Crystal Black Pearl,” but the code is what we need to match it perfectly.
Can’t Find the Code?
No worries—Autohome can still help. If you can’t locate the label or it’s been removed, we can visually match the paint using colour decks or specialized tools. For best results, bring in your vehicle or a part of the vehicle that’s in good condition (like a gas door or mirror cap).
Why Not Just Use the Colour Name?
Automotive paint names can be misleading—one manufacturer’s “Silver” may differ from another’s, and even within the same model year, different trim packages might use different versions of the same colour family. That’s why the code is key—it cuts out the guesswork.
Match It, Mix It, Spray It
Once you have the code, Autohome can mix your paint for touch-up bottles, aerosol spray cans, or larger quantities for full panels. We use high-quality automotive coatings that are VOC-compliant and designed for Canadian conditions.
Bring Us the Code—we’ll Handle the Rest
Still not sure where to start? Just pop in with your paint code (or your car!) and we’ll help you match, mix, and choose the right tools to get the job done right. At Autohome, we make it easy to bring your finish back to factory-fresh.
Need Some Help With Your Project?
Have questions or looking for some advice? Our team is ready to help answer your questions today.
