Search and determination of car paint color by VIN-code

Sooner or later, many drivers have to paint the car body. The cause of this need may be an accident, the abrasion of the old paintwork, color fading, multiple chips and scratches.

Content:

• The principle and purpose of the VIN number
• VIN decryption
• VIN Location
• How to find out the paint color of a car by VIN-code
• Features of code search in domestic cars
• Paint code for foreign cars
• other information

Most often you need to paint only one or two parts of the vehicle, in most cases - bumpers and wings. Then you have to find out the name of the paint with which the car is covered. The easiest way is to determine the paint code by the wine code, because by eye it is almost impossible to do.

The principle and purpose of the VIN number

The vehicle identification number (vehicle), or VIN, is a unique car code consisting of 17 Arabic numerals and Latin letters, except for O, Q, I (due to the similarity of the latter with numbers). It indicates data on the main characteristics of the vehicle, its manufacturer, year of manufacture. In most cases, the wine code can be seen on the body, chassis or in other places on specially made plates (nameplates).

Thanks to VIN, you can learn important information about cars and other vehicles. This information is entered into the traffic police database, as a result of which the legality of the manufacturer is clarified during the inspection, the search for a car is excluded, etc. Even the smallest factories mark vehicles with unique codes and enter numbers in special registers. For the driver, the presence of Vin allows you to find out the paint color of the car, if necessary.

VIN decryption

Vin code is a specific cipher. It consists of three groups of indicators:

1. International Manufacturer Index (WMI). The first digit is the locality code of the country of origin, followed by 3 characters indicating the name of the manufacturer and the production department.
2. Descriptive Part (VDS). Five numbers are used to describe the car - model, body type, transmission, engine, specification.
3. Distinctive part (VIS). The remaining characters (10-17) determine the year of manufacture, vehicle serial number, and control digits.

Selection of paint according to the VIN-code of the car is carried out according to the distinguishing part of the information. The type of paint is indicated by the sign under the number 10 (Y - plain, Z - metallic), then three signs (11-13) are assigned to a unique paint code (for example 547). The last 4 digits of the control information encrypts the trim options for the car, its interior, and the features of this configuration.

Thus, you can find all the information about the paint when buying, selling, repairing a car, as well as find out if the vehicle has been repainted, whether it is a "designer". Unknown Vin number can only be on vehicles older than 30 years - before this labeling was not practiced.

VIN Location

To search for the Vin code, you must first determine where the nameplate with the identification number is located. Traditionally, car manufacturers attach it in the following places:

• trunk bottom;
• Central front on the driver's side;
• a place under the driver's or passenger seat;
• the area below the windshield (in its left corner);
• bottom of the front driver's door;
• under the hood cover.

There are other places for the location of the nameplate, which vary depending on the manufacturer.Below are the most popular manufacturers, car models and areas where you can see the VIN code:

• Volkswagen - under the spare tire, in the trunk;
• Hyundai, Ford - on the driver’s door, under the hood of the engine;
• Nissan - under the hood on the passenger side next to the windshield;
• Chevrolet - near the radiator, engine, near the windshield;
• Mazda - on racks, under the hood, on the front passenger door;
• KIA - in the doorway of the driver's door;
• Great Wall - on the frame behind the rear right or left wheel.

A clear location of the nameplate is not installed, so the manufacturer can change it as desired. Moreover, cars of the same brand assembled at different plants can also have a different VIN position.

How to find out the paint color of a car by VIN-code

In order to choose the right paint number and order it from a dealer or in a car workshop, you must first identify the location of the Vin code. The unique paint code will hide information on the ratio of pigments that are part of the enamel. For all manufacturers except Ford, the code has a numerical value (for Ford it is alphanumeric). After a thorough inspection of the car, you need to write out the signs from VIN 10-14, which will be required further.

There are several ways to find out the color by code:

1. Information on the Internet. Now there are many specialized sites that allow precise decoding of VIN. Thanks to them, you can clarify the paint code and make its selection for your car.
2. Information from the dealer. If a car is bought new or used, but at a car dealership, employees have the necessary information about the paint code. They will help to find the Vin code, if you yourself could not do it.
3. Technical certificate. You can find out the name of the shade of paint from this document, but you will have to look at the exact code directly on the car.
4. Auto repair shop. Masters in tinting and staining machines themselves find information about the type, composition and color of enamel before starting work.

Features of code search in domestic cars

Difficulties with finding a Vin code in domestic cars usually do not arise. Most models have data hidden under the hood or on the trunk lid. As in the common marking, there is information about a specific paint code, its brand. Do not be surprised if, after a search on the Internet, a paint with a strange name (for example, “Milky Way”) is found. There are catalogs of auto enamels where you can order exactly the same paintwork material.

It should be noted that AvtoVAZ additionally indicates the paint code in the so-called form No. 3347. It is located in the glove compartment or is issued to the buyer upon purchase of a new car. This greatly simplifies the selection of enamel for the vehicle.

Paint code for foreign cars

Difficulties with finding information can arise even at the stage of locating the VIN. Since there are no unified requirements for fixing a number in the world, it can be located anywhere. It’s easier for those who buy new foreign cars - all the required information will immediately be indicated in the car dealership. The car owner does not have to study the "insides" of the car himself. Those who buy used cars are often more difficult.

First you need to look for the code on the door pillar, in the engine compartment. Typically, foreign cars have large nameplates, which facilitates the search. In different models of Honda, the color can be placed on a separate plate marked “color”. If necessary, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and ask a question about the position of the Vin code, indicating the model and the year of its release.

other information

By VIN, you can find out if the car has undergone major changes, is it not a combined model, which is often used by scammers. Control information helps to do this.Dear brands do set a control figure that will help to identify the fact of a fake.

In addition, it is easy to determine the type of body, engine, wheelbase, drive, transmission using the Wincode. These data are checked when registering the machine. Thus, VIN is a “fingerprint” of the car, allowing you to identify the basic data and paint the body with the perfect result.