Where to Find Your Audi Paint Color Code

You can usually find your Audi paint color code on a sticker or label in the car’s trunk area (spare-wheel well or side panels), in the service booklet, or sometimes in the driver-side door jamb; if it’s missing, a dealer can look it up using your VIN. This code is essential for ordering exact-match paint for repairs or touch-ups, and Audi typically prints it alongside other vehicle data on an identification label.

Why the Audi Paint Code Matters

The paint color code on an Audi is more than a color name: it’s a precise formula used by body shops and paint suppliers to recreate your exact shade. The same color name (like “Brilliant Black” or “Daytona Grey”) can have variations across years and models, so relying only on the name can lead to a visible mismatch. The alphanumeric paint code ensures that repainting or touch-up work blends seamlessly with the factory finish.

Main Places to Find the Audi Paint Color Code

Audi typically places a vehicle data sticker in a few standard locations. This sticker includes important information such as the VIN, engine code, and paint code. For most modern Audi models, there are three primary places to look.

1. Trunk Area: Spare-Wheel Well or Side Trim

For many Audis, the most reliable place to find the paint code is in the trunk. The code is printed on the “vehicle data sticker,” sometimes called the “option sticker” or “PR code sticker.”

The following list outlines how to check the trunk area thoroughly for the paint code sticker.

• Spare-wheel well (under the trunk floor): Lift the trunk floor panel to access the spare wheel or tire-repair kit. Look for a white or light-colored rectangular sticker with multiple lines of text and codes.
• Left or right trunk side panel: On some models, the sticker may be attached to the inner side of the trunk area, often near the tail light cluster or behind a removable trim panel.
• Sticker appearance: The label usually includes the VIN at the top and several groups of three-character PR (option) codes. The paint code appears in a short alphanumeric format (for example: LZ7H, LY9B, ).
• Common format: Audi paint codes often begin with the letter “L” followed by three characters. Sometimes a separate text line may also show a color name next to or below the code.
• Lighting and cleanliness: The sticker can be dusty or partially obscured; use a flashlight and gently wipe the area if it’s dirty to read the code clearly.

If you locate this trunk sticker, it is usually the most direct and authoritative source of your Audi’s correct paint code, as it was installed at the factory when the car was built.

2. Service or Maintenance Booklet

A duplicate of the factory sticker is often placed in the documentation supplied with the vehicle at purchase. This is particularly helpful if the trunk sticker has been removed, damaged, or is hard to access.

The following list explains how to use your service documents to find the paint code.

• Check the owner’s wallet or folder: Look in the leather or fabric wallet that holds the owner’s manual and service booklet; there is often a sticker inside the cover or on one of the first pages.
• Service book first pages: Many Audis have the vehicle data sticker printed or glued on the inside front cover or first page of the service/maintenance booklet.
• Identify the paint code line: As with the trunk sticker, the paint code appears as something like LY9B, LZ5C, or similar, sometimes with the color name (e.g., “Brilliant Black” or “Ibis White”) printed alongside it.
• Use this for parts ordering: You can photograph this page and show it to a paint supplier or body shop so they can mix the correct formula.
• Original vs. replacement booklets: If the car’s documentation has been replaced or is incomplete, this sticker may be missing, in which case you’ll need to rely on other methods.

When available, the sticker in the service booklet is as valid as the one in the trunk and is often cleaner and easier to read, making it a convenient source for your paint code.

3. Door Jamb or B-Pillar Labels (Some Models and Markets)

On certain Audi models and in some regions, an additional label in the door area can provide paint information. However, this is less consistent than the trunk or booklet sticker and sometimes lists only part of the information.

The following list details what to look for on the door-area labels.

• Driver-side door jamb: Open the driver’s door and inspect the vertical pillar (B-pillar) and the metal area near the hinges for stickers indicating build date, tire pressures and other technical data.
• Paint code presence: Some labels include the paint code, though not all; if present, it may appear near the bottom or as a separate line.
• Abbreviated information: In some cases, the door label only shows a color name or partial code, not the full Audi-standard paint code format.
• Cross-checking: If you find a code here, it’s best to cross-check it with the trunk sticker or documentation for confirmation before ordering paint.
• Regional variations: The presence and detail level of these labels can vary by country, production year and model range.

This door-area label is a useful backup source but should be confirmed against the main vehicle data sticker or with an Audi dealer whenever possible.

When Stickers Are Missing: Using the VIN and a Dealer

If you cannot locate a paint code anywhere on the car or in the documentation, Audi dealers and some specialized body shops can retrieve the information through official systems using your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

The following list explains how to use professional help to obtain your paint code.

• Contact an official Audi dealer: Call or visit the service department of an authorized Audi dealership and provide your VIN (found on the dashboard near the windshield, in the door jamb, or on your registration documents).
• Dealer database lookup: Dealers can access Audi’s internal systems, which associate each VIN with factory build data, including the original exterior paint code.
• Proof of ownership: Be prepared to show ID and vehicle documents; some dealers require this before releasing detailed vehicle information.
• Request a printout or email: Ask the dealer to give you the exact paint code and the marketing name of the color, so you can take it to any trusted body shop or paint supplier.
• Independent specialists: Some high-end body shops with manufacturer-linked systems can also decode the paint from the VIN, especially for recent models.

Working through a dealer or a specialist ensures that even if labels are damaged or missing, you can still obtain the precise factory paint code tied to your individual vehicle.

How to Recognize the Audi Paint Code on the Sticker

Once you have located the vehicle data sticker, you still need to identify which of the many codes is your paint code. Audi uses a specific pattern for paint codes, and understanding that pattern helps avoid confusion with engine or option codes.

The following list provides practical tips for reading and confirming the correct paint code.

• Look for codes starting with “L”: Audi paint codes commonly begin with the letter “L” followed by three characters, such as LY9B, LZ7H, LZ5C or LX7Z.
• Check for nearby color names: Sometimes the sticker prints the color name next to or near the code, for example “LY9B – Brilliant Black” or “LZ7H – Daytona Grey.”
• Avoid confusing PR codes: The sticker also lists many three-character PR codes (combinations of letters and numbers) representing options; these are not paint codes. The paint code is typically longer (four characters) and prefixed with “L.”
• Multiple paint-related entries: In a few cases, there may be a main body color code and a different code for contrasting trim or roof; the primary exterior color is usually the one referenced first or listed next to the color name.
• Cross-check online: Once you have a candidate code, you can verify it by checking it with an online Audi paint database, reputable paint supplier sites or by confirming it with a dealer.

By focusing on codes beginning with “L” and verifying against known Audi color names or dealer data, you can be confident that you have identified the correct paint code for your vehicle.

What to Do Once You Have the Paint Code

Knowing your Audi paint code allows you to source factory-accurate paint for anything from small stone-chip repairs to full panel resprays. How you use that code depends on the scale and quality of the repair you’re planning.

The following list outlines practical next steps after you’ve located the correct paint code.

• Buy manufacturer-spec touch-up products: Use the code to order touch-up pens, small bottles or aerosol cans, either from an Audi dealer or reputable aftermarket suppliers that mix paint to OEM formulas.
• Provide the code to your body shop: When booking bodywork or repainting, give the shop the code in writing; professional painters use it to mix the exact formula and then fine-tune the match on the car.
• Confirm clearcoat requirements: Most modern Audi finishes are basecoat/clearcoat systems. Ask for both the correct color base and compatible clearcoat for best durability and gloss.
• Beware of aging and fade: Even with the correct code, older paint may have faded slightly. Professional shops often “blend” into adjacent panels to disguise any microscopic differences.
• Keep a record: Store a photo of the sticker and write the paint code in your maintenance records; this saves time for future repairs or when selling the car.

Using the paint code correctly ensures that any repair or cosmetic improvement maintains the factory appearance of your Audi and avoids the telltale signs of mismatched paint.

Key Takeaways and Summary

To find your Audi paint color code, start by checking the vehicle data sticker in the trunk (spare-wheel well or side panels) and the identical sticker often found in the service booklet. On some models, an additional label in the driver-side door jamb can also contain paint information, though it is less consistent. The code usually appears as a four-character sequence beginning with “L,” such as LY9B or LZ7H, sometimes printed alongside the color name. If all physical labels are missing or unreadable, an Audi dealer or qualified specialist can retrieve the original factory paint code using your VIN. Once you have the code, you can order accurate touch-up products or supply it to a body shop to ensure that any repair work matches your Audi’s original finish as closely as possible.