Ford Paint Codes: How to Find and Check Your Colour
Before buying Ford touch-up paint, confirm the colour reference and the part you are repairing. A Fiesta, Focus or Transit may have had a replacement panel or previous paintwork, so a model name and a broad colour are not enough.
Find the reference for your Ford
Start with the handbook for the exact model, year and market. Search for “paint code” or “vehicle identification plate”, and check the label location shown there. Ford label layouts vary; do not assume every Ford has the same code format or label position.
Photograph the whole label as well as the relevant field. If the paint information is missing or unclear, a Ford dealer can help confirm the factory colour from the vehicle details. Do not copy a tyre, trim, transmission or VIN field just because it is close to the colour information.
Why paint-code lists can be confusing
Short label codes, manufacturer paint references, mixing-system references and a touch-up product’s part number are not necessarily interchangeable. The same colour name may also appear in different catalogues or markets.
| You have… | What to send |
|---|---|
| A label on the vehicle | The exact colour field plus a clear photograph of the complete label. |
| An old paint bottle or invoice | The complete reference, colour name and who supplied it. |
| Only a name, such as a white or grey finish | The vehicle details and any supporting manufacturer information. |
| A replacement or resprayed panel | The original code, if known, and the history of the panel being repaired. |
This is why a short general list should not be used as proof that a reference matches your individual car. Confirm first, then use the list or catalogue to locate the product.
Ordering by registration
Use our vehicle registration ordering page if you do not have a confirmed code. The check identifies vehicle details; our team identifies the paint afterwards. Include a known code and tell us if you need a different colour from the original body paint.
For wheels, do not assume the body-paint reference applies. Ford’s support guidance directs wheel-colour enquiries to a dealership.
Test before touching the vehicle
- Check the vehicle information and colour reference on the order.
- Mix the paint properly and apply the required system to a separate test piece.
- Let the sample dry and compare next to the panel in daylight. Metallic and pearl effects need checking from different angles.
- If the result is wrong, stop. Send the paint label, order number and sample photographs to our team before applying more.
Choose the right pack for the damage
Use the fine-tip pen for a suitable small chip or narrow line, or the brush bottle for a slightly broader spot. The bottle pack with primer and compound contains those three named items; it has no separate clear lacquer.
For a suitable spray repair, the aerosol full kit includes colour basecoat, primer and lacquer. Check the primer is appropriate for the exposed material. Browse Ford paint options and compare pack contents after confirming your colour.
Products for this job
- Fine-tip touch-up pen — small, precise applications.
- Bottle, primer and finishing compound — brush paint, primer and compound where those products suit the repair.
- Colour aerosol, lacquer and primer — a prepared basecoat spray repair with the named primer and clear lacquer.
Choose the products that suit the damage and coating system. Pack contents vary; compare the current paint packs before ordering.
Find my car paintAsk about my repairCommon questions
Is a Ford paint code always two characters?
No single format should be assumed across every model, year and market. Follow the exact handbook and copy the reference shown.
Can a registration confirm the current colour of a resprayed panel?
A factory record does not establish what a later repairer sprayed on a panel. Tell us about previous work and test before application.
Does the same colour name guarantee the same paint?
No. A verified reference and a dry sample check are more useful than the name alone.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
Updated 8 November 2026. Follow the instructions supplied with each product; coating systems and drying conditions vary.
