Start with the paint information for your exact Audi, rather than a similar-looking colour online. A code identifies the original finish; a dry test tells you how the chosen paint system looks beside the panel you are repairing.
Use the correct Audi owner information
Audi provides online owner manuals for models from model year 2008 onwards, searchable by VIN or model details. Use the vehicle-specific manual and search for paint, vehicle data or colour information. For older cars or missing records, ask an Audi Centre to confirm the factory paint reference.
If you have a vehicle-data label or service record, photograph the complete information as well as the apparent paint field. Label locations and layouts vary by model and year, so do not assume one location applies to every A3, A4, A6, TT or Q model.
Separate the paint reference from other codes
Vehicle information may show equipment, interior trim, engine and transmission references alongside the VIN. A paint name, sales colour or a code taken out of context is not enough to verify a formula.
| Information available | Useful next step |
|---|---|
| A clear manufacturer paint reference | Send the full code, vehicle details and any colour name. |
| A photographed label with several codes | Send the whole image so we can see which field it is. |
| Only a name from an advert | Confirm it through owner information or a manufacturer record. |
| A previously repaired panel | Explain the history and test against that panel before application. |
What registration matching does
Our registration ordering page helps identify the vehicle; our team identifies the paint afterwards. A generic colour returned by a vehicle check is not a factory paint code. Give us any known code and information about colour changes or resprays.
Two-tone parts, alloy wheels and trim may have different references. Explain exactly which surface you are repairing rather than assuming the main body colour applies.
Check metallic and pearl effects properly
Mix as instructed and make a separate test with the coating stages required for your product. Let it dry before comparing it beside the car in daylight, both straight on and at an angle. Wet paint and screen images are unreliable comparisons.
For a small chip, a fine-tip pen or a brush bottle can improve appearance while remaining visible at close range. For a larger repair, a colour aerosol and lacquer pack needs proper preparation and a plan for the blend. Ask before ordering matt, satin or three-stage finishes.
If the information is missing or the test is wrong
Do not guess from the nearest swatch or continue painting to see whether it improves. Send our team the order number if applicable, model and year, known reference, any label photograph and pictures of the dry test beside the panel. A photograph can help diagnose a problem, but cannot establish an exact paint formula on its own.
Browse Audi paint colours by reference
With the reference confirmed, browse our Audi paint colours, open the relevant colour and compare the available paint formats. Copy the whole code rather than shortening it to fit an example from another car.
Check the original colour with Volkswagen Group information
TPS is part of Volkswagen Group UK and provides a paint-code lookup for Volkswagen Group UK vehicles. Treat its result as a guide to the original body colour and check the supplied paint before applying it. For a conflicting reference, missing record or previously repainted part, ask an Audi Centre or our paint team before choosing a formula.
A useful enquiry includes your model and year, the complete paint reference, a clear label photograph and the part you intend to repair. A separate body, wheel or trim colour needs its own reference.
Products for this job
- Fine-tip touch-up pen — a small, precise repair after the colour is checked.
- Colour-matched touch-up bottle — suitable local brush repairs.
- Colour aerosol and clear lacquer — basecoat colour with clear lacquer for suitable spray repairs.
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
Does every Audi have the code in the same place?
No. Use the manual for the exact model and year or ask an Audi Centre. Do not assume another owner’s label layout applies.
Is the paint code the same as the VIN?
No. The VIN identifies the vehicle. Manufacturer records may use it to find the original paint reference.
Can a photo alone identify my Audi colour?
Lighting, camera processing and screens alter colour. Provide a manufacturer reference or vehicle information and make a dry test.
Related guides
Sources and further reading
Updated 9 November 2026. Follow the instructions supplied with each product; coating systems and drying conditions vary.
