On a Chevrolet, GMC, Buick or Cadillac, the paint code is on the Service Parts Identification label, usually inside the glove box. Find the line that starts BC/CC: the code after the U is the body color. Paint suppliers write it with WA in front, as in WA8624, and newer labels may also show a three-letter code such as GAZ. Both of those are Summit White. Genuine OEM Painted Parts in Eaton, Colorado paints parts to that code.
Updated October 2026. The label’s position changes by model and year, so if it is not where this guide says, work through the other spots below or ask a dealer for a VIN lookup.
Where is the paint code on a Chevy or GM vehicle?
General Motors prints the paint code on a sticker called the Service Parts Identification label, often shortened to SPID label. It lists every factory option your vehicle was built with, and the paint code is one line on it. Older labels are white paper; newer ones are silver.
| Look here first | Where it usually is |
|---|---|
| Glove box | Most GM trucks and SUVs, including the Silverado, Colorado, Sierra, Tahoe, Suburban and Yukon, plus many cars and crossovers such as the Equinox. |
| Trunk and spare tire area | Many older sedans and coupes: under the trunk lid, on the spare tire cover, or in the spare tire well under the trunk carpet. |
| Center console | Some sports cars, the Camaro and Corvette among them, at the rear of the center console. |
| Driver’s door jamb | Some models put the label on the driver’s door jamb instead. |
If you check all four and still cannot find it, skip to what to do when the label is missing.
How do you read a GM paint code?
Look for the line that starts BC/CC. It stands for base coat, clear coat, the two-layer paint finish. What follows it tells you the color:
- U marks the upper color, which on a single-color vehicle is simply the body color.
- L marks the lower color, and only appears on two-tone vehicles, where the lower body or bumper is a different shade.
- The four characters after the U or L are the paint code. Touch-up suppliers and paint mixers write it with WA in front, so U8555 on the label becomes WA8555 on a paint chart. Some codes include a letter, such as WA401E.
Newer labels may also carry a three-letter color code next to the WA number. The two are the same color under different names, as these examples show:
| Color | Three-letter code | WA number |
|---|---|---|
| Summit White | GAZ | WA8624 |
| Black | GBA | WA8555 |
The rest of the label is a list of option codes for things like the engine, axle and trim. Ignore them for paint.
What about a two-tone GM truck?
A two-tone Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe or Yukon has both a U code and an L code on the label. The U code covers the main body and the L code covers the lower section. When you order a painted part, send the VIN and both codes, and we check with GM which of the two that part takes before it is painted.
What if the GM paint code label is missing?
Labels fade, peel and get lost when a glove box is replaced. You still have two easy routes:
- A dealer lookup. Your VIN does not contain the paint code itself, but it identifies your vehicle in GM’s build records, and any Chevrolet, GMC, Buick or Cadillac parts counter can read the code from it, usually in a minute or two.
- Send us your VIN. Order with your VIN and the general color, and we confirm the exact factory code with the manufacturer before anything is sprayed.
Order by the code, not the color name. GM has sold many shades of white, silver and gray, and two of them with similar names can be different formulas.
Painted Chevrolet, GMC, Buick and Cadillac parts
We carry 167 painted parts for Chevrolet, 91 for GMC, 97 for Cadillac and 44 for Buick, all brand new and painted to the code on your label. Browse painted Chevrolet parts, painted GMC parts, painted Cadillac parts or painted Buick parts, or go straight to painted tailgates for a Silverado or Sierra. For the other makes we paint, our guide to finding your paint code by VIN covers where each manufacturer puts its label.
GM paint code questions
Can I find my GM paint code from the VIN?
Not by reading the VIN yourself, because the 17 characters do not include the color. The VIN points to your vehicle’s build record, and the build record has the paint code, so a GM dealer or a supplier like us can look it up from the VIN.
Is the WA number the same as the paint code?
Yes. WA is the prefix paint suppliers put in front of the four characters that follow the U or L on the label, so U8624 and WA8624 are the same Summit White.
What does BC/CC mean on a GM label?
Base coat, clear coat. It marks the line that carries your paint code, with U for the upper or body color and L for the lower color on two-tone vehicles.
Where is the paint code on a Chevy Silverado?
On most Silverados it is on the Service Parts Identification label in the glove box. If it is not there, check the driver’s door jamb, or give a dealer your VIN.
Can I order a painted part if my car has been repainted?
A part painted to the factory code will only match if your car still wears its factory color. If it has been resprayed in another color, send us a part inquiry first and we will talk through the options before you order.