Your radio serial number is either shown on the screen when you hold down preset buttons, or printed on a label on the radio's casing. FreeCarRadioCodes.com uses that serial to work out the code, free in 24 hours or right away for $5.
There are two places a radio serial lives. Many radios show it on the screen if you turn the unit on and hold preset buttons 1 and 6 together for a few seconds.
Ford, Honda, and a lot of Renault and Fiat units do this. If yours doesn't, the serial is on a sticker or engraving on the radio's casing, which means sliding the unit out with release keys or removing the trim.
The label carries several numbers, so look for the one that matches the shape for your make: Ford is V or M plus six digits, Renault a letter and three digits, Volkswagen starts VWZ, and so on. The part number is usually longer, often begins with the maker's prefix, and is the same across thousands of radios, so it can't be your serial.
When you find the label, take a clear photo before you push the radio back in. You'll want it if a digit is hard to read, and we'll ask for it if a code is ever rejected.
Turn the radio on, then press and hold presets 1 and 6 together for a few seconds. The serial appears on the screen as a V or M followed by six digits. If nothing shows, the serial is printed on a label on the side or back of the radio. You'll need to pull the unit out for that one.
Ford serials are V, M, Z or A plus six digits. BP and C7 label serials work too. V048271
The precode is on a white label stuck to the side or top of the radio. Look for a short code like K307 or K205, often the last four characters of a longer number such as 281164920RTK307. Some newer units show the precode on screen when you hold 1 and 6. No label and no screen? Switch the box to VIN and type the 17 characters from your windscreen plate or V5C.
A Renault precode is a letter and three digits, like K307. The long label number ending in it works too, or switch to VIN. K307
The precode sits on a small label on the side or top of the radio, usually as the last four characters of a long part number like 281164920RTK307. On Media Nav units it's on the label behind the screen. If you can't get to the label, switch the box to VIN and type the 17 characters from the windscreen plate or your V5C. Dacia VINs start UU1.
A Dacia precode is a letter and three digits, like K307. The long label number ending in it works too, or switch to VIN. K307
Turn the ignition on and switch the radio on, so the display shows CODE. Now press and hold presets 1 and 6 together. After a few seconds the screen shows the serial, sometimes split across two screens with a U and an L part. Older radios don't do this trick, so the serial is on a label on the side of the unit or on a sticker in the glovebox.
Honda serials are five or more letters and digits, sometimes with a dash, like 3AF52M0918. 3AF52M0918
When the radio wants a code it says so and shows a 16-character ERC on the same screen, made of digits and the letters A to F. If the ERC isn't showing, press and hold the top-left corner of the screen for a few seconds, or press the Menu button and choose the software or system information page. Copy it exactly, zeros and the letter O look alike.
A Toyota ERC is exactly 16 characters, digits and the letters A to F only. 30A5C21D00000000
Jaguar radios don't show the serial on screen, so you need the label on the radio casing. Slide the unit out with a pair of release keys, or check the sticker in the boot or the glovebox on older cars. The serial starts JA followed by 12 letters and digits, or M followed by six digits on the Alpine units fitted to the X-Type and S-Type.
Jaguar serials are JA plus 12 letters and digits, or M plus six digits on Alpine units. JA8263D0574912
The serial is on the label on top of or beside the radio casing, so the unit has to come out. Look for BE followed by 12 characters, such as BE250918004576. The first four digits after BE tell us which model it is. Becker radios were fitted to Mercedes, Porsche, Ferrari and others, so the badge on the fascia may not say Becker at all.
Becker serials are BE plus 12 letters and digits from the label. A plain 6 to 12 digit number works too. BE250918004576
Mercedes radios keep the serial on a label on the casing, so the unit has to come out a little. Use a pair of release keys in the slots either side of the fascia. Alpine units like the Audio 10 and MF2910 have a serial starting AL or MF. Becker units start BE. Some cars also have the serial on a card in the service book.
Mercedes serials start AL or MF on Alpine units, or BE on Becker units, followed by 10 to 16 letters and digits. AL2199B0847362
The serial is on the sticker on the radio casing, so the radio has to come out. Fiat radios sit in a cage: two flat keys, or a thin strip of plastic, pushed into the slots either side release it. On Continental units use the line starting A2C. On Bosch units it starts 815CM, and on Blaupunkt it starts BP. Older Daiichi units have a shorter serial, letters then digits, on the same sort of sticker.
Fiat serials start A2C or A3C, BP, 815CM or 7646, or are one or two letters plus 6 to 10 digits, or just 4 to 6 digits on older units. A2C58106247
Take the radio out: two flat keys in the slots either side release most units, and RD4 radios come out once the trim is unclipped and the four screws are undone. On Philips and RD4 radios the label carries a short precode, a letter and three digits like F412, printed near the barcode. That's all we need. Blaupunkt BP, Continental A2C, Visteon C7 and Clarion CL0 units carry a longer serial instead, so type the whole line.
Peugeot precodes are a letter plus three digits, like F412. Label serials start BP, 815BP, A2C, C7, CL0, 815CM, 7647 or 7648, or are a letter plus seven digits. F412
Take the radio out: two flat keys in the slots either side release most units, and RD4 radios come out once the trim is unclipped and the four screws are undone. On Philips and RD4 radios the label carries a short precode, a letter and three digits like F412, printed near the barcode. That's all we need. Blaupunkt BP and Continental A2C units carry a longer serial instead, so type the whole line.
Citroën precodes are a letter plus three digits, like F412. Label serials start BP or A2C, or are a letter plus seven digits. BP60918274563
Many Jeep radios show the serial on screen. Turn the radio on so it says CODE, then hold preset 1, or 1 and 6 together, for a few seconds. If nothing appears, the serial is on the label on the radio casing: 14 characters starting T, like T00BE318649027. Pull the trim bezel off and undo the screws either side to slide the radio out. The first five characters tell you which family the radio is, and that decides whether the code is free.
Jeep serials are 12 to 14 characters starting with T, like T00BE318649027, or start A2C. T00BE318649027
Many Chrysler radios show the serial on screen. Turn the radio on so it says CODE, then hold preset 1, or 1 and 6 together, for a few seconds. If nothing appears, the serial is on the label on the radio casing: 14 characters starting T, like T00BE318649027. On the 300C, Voyager and PT Cruiser the bezel unclips and two screws hold the radio in. Continental units carry an A2C line instead, and that works too.
Chrysler serials are 12 to 14 characters starting with T, like T00BE318649027, or start A2C. T00BE318649027
Many Dodge radios show the serial on screen. Turn the radio on so it says CODE, then hold preset 1, or 1 and 6 together, for a few seconds. If nothing appears, the serial is on the label on the radio casing: 14 characters starting T, like TZ1AA2741M0358. On the Caliber, Journey, Nitro and Ram the bezel unclips and the screws behind it hold the radio in. The first five characters tell you which family the radio is, and that decides whether the code is free.
Dodge serials are 12 to 14 characters starting with T, like TZ1AA2741M0358, or start A2C. TZ1AA2741M0358
Every Nissan radio has a label on its casing, so the unit has to come out of the dash. Nissan Connect units have a serial starting DW or DS, usually 15 to 17 characters, and a unit number next to it that looks like 28185 3HN4C. We need both, so type the serial in the first box and the unit number in the second. Older Clarion units carry the serial on the label after PN or PP, and some show a 7-digit serial on the screen while they're locked. Daewoo-made units have a BP serial on the label.
Nissan serials are a 6 or 7 digit number from the screen, DW or DS plus 8 to 15 characters, a PN or PP number from the label, or BP plus 8 to 14 characters. 0273816
The serial is on a sticker on the radio's metal casing, so the unit has to come out of the dash. Most VW radios slide out with release keys, or a pair of flat tools pushed into the slots either side of the fascia. The sticker lists the part number and then the serial, which starts VWZ. Copy it exactly, letters included. This applies to the RCD 200, 300, 310 and 500, the RNS 310 and 510, and the older Delta, Gamma and Beta units.
Volkswagen serials start with VWZ followed by 11 or 12 letters and digits, 14 or 15 characters in total. VWZ2Z4C0472913
The serial is on a sticker on the metal casing of the radio, so the unit has to come out. SEAT radios slide out with release keys or flat tools in the slots either side. The sticker shows the part number and the serial, which starts SEZ. This covers the Aura, Alana, Liceo and Adagio units, and the SEAT-badged RCD units too. Copy the whole 14 characters, letters and all.
SEAT serials start with SEZ followed by 11 letters and digits, 14 characters in total. SEZ3Z1D0928375
Most BMW radios carry the serial on a label on the casing, so the unit has to come out. Business and Professional CD units usually have a BP serial (Blaupunkt-made) or a BE serial (Becker-made). Philips units such as the PH7850 start PH, and Alpine units start AL. A few older radios show a short 6 to 8 digit number on the screen when they ask for the code. That number is the serial, and it's the one to send.
BMW serials start with BP, BE, PH or AL followed by 8 to 16 characters, or are a 6 to 8 digit number shown on the screen. BP4471820935
Bosch built radios for Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Peugeot, Citroën, Mercedes, Ford, Nissan and plenty more, so the label looks much the same whatever badge is on the bonnet. It's on the metal casing, so the radio has to come out of the dash. Look for a serial starting 815CM, 905CM or 217CM, sometimes just CM, or A followed by a run of digits. A few units show a 6 or 7 digit number on the screen next to CODE. That number is the serial.
Bosch serials start 815CM, 905CM or 217CM followed by 4 to 15 characters, CM plus 5 to 18, A plus 9 to 13 digits, or are a 6 or 7 digit number from the screen. 815CM8402B6173059
The serial is on the label on the top or side of the radio, printed as BP followed by a run of digits. There is often a part number next to it starting 7 6; add it if you can see it, it helps with the odd unit. Volkswagen, SEAT, Skoda and Audi Blaupunkt units use VWZ, SEZ, SKZ and AUZ serials instead, which are a different service.
Blaupunkt serials start BP and run 12 to 18 characters, all on the label on the casing. BP4471820935
The serial is on a label on the radio casing, so the unit has to come out of the dash. Most Daily radios have a serial starting T0BYD, and that first 0 is a zero. Other Iveco units are Blaupunkt (BP), Bosch (815CM or CM) or Continental (A2C) made, and a few older ones carry a short 5-digit serial or a letter and three digits. Whichever it is, copy the whole line exactly as printed.
Iveco serials start T0BYD followed by 7 to 11 characters, or BP, 815CM, A2C or CM plus more characters, or are a 5-digit number or a letter and three digits. T0BYD004728159
Most commonly presets 1 and 6 held together with the radio switched on. Some units use 2 and 6, or 1 and 4. If nothing appears after ten seconds, try the other pairs, then check the label instead.
The serial is the one that matches the format for your make. Ford is V or M and six digits. Renault is a letter and three digits. VW starts VWZ. The part number is longer, shared with other radios, and often printed next to a barcode.
Only if the serial isn't on the screen. Most Ford and Honda radios show it with a button hold. Nissan, Volkswagen and SEAT usually need the label, which means pulling the unit out.
Photograph it in good light and zoom in. Zero and the letter O, one and I, and eight and B are the usual mix-ups. If you're still unsure, send us the photo and we'll read it with you.
Only for Renault and Dacia. For those we can look up the radio from the 17-character VIN. Every other make needs the serial from the radio itself.