Some car radios equipped with an anti-theft function that works when the battery is lost. This feature usually locks the device until will be introduced right car radio code . The code is almost always specific not only to the make and model of the radio, but also to that particular device.
If your head unit’s code is not written anywhere in the owner’s manual, you will need to prepare several different pieces of information before proceeding.
Your local dealer can find the code for your car radio, but there may be easier online options.
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Some of the information you usually need includes:
- Make, model and year of the car
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) vehicle
- Brand, serial number and radio number
In order to get the make, serial number, and part number of your radio, you will usually have to remove it. If you are uncomfortable remove and install car stereo you’re better off just taking your car to your local dealer and have them reset the radio for you.
Once you have located and recorded all the necessary information, you will be ready to track down the code that unlocks your particular headunit.
At this point, you have three main options. You can contact your local dealer and speak to their service department, go directly to the website of the automaker that made your vehicle, or use free or paid online resources and databases.
The choice of launch location is up to you, but there is a good chance that one of these locations will contain the desired code.
Official OEM car radio code sources
To obtain a car radio from an original equipment manufacturer (OEM) official source, you can contact your local dealer or request a code directly from the manufacturer.
Most automakers refer you to your local dealer, but there are a few companies like Honda, Mitsubishi and Volvo that allow you to request your code online.
Once you have collected all the necessary information about your car and your radio, you can use the following table of popular car manufacturers to find your local dealer or the official online car radio code request site.
| OEM | Dealer Locator | Code request online |
|---|---|---|
| Acura | Yes | Yes |
| Audi | Yes | No |
| bmw | Yes | No |
| Chrysler | Yes | No |
| ford | Yes | No |
| GM | Yes | No |
| Honda | Yes | Yes |
| Hyundai | Yes | No |
| Jeep | Yes | No |
| Kia | Yes | No |
| Land Rover | Yes | No |
| Mercedes | Yes | No |
| Mitsubishi | Yes | Yes |
| Nissan | Yes | No |
| Subaru | Yes | No |
| Toyota | Yes | No |
| Volkswagen | Yes | No |
| Volvo | Yes | Yes |
If you decide to contact your local dealer, you will usually need to speak with the service department. You can then ask the service writer if they can find the code for your car radio.
There is a chance you can get the code over the phone, but you may need to make an appointment to actually visit dealership . You also have the option of simply taking your car directly to the dealer, where they will find out the serial number of the radio and enter a code for you.
If the manufacturer that built your vehicle offers an Internet search by code, you will usually be required to enter information such as your VIN, radio serial number, and contact information such as a phone number and email address. The code can be emailed to you for your entries.
Official device manufacturer code request
In addition to local dealers and online OEM code request services, you can also get your car radio code from the company that actually made the head unit. Some examples of head unit manufacturers that may provide car radio codes include:
| Head Unit Manufacturer | Offline customer service | Code request online |
| alpine | (800)421-2284 Ext.860304 | No |
| Becker | (201)773-0978 | Yes (email) |
| Blaupunkt / Bosch | (800)266-2528 | No |
| bugle | (800)347-8667 | No |
| Grundig | (248)813-2000 | Yes (online fax) |
Each head manufacturer has its own policy regarding car radio codes. In some cases, they can help you with any «personal» codes that the previous owner may have set, but they will refer you to the vehicle’s manufacturer for a «factory» code.
In other cases, they may need some form of proof of ownership to ensure the head unit is not stolen. Unlike car manufacturers, head unit manufacturers usually charge a lookup fee to find the car radio code.