Firstly, lets dispel a common myth here, and I say this on behalf of every Garage, Motor Trader, Car Audio Shop and back street Mechanic. If the battery has to be disconnected from a car to work on it, and the stereo asks for the security code to be entered when it is reconnected, it is the sole responsibility of the owner of the vehicle to provide the code - and shouting at the guy repairing your car is a really dumb thing to do, as he may not then help you to recover or enter it, should it appear.
Also, bear in mind that whoever is working on your car is being paid by the hour by yourself, and like many others, we too certainly impose an extra hourly charge for rummaging through a mountain of paperwork and service history in the glove box if we are simply told that the number is probably in there somewhere, and often whilst searching for the correct code passport, we will be presented with numerous scraps of paper, out of date receipts and many other items with numbers randomly scribbled on them.
But think about it, the code number as supplied by the Manufacturers and Dealers was never going to be a scribble on a fag packet, and random numbers on the back of a receipt could be absolutely anything. But also be aware that trial and error can cost you dearly in most cases, as you only have a limited number of code entry attempts.
So what exactly are you looking for? What does a radio code look like?
Although not an exhaustive list, shown below are some of the Code Cards that are supplied by the manufacturer, and this is what you are looking for. If you don`t have something that looks like this, don`t start guessing and entering any numbers you find - as too many wrong attempts can permanently kill some stereos!
But if all else fails, and you really do not have or know your code number, it is not the end of the world, after all, that is what we are here for !!
Have a look at the DECODE section of our website and the instructions will be there for the recovery of your Code Number.
Alfa Romeo - Code Card ICS
The Alfa Romeo ICS was a very complex and expensive system and comprised of an in dash display and optional navigation computer. We have decoded countless numbers of these over the years, but this Code Card puzzles me, as the serial number format is one that I simply do not recognize and I do not know where these numbers originate from.
Becker - Code Card
Becker gave us a serial number to check, before we entered the Code Number shown on the card, and was one of the few companies telling us to put this card somewhere safe as those kept in the service book (in the glove box) were often stolen at the same time as the radios.
Blaupunkt - Audio System Passport
Full marks go to Blaupunkt for this Radio Passport that accompanied most of their Italian OEM stereo`s. The information was printed on it from the factory and shows where the numbers can be found on the side of the stereo to ensure that it is the correct passport for the stereo concerned.
Blaupunkt - Keycard 1
This first generation Keycard has a small microchip on it that stores your code number and your favorite radio stations. The radio will not function when it is removed. Duplicate cards can be obtained via our online shop.
Blaupunkt - Active Keycard
This Keycard is very similar to a credit card and has a small microchip on it that stores your code
number and your favourite radio stations. Duplicate cards can be obtained via our online shop.
Blaupunkt - Active Keycard
This Keycard is very similar to a credit card and has a small microchip on it that stores your code
number and your favourite radio stations. Duplicate cards can be obtained via our online shop.
Blaupunkt - MMC Keycard
Smaller Keycard as used by some of the later Multimedia Head Units.
(Although they may look like standard Memory cards, they aren`t !!)
Blaupunkt - Travel Pilot Card
Full marks go to Blaupunkt for this TravelPilot Card that accompanied most of their aftermarket Navigation range. The information was printed on it from the factory and shows where the numbers can be found on the side of the stereo to ensure that it is the correct documentation for the stereo concerned.
Bosch
Audio / Navigation System Passport
Top marks go to Bosch for this Radio Passport that accompanied most of their Italian OEM stereo`s. The information was printed on it from the factory and also shows how to differentiate between the numbers on the label.
Chrysler - Audio System Passport
 |
This Chrysler Audio System passport was of little use. If you look in the middle, it has a space for a sticker containing the radio information.
It was a shame that nobody ever placed the sticker there with the code number though, and most of these are indeed blank. |
Fiat - CODE
This Fiat Code card has spaces for a series of code numbers on both the front and the back. What puzzled me though was the Manufacturer printed information on the back for an ICS Code number, as the ICS system was never fitted to Fiat - Only Alfa Romeo. Whilst part of the Fiat Group, I would have expected this information to be displayed on an Alfa Romeo card instead.
Ford - Keycode Card
The Ford Solution was to give a small booklet with printed radio details. This worked well, although many people did not fill out the detachable card with any duplicate details. So there are lots of blank cards floating around with the printed one always being lost first!
Ford - Keycode
Later years would see the Ford booklet reduced to a single card, but again, it relied on somebody to fill out the code number. Not exactly sure where they were supposed to locate it though.
Grundig - Audio System Passport
Full marks go to Grundig for this Radio Passport that accompanied most of their Italian OEM stereo`s. The information was printed on it from the factory and shows where the numbers can be found on the side of the stereo to ensure that it is the correct passport for the stereo concerned.
Grundig - Challenge Series
This Grundig Radio card for the Challenge series is made from thin blue plastic and will have a sticker on it with the radio details. Check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
Grundig - Documento Italiano D`Identita
 |
This Grundig identity document from Italy had a space for a copy of the sticker from the side of the radio to be placed, so that the full set of numbers could be seen.
Nobody ever filled out the rest of the blank spaces though with anything useful, like the code number and most of these were indeed left blank. |
 |
Not only was this document the shape and size of a postcard, but it even had Grundig`s address on the back so you could post it off to them.
Personally, I would have kept the important radio information somewhere a little more accessible and a bit more closer to home. |
Honda - Anti Theft Radio ID Card
This Honda Radio Identification card contained the Code number and the serial number, but does not differentiate between the two. To avoid any further confusion, the Radio Code is the 5 digit number.
Honda - Anti Theft Radio ID Card
This Honda Radio Identification card also contained the Code number and the serial number, but it was easier to differentiate between the two as the longer serial number was a little more obvious.
Interconti - Radio Passport
This Radio passport did not have any Radio details printed on it, yet was intended to give the Police an accurate description of your stereo equipment, and even had a space on the back for your name and address. Problem was, they were generally blank as nobody could be bothered to fill them in !
Jaguar - Security Radio Code
 |
The Jaguar Code Card showed a serial number instead of a model number, but was virtually impossible to confirm without stripping the dashboard down to look at the label on the radio. A model number would have at least been quicker to verify.
|
Kenwood - Car Audio Passport
This Car Audio Passport from Kenwood was issued for entry level model radios that did not actually have a Code. It was intended as a proof of ownership should you wish to obtain a replacement front panel if yours had been stolen. Trouble was, the price of a new panel from Kenwood was twice the price of a complete brand new stereo of the same model from a shop.
Land Rover - Security Radio Code
 |
The Land Rover Code Card was generally left blank as nobody ever filled out the details.
|
Mazda - Active Keycard (Blaupunkt)
This Blaupunkt Keycard is very similar to a credit card and has a small microchip on it that stores your code number and your favourite radio stations. Duplicate cards can be obtained via our online shop.
Mercedes Benz - Radio Code Card
The Mercedes Radio Code Card does not show a Model number on it, but it is not uncommon for some of the serial numbers to be able to identify the radio it belongs to. This card, for instance, belongs to an Alpine Model MF2910
Nissan - RADIOPASS
This Nissan Radiopass had a model number to check, and a serial number to check, along with a Code Number to use. But what I could never understand from this Japanese Company, is why the languages shown on the card, never included their own?
Opel - Radio Pass
 |
This Opel Radio passport is made from thin yellow card and will have a sticker on it with the radio details. Check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
|
Peugeot - Radio Passport
 |
This Peugeot Radio passport causes a fair bit of confusion, as it contains no useful information, and more importantly, No Code number!
It is purely a record of model
number and serial number. The idea was that you could pass this card to the Police so that they would have a description of your stereo if it got stolen, but my guess is that if you have one of these basic fit stereo`s, you would struggle to give it away, let alone get it nicked!
|
Peugeot - Radio Code Card
 |
Far more usefull was this Peugeot one.
This Peugeot Radio Code passport is made from white card and will have a sticker on it with the radio details. Check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
|
Philips Car Systems - Security Card
 |
The Philips Security Card only showed a serial number instead of a model number, but was virtually impossible to confirm what stereo it belonged to without stripping the dashboard down to look at the label on the radio. But strangely, it did not contain any Code information !!
|
Porsche - Anti Theft Radio Program
The Porsche Code Card showed a serial number instead of a model number, but was virtually impossible to confirm without stripping the dashboard down to look at the label on the radio. A model number would have at least been quicker to verify quickly.
Porsche - Code Card PCM
The Porsche PCM was a very complex and expensive system and comprised of an in dash display and optional navigation computer. We have decoded countless numbers of these over the years, but this Code Card puzzles me, as the serial number format is one that I simply do not recognize and I do not know where these numbers originate from.
Rover - Security Code
Clever idea by Rover was to include code entry details on the back of the card.
Shame nobody ever filled out the front of the card with the code number though !
Seat - Owner`s Manual
Seat`s answer was to fill in the corner of your Radio Owners Manual, and then cut out the code section and keep it somewhere safe. It was fairly obvious from the start that not many would go down this route, and many handbooks still remain intact.
Skoda Auto - Radio Karte
 |
This Skoda Radio card for the Skoda Melody radio is made from thin white card and will have a sticker on it with the radio details. Check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
|
Smart - Radio Identity Card
This Grundig Radio Identity Card for the SMART has the radio details clearly printed. Check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
Vauxhall - Car Pass
As well as the audio systems being coded, most Vauxhall vehicles also have a security code that is required to access any diagnostics of the car itself. The Car Pass is like a Birth Certificate of the numbers the vehicle came down the production line with, and if you have ever needed a new key, or a diagnostic session with a Tech2 programmer, then your vehicle code will be required for access. Copies of the Car Pass are still available from the Main Dealers for a modest fee.
Vauxhall - Radio Passport
 |
This Vauxhall Radio passport is made from thin red plastic and will have a sticker on it with the radio details. As Vauxhall radio`s seem to be swapped over all the time on the garage forecourts, its worth checking to see how many of these are in the glovebox and also to check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
|
Volkswagen - Radio Card
 |
This Volkswagen Radio card for the VW GAMMA radio is made from thin white card and will have a sticker on it with the radio details. Check that the model number and serial number shown on the sticker are the same as your radio before you attempt to enter any codes.
|
