How radio code recovery works

Getting a radio code back is simple once you know the radio's serial number. Here is exactly what happens when you use our service, and what other options you have.

1. Step 1: Find the radio serial number

   The serial is usually printed on a label on the radio casing. Some radios let you display it on screen. See how to find your radio serial number.

2. Step 2: Fill in the request form

   Choose your brand, enter the serial exactly as shown, and add the email where you want the code sent. If you know the model or radio type, add it to help our team.

3. Step 3: Accept the terms and confirm ownership

   Both boxes are required. You confirm you own the vehicle and radio, or have the owner's permission.

4. Step 4: Our team processes your request

   A member of our team works on every request in our system. For some brands the code is found quickly. For others, including Volkswagen group cars and Vauxhall models that use a Car Pass, our team has to retrieve the code, so it can take longer. Timing may vary.

5. Step 5: You get an email with your code

   We send the code to the address you gave. Check your spam folder if you do not see it.

6. Step 6: Enter the code

   Read how to enter your radio code first. Too many wrong tries can lock the radio for a while.

Why a person handles every request

Radio codes are a security feature, so we do not run them through an automatic generator. A real person looks at each request, checks the brand and serial make sense together, and retrieves the code from the right source. It also means we can spot a mistyped serial and ask you to check it, rather than sending a code that will not work.

It is also why we never promise a fixed time. Most of the wait depends on the brand. Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda and Seat radios, and Vauxhall or Opel radios tied to a Car Pass, cannot be worked out from the serial alone, so those requests take as long as the retrieval takes.

Other ways to get your code

Your paperwork

Check the owner's manual pack, service book and glovebox for a code card or sticker. Some previous owners also wrote the code inside the handbook cover.

Your dealer

A franchised dealer can often look up the code. Expect to show proof of ownership such as the V5C logbook and ID. Some charge a fee.

The car maker

Some makers offer an official lookup or app. For example, Renault mentions the My Renault app and Honda in the US has an official online lookup. Details change, so check the maker's own site.

What we will not do

We do not help anyone get into a radio they do not own, and we do not offer tools or software for getting round radio security. Requests that look like misuse are refused.

Frequently asked questions