Radio codes belong to the head unit serial number, not the car's registration or VIN. Head units get swapped between cars, which is why a reg lookup on its own cannot answer a radio code.
Serial prefixes by make: Ford V, M or C; Volkswagen VWZ; Audi AUZ; Vauxhall GM; Peugeot and Citroën C or PU; Nissan BP or PP; Toyota alongside an 86120- part number; Mercedes-Benz BE or AL; Renault and Dacia a four-character pre-code such as A123.
CODE, SAFE, SEC, LOC and ANTI-THEFT all mean the same thing: the unit is code-locked, not faulty. Nothing has failed and no part needs replacing.
Most units allow three attempts before a timed lockout. If you see WAIT or LOCKED, leave the ignition in accessory and let the countdown run rather than guessing again.
Free routes worth trying before you pay anyone: the printed code card in the handbook wallet or service book, inside the glovebox lid, on the fuse box cover, old dealer paperwork, or the supplying dealer's records.
Check the free sources first: Look for the printed code card in the handbook wallet or service book, inside the glovebox lid, on the fuse box cover and in old dealer paperwork.
Find the radio serial number: Display it on screen with the manufacturer's button sequence, read the barcode label on the radio casing, or withdraw the unit with the correct extraction keys.
Retrieve the code against the serial: Enter the manufacturer and serial number into the radio code finder. The code belongs to the head unit, so a registration or VIN alone cannot answer it.
Key the code into the radio: Switch the ignition on so the radio is powered, enter the digits with the preset buttons or rotary control, and confirm. Most units allow three attempts before a timed lockout.
Bob's charges £19.99 per code, never displays a guessed or generated code, and refunds in full if a working code cannot be retrieved.
Covered makes: Ford, Renault, Dacia, Fiat, Nissan, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroën, Honda, Toyota, Mercedes-Benz, Audi.