Philips Car Radio Code from Serial

About Philips radio codes

Philips made radios for many car makers in the 1980s and 1990s, including Rover, Vauxhall, Renault, Volvo, Ford, Peugeot, Honda, Subaru and Fiat. The first letters of the 14-character serial show which: AR or RG for Rover, RN for Renault, VO for Volvo, and so on. Philips also sold radios under its own name, with serials starting PH.

How to find your Philips radio serial number

The serial isn’t shown on the screen: it is printed on a label on the radio itself. The serial tells us exactly which code your radio needs.

Where it is

On the label

It is not shown on screen, so take the radio out.
Copy the serial from the label: 14 letters and numbers starting PH.
Starts PHAP or PHAC? That is a Peugeot or Citroën radio, and the free check will spot it.

Photograph the label rather than copying it by hand — 0 and O, 1 and I are easy to mix up.

Most radios slide out with a pair of radio removal keys (a few pounds from any car parts shop). Push them into the slots on the front until they click, then ease the radio forward. Some have screws to undo first.

What your serial looks like

PH123AB1234567 Philips own-brand14 letters and numbers starting PH Instant
AR570WX8146086 Rover / MG / Mini Philips14 letters and numbers starting AR or RG Instant
GM0205Y9019162 Vauxhall CDR500 / CDR200514 letters and numbers starting GM Instant
RN279FY1234567 Renault Philips (1989–1997)14 letters and numbers starting RN Instant
VO652FA9008799 Volvo VC-series (Philips)14 letters and numbers starting VO Instant
FO667SL0457930 Ford Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting FO Instant
PHAPEFW9022278 Peugeot / Citroën Philips 22RC46514 letters and numbers starting PHAP Instant
HO681AA9170550 Honda Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting HO Instant
SU685AX9012989 Subaru Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting SU Instant
FIF001P8000678 Fiat Philips14 letters and numbers starting FIF Instant
NI667SM0474796 Philips (other)14 letters and numbers Instant

Can’t find it or can’t read it? Send us a photo of the label: £9.99, with a full refund if we can’t find your code.

The radio has to come out to read its label. How to remove a car radio shows which release keys you need and where they go.

Which Philips radio do you have?

These are the Philips radios we know about, and whether we can unlock them. Not sure which is yours? Type the serial in: the free check works it out for you.

Radios and cars

Step-by-step help for the Philips models people ask us about most:

Philips 22DC Series radio codeRadio · 1985–1997

We also cover:

22DC
22RC
90DC and 90RC series

Years: 1985–2005. The serial is what counts, as radios are often swapped between cars.

How to enter your Philips radio code

Once you have your code, key it in like this. The example below shows the button presses. Your order page shows the same steps next to your code.

Press button 1 twice for 2, button 2 five times for 5, button 3 eight times for 8, button 4 four times for 4, then hold button 5 for a couple of seconds to confirm.

Buttons 1 to 4 set each number.
Hold button 5 or the tuning knob to finish.

Which buttons set the numbers, which one finishes, and what the screen does if the code is wrong: How to enter a Philips radio code.

If your Philips radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE

Each wrong code makes the radio wait longer before the next try, and some radios lock for good after too many. Don’t guess: get the right code first, then follow the steps for your radio.

Radio	What to do
Philips own-brand	Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio powered while it counts down.
Rover / MG / Mini Philips	Err or WAIT: the wait gets longer each time. Keep the radio switched on.
Vauxhall CDR500 / CDR2005	You only get 10 tries before the radio locks for good, so please don’t guess.
Renault Philips (1989–1997)	Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio powered while it counts down.
Volvo VC-series (Philips)	Leave the radio on for up to 2 hours after a failed try.
Ford Philips (early 1990s)	Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down.
Peugeot / Citroën Philips 22RC465	Radio locked? Leave the ignition on for a full hour.
Honda Philips (early 1990s)	Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down.
Subaru Philips (early 1990s)	Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down.
Fiat Philips	Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down.
Philips (other)	Each wrong try adds a longer wait. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down.

What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →

What we can and can’t do

We can do

Own-brand Philips (PH…)
Rover (AR/RG), Vauxhall (GM), Renault (RN), Volvo (VO), Ford (FO), Peugeot (PHAP), Honda (HO), Subaru (SU), Fiat (FIF)

We can’t do (yet)

Serials we do not hold — the checker tells you instantly

We always tell you before you pay. Not sure? Send us a photo of the label.

Philips radio code questions

Where is the serial on these older radios?

These radios can’t show it on screen. Take the radio out and copy the serial (14 letters and numbers) from the label or the metal case. The original security card also shows it.

Why do you look the code up?

These codes were set by the maker, so they can’t be worked out. We hold millions of them and check yours before you pay.

How much is a Philips radio code?

£9.99 per code. The free check comes first, so you only pay once we know we can do it, and you get your money back if the code doesn’t work.

How long does it take?

Most Philips codes appear on screen the moment you’ve paid, and we email you a copy. If yours has to be looked up by our team, we email it within 2 hours and tell you before you pay.

What if the code doesn’t work?

Check the serial first: 0 and O, or 1 and I, are easy to mix up. Still stuck? Tell us from your order page and we’ll put it right or refund you in full.

Updated October 2026

Philips radio code from your serial