Ford Paint Code AZ Star White Models and Years Guide 2026

Ford paint code AZ identifies Star White Metallic Tri-Coat, a premium white finish introduced on several Ford model lines for the 2020 model year. Professional refinish databases also cross-reference AZ with M7446 and Ford refinish identifier FRD20:AZ.

AZ is not Oxford White. Star White uses a three-stage finish that creates more depth and light-dependent pearl or metallic character, while Oxford White is Ford’s simpler solid white finish.

If you are ordering touch-up paint, repainting a bumper, or matching a replacement panel, confirm the AZ code on your Ford before choosing paint by color name alone.

What Does Ford Paint Code AZ Mean

Ford lists AZ as the exterior color code for Star White Metallic Tri-Coat. The 2020 F-150 documentation specifically lists Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ as a new color for that model year.

Here is the quick identification reference.

AkzoNobel’s automotive color documentation identifies the color as Star White P.M.3c AZ/M7446/FRD20:AZ, confirming both the three-coat classification and M7446 cross-reference.

The M7446 number is best treated as a refinish or manufacturer color reference, rather than the two-character code you should look for on the truck itself. Ford accessories and service paint listings commonly instruct owners to verify the vehicle certification label paint code before ordering painted parts.

For other Ford colors, our Ford paint code chart gives a broader lookup reference across multiple factory colors and models.

Which Ford Models Use AZ From 2020 to 2026

Star White AZ has appeared across trucks, SUVs, and electric Ford models since 2020. It is not available on every trim, so the table below should be used as an application reference rather than proof that every version of a listed model could be ordered in AZ.

Ford F-150 AZ Years

The 2020 F-150 was one of the first clearly documented Ford applications. Ford’s model-year update specifically calls Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ a new exterior color.

The color continued into 2021 and 2022. Ford order-guide data for those years lists Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ on Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, Limited, and other applicable configurations.

The 2023 and 2024 order data continues the same AZ designation. The 2024 guide, for example, lists Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ on Platinum Plus.

Current listings continue the pattern. A 2025 F-150 King Ranch shows Star White Metallic Tri-Coat with option code AZ, and 2026 F-150 configuration data still pairs AZ with Star White Metallic Tri-Coat.

Owners researching a 2022 truck can also compare AZ with the other factory finishes in our 2022 Ford F-150 color chart.

Ford Explorer AZ Years

Ford’s official 2020 Explorer order guide lists Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ and marks it as new for that model year.

The 2021 Explorer order guide continues to identify Star White Metallic Tri-Coat with code AZ.

AkzoNobel refinish books continue listing AZ/M7446 for Explorer applications through later model years, while current 2026 Explorer configurations still offer Star White Metallic Tri-Coat.

For a closer look at the factory palette around this period, see our 2022 Ford Explorer colors chart.

Ford Expedition and Super Duty

Star White AZ also extends beyond the F-150 and Explorer.

Ford’s 2025 Expedition order guide lists Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ, and the official 2026 Expedition order guide keeps the same color and code combination.

Professional refinish references document M7446/AZ on earlier Expedition and F-Series applications as well. Current Ford inventory also shows 2026 Super Duty F-250 Platinum trucks finished in Star White Metallic Tri-Coat.

The exact trim matters. A paint color may be available on Platinum but unavailable on XL, for example, even though both trucks share the same model year.

How To Find Ford Paint Code AZ on Your Truck

The safest way to identify your Ford’s original paint is to use the vehicle certification label, not a dealership photo or online color swatch.

Ford itself refers to the certification-label paint code when identifying factory touch-up paint.

Use this five-step check:

1. Open the driver’s door.
2. Inspect the certification label around the driver’s door jamb or B-pillar area.
3. Locate the exterior paint or paint-code information.
4. Check for the two-character code AZ.
5. Confirm that the paint supplier identifies AZ as Star White Metallic Tri-Coat.

If the label says AZ, use AZ as the primary matching code. M7446 can help a paint supplier locate the correct refinish formula, but it should not replace checking the truck itself.

Do not identify Star White from a screen image. Camera exposure, screen white balance, sunlight, shade, and metallic reflection can make Star White look almost identical to other Ford whites.

That becomes especially important when comparing AZ with Oxford White.

AZ Star White vs Oxford White Compared

Star White AZ and Oxford White are different Ford colors and should not be interchanged.

Ford order guides regularly list both colors separately. The 2022 F-150 guide, for example, lists Oxford White YZ and Star White Metallic Tri-Coat AZ as distinct exterior choices.

Star White has more visual depth because the finish uses an effect layer. In strong sunlight, the white can show a soft pearl or metallic sparkle.

Oxford White looks flatter and more uniform because it does not rely on the same three-stage effect.

If your certification label shows YZ rather than AZ, use our Ford Oxford White paint code guide instead of ordering Star White.

Photos are particularly unreliable for telling these two colors apart. A shaded Star White panel can appear almost solid white, while bright sunlight can reveal the effect particles immediately.

Why Star White AZ Is Harder To Paint Match

The difficult part of repairing AZ is not finding the code. The challenge is recreating the three-stage color effect.

Axalta describes tri-coat finishes as a base color followed by a mid-coat that creates the effect, then a protective clearcoat.

Base Color Layer

The first color layer establishes the main white background.

The base needs sufficient coverage because variation underneath the effect layer can change the finished appearance.

Effect Mid Coat

The mid-coat creates much of the pearl or metallic depth associated with Star White.

Axalta’s tri-coat repair procedure explains that the number of mid-coat applications affects the final color match. Professional painters commonly prepare a let-down panel to determine the correct amount before spraying the repaired panel.

That means two painters using the same paint formula can still produce slightly different visual results if application technique differs.

Clear Coat Layer

The final clearcoat provides gloss and protection and influences how the underlying effect is viewed.

This three-stage construction is why a large AZ repair requires more control than applying a basic solid white.

Small stone chips are more forgiving. A bumper, door, hood, or quarter-panel repair can expose differences in pearl intensity and viewing angle much more clearly.

How To Match Ford AZ Paint in 5 Checks

You can reduce the chance of ordering the wrong Star White paint by checking five pieces of information before starting the repair.

1. Confirm AZ on the certification label. Do not rely only on the color name in an online listing.
2. Confirm the model year. Paint suppliers often organize formulas by manufacturer and production year.
3. Match the full name. The listing should identify Star White Metallic Tri-Coat or a recognized refinish equivalent for AZ.
4. Cross-check M7446. Professional refinish documentation links AZ with M7446.
5. Test the color before a large repair. A spray-out or let-down panel helps show whether the effect matches the existing finish.

Axalta specifically recommends preparing a let-down panel when working with tri-coat colors because the number of mid-coats changes the final appearance.

For a tiny chip, an AZ-specific touch-up system can be practical. Large scratches, bumper refinishing, complete panels, and repairs that need blending into adjacent panels are better candidates for professional refinishing.

Paint aging matters too. A correct factory formula can still look slightly different beside paint that has spent years exposed to sunlight, road chemicals, polishing, and weather.

What To Confirm Before Ordering Ford AZ Paint

Ford paint code AZ means Star White Metallic Tri-Coat, with M7446 widely used as its professional refinish cross-reference. Ford introduced the color across key model lines for 2020, and documented applications continue into the 2026 model year.

Check the certification label before ordering anything. If your Ford shows AZ, use an AZ-compatible Star White formula. If the label shows YZ, you have Oxford White instead.

The code is easy to identify, but matching the finish takes more care because Star White is a tri-coat. Small touch-ups are manageable, while visible panel repairs benefit from a proper color test and professional blending.

5 Common Ford AZ Paint Code Questions

Is Ford Paint Code AZ Star White

Yes. Ford code AZ identifies Star White Metallic Tri-Coat. Ford’s own model documentation and professional refinish databases use the AZ designation for this color.

Is Ford AZ the Same as M7446

AZ and M7446 refer to the same Star White color family in professional refinish databases. AZ is the code commonly tied to the Ford application, while M7446 is used as a refinish or manufacturer color reference.

Is Ford AZ the Same as Oxford White

No. Star White uses code AZ, while Ford order guides commonly identify Oxford White as YZ. Star White is a tri-coat effect finish, while Oxford White is a much simpler solid white appearance.

What Years Did Ford Use Paint Code AZ

Ford documentation shows AZ beginning on major Ford applications in the 2020 model year, including the F-150 and Explorer. The color remains documented on selected 2026 Ford models, including F-150 and Expedition applications.

Where Is Paint Code AZ Located on a Ford

Start with the vehicle certification label around the driver’s door or B-pillar area. Ford parts documentation identifies factory paint using the Vehicle Certification Label Paint Code, so the code on your individual Ford should take priority over an online color chart.