If the battery in your Acura TL was recently disconnected or replaced, you might need to enter the radio code to gain access to your radio system. You can find the code in your glove box, your owner’s manual, or Acura’s online lookup tool.

When it comes to vehicle ownership, you probably don’t think twice about the many numbers and codes associated with your car—that is, until you need them. If your display screen demands a code to bypass your radio’s security system, you’ve come to the right place.

Enter

Jerry

, the expert vehicle app and

car insurance

comparison tool. We’ll go over the purpose of these magic numbers, where you can find yours, plus some tips on how to save on

Acura TL insurance costs

Jerry sends free alerts to keep your car up-to-date so you can avoid costly repairs

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Get ahead of my car maintenance

* checking your rate won’t affect your credit score

Why do I need an Acura radio code?

Picture this: You hop in your

Acura

, fasten your seatbelt, and queue up your favorite playlist. You’re about to pull out of your driveway when you notice your radio screen blinking at you, demanding that you enter a “code”. Your radio has never required a code before, so why does it need one now?

While it may feel like an annoyance at the time, your radio code is a security measure to deter audio system theft. For example, if your car’s battery died or was replaced, your audio system becomes inoperable until you enter the code.

This handy theft deterrent is particularly valuable if you don’t have

sound system insurance

. However, it can be frustrating if you don’t know where to find the code.

MORE:

The best vehicle anti-theft devices to keep your car safe

How to find your Acura radio code

Fortunately, you don’t need any in-depth automotive knowledge to find your radio code. In some cases, you won’t need the code at all!

Before hunting for the code, try resetting your radio without it. Simply press and hold the power button until your radio restarts. If you’re lucky, this will be all it takes for the system to reboot!

If restarting the system doesn’t work, you must enter the code. Start by checking inside your glove box for the radio code decal on the inside wall of the compartment. If your code is nowhere to be found, you can check the underside of the engine compartment fuse box cover.

If you still can’t find the decal, you’ll need to look up the code.

How to look up your Acura radio code

Before looking up the code, you’ll need two other numbers: your

Acura's vehicle identification number (VIN)

and your radio’s serial number.

You can find your radio number in a few different spots:

The anti-theft radio identification card in your owner’s manual

Your Acura’s maintenance journal

On a small sticker located in your glove box, door jamb, trunk jamb, or on the radio itself

For 2001 models and later, you can obtain the serial number by turning your ignition on, turning your radio off, and pressing and holding preset buttons 1 and 6. Next, turn on the radio. You should see a U followed by four digits and an L followed by four digits. Ignore the U and L and write down the 8-digit serial number!

Once you have your serial number, you can call Acura Customer Service at (800) 382-2238 to request a new radio code.

If you have your VIN and device serial number, you can look up your radio online with

Acura's radio code lookup tool

. You can find your 17-digit VIN on:

The base of your windshield

Your Acura’s registration

Insurance statements

Acura Financial Services statement

MORE:

The 15 best car speakers of 2022

How to upgrade your car insurance coverage

Finding your Acura radio code doesn’t take long, but if you find yourself on hold with the dealership while retrieving your code, make good use of your time and upgrade your

car insurance

coverage with

Jerry

Jerry is a

licensed insurance broker

and comparison app that makes car insurance shopping faster and easier than ever. In just 45 seconds, Jerry can pull quotes from the nation’s top insurance providers. Then, after you’ve chosen a policy and price, Jerry’s team of experts will handle the rest!

As a result, Jerry customers save an average of $800+ per year on car insurance!

“
Jerry
was easy to use with great savings. I was afraid to get car insurance because of my age and new car. But with this app, I found my own affordable policy. I definitely recommend it for young drivers.” —Xena S.