Volkswagen VIN Decoder
The Volkswagen VIN is more than just a string of letters and alphabets put together to differentiate similar models from each other. It is a powerful tool that helps in the process of registering a vehicle, verifying vehicle details and history, detecting car scams like odometer tampering and car theft, and restoring a classic Volkswagen. This can only be made possible by decoding the VIN with our accurate VW VIN decoder. Enter the VIN below to access every information within seconds.
What is a Volkswagen VIN Number?
A Volkswagen VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a special code given to every Volkswagen vehicle at production and it uniquely identifies each Volkswagen model. It usually has 17 characters, but older classic models might have 5 to 14 digits.
The VW VIN code is like a car’s fingerprint and contains important information such as the year it was made, where it was built, and details about the engine and model. Knowing the VIN is helpful for checking recalls, learning about past ownership, confirming specs and features, and making sure repairs are done correctly.
It’s a valuable tool for buyers, sellers, and owners to make informed decisions.
Volkswagen VIN Number Breakdown: How to Read a VW VIN Number
Note that the letters I, O, and Q are not included in a VIN to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 (One), 0 (Zero) and 9 (Nine).
Now, let’s break down what all those characters in a VW VIN code mean. A VIN is made up of 17 characters (except in classic vehicles), and each one gives you a clue about your Volkswagen’s specific details. These characters are also grouped into three sections to make decoding easier, they are:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): This includes the first three characters (characters 1 – 3) and signifies the vehicle’s country of origin and manufacturer.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): This section includes the 4th to 8th characters (characters 4 – 8) and contains information about the vehicle’s make, engine specs, model, and more.
- Vehicle Identifier Section: Here, you will find the 9th to 17th characters (characters 9 – 17), which encode details like the model year, manufacturing plant code, and a serial number unique to each vehicle.
What Does Each Character of the VIN Mean?
A Volkswagen 17-digit VIN looks like this: WVWZZZ3BZWE689725 (European markers) or WVGBV3AX1EW554395 ( American markers), and each character means something. Let’s break it down.
1st Character (Country of Origin):
The first character indicates where the Volkswagen was manufactured. This helps identify the country of production.
- 1 – 5 = North America
- 6 – 7 = Oceania
- A – H = Africa
- J- R = Asia
- 8 – 0 = South America
2nd Character (Manufacturer):
The second character in the VIN identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer. For Volkswagens, this is typically represented by “V.”Sometimes, this doesn’t make sense until the first three characters are considered.
3rd Character (Vehicle type):
The third character shows the vehicle type and can be a passenger car, pickup, SUV, truck, or motorcycle. Here are some common first three characters of the VIN you will see:
- WVW – Volkswagen Cars
- WVG – Volkswagen SUVs (G for Gelande)
- WV1 – Volkswagen Commercials
- WV2 – Volkswagen Bus, Van
- WV3 – Volkswagen Trucks
- VWV – Volkswagen Spain
- AAV – Volkswagen South Africa
- 1VW – Volkswagen USA (cars)
- 1V1 – Volkswagen USA (commercials)
- 3VW – Volkswagen Mexico
- 8AW – Volkswagen Argentina
- 9BW – Volkswagen Brazil
- WAU – Audi
- TRU – Audi Hungary
- 93V – Audi Brazil
4th, 5th, and 6th Characters:
The ZZZ provides information on the body type, trim styles, engine specs, and restraint systems. In Volkswagen, digits 4, 5, 6, and 9 are fill-ins and will only have the letter “Z.”
7th and 8th Characters:
These characters follow Volkswagen’s old model system. Some common combinations include the following:
- 11 – Beetle (Brazilian, Mexican, Nigerian)
- 13 – Scirocco 3
- 14 – Caddy 1 (European Golf 1 pickup)
- 15 – Cabriolet (1980 Beetle, Golf 1)
- 16 – Jetta 1 and 2 (early)
- 16 – Beetle (2012-on)
- 17 – Golf 1
- 18 – Iltis
- 19 – Golf 2 (early)
- 1C – New Beetle (US market)
- 1E – Golf 3 Cabriolet
- 1F – Eos
- 1G – Golf and Jetta 2 (late)
- 1H – Golf and Vento 3
- 1J – Golf and Bora 4
- 1K – Golf and Jetta 5, 6
- 1T – Touran
- 1Y – New Beetle Cabriolet
- 24 – T3 Transporter Single/Double Cab Pickup
- 25 – T3 Transporter Van, Kombi, Bus, Caravelle
- 28 – LT Transporter 1
- 2D – LT Transporter 2
- 2E – Crafter 1
- 2H – Amarok
- 2K – Caddy, Caddy Maxi 3
- 30 – Fox (US model ex-Brazil)
- 31 – Passat 2
- 32 – Santana sedan
- 33 – Passat 2 Variant
- 3A – Passat 3, 4
- 3B – Passat 5
- 3C – Passat 6, 7, 8, CC
- 3D – Phaeton
- 3H – Arteon
- 50 – Corrado (early)
- 53 – Scirocco 1, 2
- 5K – Golf and Jetta 6
- 5M – Golf Plus
- 5N – Tiguan 1, 2, Tiguan Allspace
- 5Z – Fox (Europe)
- 60 – Corrado (late)
- 6K – Polo Classic, Variant 3
- 6N – Polo 3
- 6R – Polo 5
- 6X – Lupo
- 70 – T4 Transporter Vans and Pickups
- 74 – Taro
- 7H – T5 Transporter, T6.1 Transporter
- 7J – T6 Transporter
- 7L – Touareg 1
- 7M – Sharan
- 7P – Touareg 2
- 86 – Polo and Derby 1 and 2
- 87 – Polo Coupe
- 9C – New Beetle
- 9K – Caddy 2 Van (ex-SEAT Ibiza)
- 9N – Polo 4
- 9U – Caddy 2 Pickup (ex-Skoda Felicia)
- A1 – T-Roc
- AA – Up!
- AU – Golf 7
- AW – Polo 6
- C1 – T-Cross
- CD – Golf 8
- SK – Caddy 4
- SY – Crafter 2
9th Character:
This is the check digit, and it verifies that the VIN is authentic and not a fake string of random characters. While the American markers use the digit 9 as a check digit, European makers use Z (fill-in digit).
10th Character:
The tenth character indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters.
Here’s a table that can help you quickly identify any car’s model year:
| Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year |
| A 1980 B 1981 C 1982 D 1983 E 1984 F 1985 G 1986 H 1987 J 1988 K 1989 | L 1990 M 1991 N 1992 P 1993 R 1994 S 1995 T 1996 V 1997 W 1998 X 1999 | Y 2000 1 2001 2 2002 3 2003 4 2004 5 2005 6 2006 7 2007 8 2008 9 2009 | A 2010 B 2011 C 2012 D 2013 E 2014 F 2015 G 2016 H 2017 J 2018 K 2019 | L 2020 M 2021 N 2022 P 2023 R 2024 S 2025 T 2026 V 2027 W 2028 X 2029 |
11th Character:
The eleventh character shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant. The VW factory codes include:
- A – Ingolstadt, Germany
- B – Brussels, Belgium
- C – Chattanooga, USA
- D – Bratislava, Slovakia
- E – Emden, Germany
- F – Ipiranga / Resende, Brazil
- G – Graz, Austria
- H – Hanover, Germany
- K – Osnabrück, Germany
- L – Lagos, Nigeria
- M – Puebla, Mexico
- N – Neckarsulm, Germany
- P – Mosel, Germany
- P – Anchieta, Brazil
- R – Martorell, Spain
- S – Salzgitter, Germany
- T – Sarajevo, Yugoslavia (up to 1994)
- T – Taubaté, Brazil
- U – Uitenhage, South Africa
- V – Westmoreland, USA (up to 1994)
- V – Palmela, Portugal (from 1994)
- W – Wolfsburg, Germany
- X – Poznan, Poland
- Y – Pamplona, Spain
- 1 – Győr, Hungary
- 2 – Anting, China
- 3 – Changchun, China
- 4 – Curitiba, Brazil
- 6 – Düsseldorf, Germany (Mercedes-Benz)
- 7 – Ludwigsfelde, Germany (Mercedes-Benz)
- 8 – Dresden, Germany
- 8 – General Pacheco, Argentina
- 9 – Września, Polan
12th to 17th Characters:
These characters make up the unique sequential number (serial number) of the Volkswagen. This distinguishes it uniquely from other Volkswagens with the same model, trim, etc., manufactured in the same plant.
Volkswagen VIN Number Location: Where is the VIN Number on a Volkswagen?
So, where is the VIN on modern Volkswagen vehicles? Your Volkswagen VIN number location can be traced to the following places:
- On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield.
- On the driver’s side door jamb.
- Stamped on the engine bay.
- On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
Now that you’ve found the VIN, it’s time to retrieve all the information available from the VIN.
What Information Can I Get from Decoding a Volkswagen VIN Number?
A Volkswagen VIN decoder can help you access everything about a new or used Volkswagen, including vehicle specifications, features, build sheets, and past history records.
Here are some Volkswagen specifications you can access when you use a VW VIN decoder:
- Year
- Make
- Exterior dimensions
- Number of doors
- Ground clearance
- Standard seating
- Transmission style
- Fuel type
- Braking
- Range extender
- Engine Description
- Front airbag information
- Emissions
- Cargo dimensions
- Model
- Valve train design
- Interior dimensions
- Suspension
- Traction battery
- Engine Size and specs
- Drive Type
- Tank capacity
- Trailering
- Displacement
- Mileage
- Tire pressure and size
- Wheels
- Electrical powertrain
- Trim
- Country
- Delivery charges
- Steering
- Weight
- MSRP
- Body type
- Seating
- EPA Class
- Engine model
- Engine configuration
- Seat belt type
- Off-road attributes
- Electrical specifications
- Year
- Make
- Exterior dimensions
- Number of doors
- Ground clearance
- Standard seating
- Transmission style
- Fuel type
- Braking
- Range extender
- Engine Description
- Front airbag information
- Emissions
- Cargo dimensions
- Model
- Valve train design
- Interior dimensions
- Suspension
- Traction battery
- Engine Size and specs
- Drive Type
- Tank capacity
- Trailering
- Displacement
- Mileage
- Tire pressure and size
- Wheels
- Electrical powertrain
- Trim
- Country
- Delivery charges
- Steering
- Weight
- MSRP
- Body type
- Seating
- EPA Class
- Engine model
- Engine configuration
- Seat belt type
- Off-road attributes
- Electrical specifications
Buying a Used Volkswagen? Look Beyond a Volkswagen VIN Decoder
While the VIN number is crucial in verifying a vehicle’s specifications and origin, it doesn’t end there. When buying a used Volkswagen, you can subject the VIN to a reliable Volkswagen VIN decoder to uncover the past records and history of the car.
By conducting a Volkswagen VIN number lookup, you can track the vehicle history records from when the vehicle first left the factory. Below are the records you can uncover:
- Mileage
- Odometer Readings
- Sales History
- Auction History
- Accident History
- Title Brand
- Salvage Title
- Hail Damage
- Flood Damage
- Structural Damage
- Ownership History
- Usage History
- Ownership Duration
- Lien & Loans
- Maintenance Schedule
- Warranty Status
- Repair Cost
- Recalls History
- Mileage
- Odometer Readings
- Sales History
- Auction History
- Accident History
- Title Brand
- Salvage Title
- Hail Damage
- Flood Damage
- Structural Damage
- Ownership History
- Usage History
- Ownership Duration
- Lien & Loans
- Maintenance Schedule
- Warranty Status
- Repair Cost
- Recalls History
How to Decode a Volkswagen VIN Number For Detailed Vehicle Information
When searching for vehicle info, using a free VIN decoder is a good start, but the information provided is usually limited. To have a complete overview of a vehicle’s specs, features, options, and even MSRP, fuel economy, safety ratings, warranty, color, and more, we recommend you get the Volkswagen window sticker lookup by VIN. You can also search using the US license plate or the year, make, and model of the car.
If you’re buying a used Volkswagen for sale and want to check its history and condition, use our Volkswagen VIN number check tool to uncover any hidden records and get a clearer picture before making a decision.
Follow these simple steps to get your Honda vehicle history reports within seconds:
- In the form above, enter the Volkswagen VIN, email, and phone (optional) in the above form. Our tool can decode standard VINs (17 characters) and classic VINs (5 – 14 characters).
- Click on ‘Search VIN’ to preview the vehicle specs and some records.
- Complete the payment process to generate and view your vehicle history report. You can download or print the report as a PDF for future reference.
- To get the window sticker, click “Get window sticker” in the form above to get redirected to the Volkswagen window sticker lookup page. Follow the instructions that follow.
Using our GM VIN decoder, you can also break down all the characters of a VIN to access the specifications and build data, whether for classic or modern vehicles.
Common Uses of the Volkswagen VIN Number
The VIN can serve different purposes depending on what you’re searching for – basic specs, detailed specs, and features, or the vehicle history. Some of the common uses of the Volkswagen VIN are:
Vehicle Verification
The VIN can be decoded to reveal the vehicle profile, like the year, make, model, engine, etc. This helps ensure the vehicle matches its factory description and as advertised by the seller.
Vehicle Registration
A vehicle registration is only possible by providing the VIN. This is mandatory before you can legally drive the vehicle on the road. Documents like ownership papers, bills of sale, and titles usually have the VIN for proper identification.
Insurance Purposes
The VIN helps insurance firms to obtain accurate vehicle information for insurance and registration purposes.
Vehicle History Checks
This is one of the main reasons why the VIN is important. A VIN check tool can decode the Volkswagen VIN to reveal any used Volkswagen history and condition. You can uncover records including ownership history, theft, sales records, lien accidents, salvage brands, rebuilt titles, warranty coverage, and more. This helps you avoid car scams like buying a stolen car or detecting a car with an odometer rollback. The rule of thumb is never to purchase a used car without checking its history.
Safety Recalls
Since manufacturers have VINs in their database, they can easily identify specific vehicle models that get recalled and notify the owners to get them fixed as soon as possible. Before purchasing, car buyers can also run a recall check by VIN for pending recalls on any used car.
Police Checks
If a vehicle is reported stolen, the police can track it using its VIN. They can even place police markers on those VINs and receive alerts at checkpoints.
Popular Volkswagen Models to Explore with our Volkswagen VIN Decoder
You can easily decode any Volkswagen VIN format – standard 17-digit or classic car VINs ( 5- 14 digits long) using our Volkswagen VIN number decoder. Here are some Volkswagen models you may be interested in:
| Golf | Taos | Touareg |
| Passat | Golf GTI | Scirocco |
| Tiguan | Atlas Cross Sport | Phaeton |
| Jetta | Golf R | Fox |
| Atlas | Jetta GLI | Polo |
| Arteon | Beetle | ID. Buzz |
| ID.4 | E-Golf |
Other Available Volkswagen VIN Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN number on Volkswagen Tiguan?
You can find the VIN on any Volkswagen by checking the following locations:
- On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield
- On the driver’s side door jamb
- On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
How do I get a Volkswagen VIN number build sheet?
You can easily find out any Volkswagen build sheet by VIN with our instant VIN decoder. View vehicle details within seconds. Simply fill out the form above to access any VW build sheet or window sticker. You can also use the license plate number or year, make, and model if the VIN is unavailable.
How to look up a VW window sticker by VIN number?
Simply visit our Volkswagen window sticker by VIN page
Input the 17-digit VIN or less and click “Search” to generate a copy of the original window sticker.
Download and view the sticker to access every detail about the vehicle, including the MSRP when new, fuel economy, and warranty information.