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Volvo VIN Decoder
Our Volvo VIN decoder helps decode any Volvo VIN to reveal key specs like the model, trim level, engine, and transmission. Run a full car check to verify MOT history, insurance write-off, and more.
What is a Volvo VIN decoder?
A Volvo VIN decoder is an online tool that reads your car’s unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It reveals key details such as model, engine type, trim, and factory options.
VIN decoding is vital for checking a car’s true specs and verifying its history. This is especially important when buying or selling a used car, to ensure the vehicle matches its description and hasn’t been stolen, written off, or altered.
How to Decode a Volvo VIN Number?
A 17-digit Volvo VIN contains detailed information about the vehicle, including the manufacturer, model, assembly location, and unique identifiers. It acts as the vehicle’s fingerprint, distinguishing it from all others.
To avoid misreading, the letters I, O, and Q are excluded from VINs, as they can be easily mistaken for the numbers 1 and 0.
The Structure of a 17-Digit VIN
The VIN structure is made up of three key sections:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) - Characters 1-3 : Shows who made the car and the country it was built in.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) - Characters 4-9 : Gives key details like the model, engine type, and body style.
- Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) - Characters 10-17 : Includes the year the car was made, the factory it came from, and its serial number.
What Does Each Character of the 17-digit VIN Mean?
1st to 3rd Characters:
The first three characters indicate the country and manufacturer. Here are some of the common characters:
- 4V2, 4V4, 4V5, 4VG and 4VH – Volvo USA
- YB1, YB2 and YB3 – Volvo Europa (Belgium)
- YV1, YV2, YV4, YV5 and YVZ – Volvo Sweden
4th Character:
This reveals details about the vehicle series. Some possible characters include:
- A – 240
- C – XC90
- F – 740
- G – 760
- H – 780 Bertone Coupe
- J – 940
- K – 960, S90 and V90
- L – 850, S70 and V70 from 1991 to 2000
- M – S40, V50 and C70 after 2004
- N – C70
- R – S60
- S – V70 and VC70 after 2000
- T – S80
- V – S40 and V40 from 1994 to 2004
5th Character:
The fifth character contains information on the vehicle body type and safety system. Common characters to expect include:
- C – Convertible
- H – AWD sedan
- J – AWD station wagon
- K – Coupe with airbags
- M – 4WD XC90
- N – 2WD XC90
- S – Sedan with airbags
- T – AWD sedan
- W – Wagon or 5 door hatchback with airbags
- V – AWD wagon or 5 door hatchback
- Y – XC90 with three row seating
6th & 7th Characters:
Curious about engine specs? These two characters provide the engine information. A few of the characters include:
- 69 – 2.5 L
- 79 – 2.5 L
- 80-84 – 2.3 L
- 85 – 4.4 L
- 86-89 – 2.3 L turbo
- 90 – 2.8 L turbo
- 92 – 2.4 L
- 93 – 2.5 L
- 95, 96 – 3.0 L
- 98 – 3.2 L
- 99 – 2.5 L or 3.0 L Turbo
8th character:
For 1991 and earlier models, this represents the body style. From 1991, the eighth character represents the emission standard. Since this code changes from year to year, you can use our Volvo VIN decoder to easily and accurately verify the emission system. Some of the characters include:
- 2 – Two door
- 4 – Four door
- 5 – Five door
9th Character:
This digit acts as a security check to confirm the VIN is valid. It’s calculated using a special formula that analyses the other 16 characters, preventing fake or altered VINs.
10th Character:
The tenth character indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters.
Use the table below to easily identify any car’s model year:
Code/Year
- A 1980
- B 1981
- C 1982
- D 1983
- E 1984
- F 1985
- G 1986
- H 1987
- J 1988
- K 1989
Code/Year
- L 1990
- M 1991
- N 1992
- P 1993
- R 1994
- S 1995
- T 1996
- V 1997
- W 1998
- X 1999
Code/Year
- Y 2000
- 1 2001
- 2 2002
- 3 2003
- 4 2004
- 5 2005
- 6 2006
- 7 2007
- 8 2008
- 9 2009
Code/Year
- A 2010
- B 2011
- C 2012
- D 2013
- E 2014
- F 2015
- G 2016
- H 2017
- J 2018
- K 2019
Code/Year
- L 2020
- M 2021
- N 2022
- P 2023
- R 2024
- S 2025
- T 2026
- V 2027
- W 2028
- X 2029
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
Code/Year
- 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 assembly plant. Volvo has the following manufacturing plants:
- 0 – Kalmar, Sweden
- 1 – Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2 – Ghent, Belgium
- 3 – Halifax, Canada
- A, J – Uddevalla, Sweden
- F – Nedcar, Born, Netherlands
12th to 17th Characters:
These characters make up the unique sequential number (serial number) of the Volvo. This number doesn’t mean anything special other than the production number when the car was rolled out of the factory.
How to Conduct a Volvo VIN Number Check?
Using our free Volvo VIN Decoder in the UK is quick and reliable. Once you locate the VIN, follow these simple steps to decode it:
Enter the VIN
Input the 17-character VIN, your email address, and your phone number into the form above.
Click “Decode VIN”:
Submit details to initiate the decoding process.
View Specifications:
Instantly access the car’s make, model, body type, and other key details.
If you’re buying a used Volvo, get a full report. Check for any insurance write-offs, mileage, finance status, and other vital records to make an informed decision.
What is a Volvo VIN Number?
A Volvo VIN is a 17-character code that identifies each vehicle. It contains information about the car’s make, model, year, engine, and place of manufacture.
The VIN becomes important during registration, insurance, MOT, and when buying or selling a car, helping confirm the car’s identity and details.
Where is the VIN Number on a Volvo?
Here are the most common Volvo VIN number locations:
- Dashboard (Driver’s Side) : Look through the windshield on the dashboard’s lower-left corner; you will find it on a small metal plate or transparent sticker.
- Driver’s Side Door Jamb : Check the sticker or plate on the inside edge of the driver’s door pillar, which usually begins with “YV.”
- Under the hood : Some older Volvo vehicles may have their VIN placed on various engine compartments, such as the firewall, radiator pillar, or inner fender.
- Registration Documents : The VIN is often printed on the vehicle’s registration (V5C logbook) or insurance paperwork.
- Inner Front Wheel Arch : In some older Volvo cars, you may find the VIN located on the inner front wheel arch.
Why Conduct a Volvo VIN Number Check?
According to the AA, over 10% of vehicles checked have outstanding finance, and nearly 1 in 5 may have been previously written off. Performing a Volvo VIN number lookup is essential for the following reasons:
Verify Vehicle Specs
Get a report on the car's outstanding finances Confirm the exact make, model, engine size, trim level, fuel type, and more to ensure authenticity.
Detect Cloned Cars
Ensure the VIN on the car matches official documents to avoid buying a stolen or cloned vehicle.
Detects Insurance Write-Offs
Identifies if the vehicle was written off and possibly repaired, which affects safety and resale value.
Spot Mileage Fraud
Compare mileage records to detect tampering or clocking.
Outstanding Finance Check
Make sure there’s no outstanding finance that could result in repossession.
Ownership History
See how many previous keepers the car had and when ownership changed.
Free VIN Decoding Vs. Full Car Check Report
We offer free VIN decoding and a detailed, paid full car check if you buy a used car. Both tools are reliable, depending on your needs.
Free VIN Decoding
Our free Volvo VIN decoder provides basic car specifications, such as model, year, engine type, trim, and more. It’s great for detailed free car checks.
See below for what our free VIN decoder provides.
Year
Body style
Colour
Gears
Make
Trim level
Engine size
Fuel type
Model
Transmission
Engine cylinders
Displacement
Vehicle type
Vehicle class
Engine specs
Emission standard
Number of doors
Number of seats
Displacement
Emissions
Full Car Check Service
Get a complete picture of your Volvo’s history, including MOT records, write-offs, theft, finance status, and more. Our full car check report reveals the following:
High-risk records
Written-off check
Stolen records
Outstanding finance
Mileage history
Scrapped records
Auction history
Plate change history
MOT history
Ownership records
Logbook checks
Colour change history
Tax Status
Imported checks
Exported checks
Vehicle Registration
What You Need to Know About Volvo Vehicles?
- Volvo vehicles generally have lower crime rates compared to other brands. For instance, the Volvo XC90 has a theft rate of 7 incidents per 10,000 registered vehicles, while the Volvo V40 has 6 incidents per 10,000.
- Volvo vehicles hold their value well, with depreciation rates lower than many competitors. The XC60 retains around 60% of its value after three years.
- Volvo is known for its strong safety features, contributing to lower accident severity compared to other brands.
- Volvo sold approximately 48,000 new cars in the UK in 2024, maintaining steady market performance.
- The Volvo XC60 and XC90 remain among the most popular models in the UK, with strong sales in the premium SUV segment.
Other Smart Car Check Tools
We provide beyond UK VIN decoding! Our service also features a range of specialized tools to simplify your car check and accurately deliver the information you need. Here’s an overview of the additional tools available:
Registration Number Check
Retrieve vehicle details using the registration number.
MOT History Check
Access past MOT records to evaluate the car’s condition.
Insurance Write-Off Check
Identify vehicles previously classified as total losses.
Tax Check
Confirm tax status and compliance.
Stolen Car Check
Verify if the car is flagged as stolen in databases.
MPG Check
Determine the fuel efficiency and performance of the car.
Motorcycle VIN Check
Get specific data and history for motorcycles.
Car Value Check
Estimate the current market value of the vehicle.
Car Outstanding Finance Check
Verify if a car has an outstanding finance or loans.
Get our Smart Car Check Mobile App
Are you looking for the best car history check UK? Make a smart decision with Smart Car Check App. Perform a Reg. number check in the UK to uncover any past problems and hidden history that the seller will not tell you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check a Volvo VIN number for free in the UK?
Simply use our free VIN decoder in the UK to access information such as the year, make, model, engine, transmission, trim, and more. Enter the Volvo VIN into the form above to verify the vehicle information within seconds.
Can I check a Volvo truck VIN in the UK?
Yes, simply use our Volvo truck VIN decoder to verify the original specifications and check for the number of previous keepers, mileage discrepancy, MoT history, insurance written off, and more. This ensures you’re making a favourable used truck investment.
How to look up a Volvo VIN number?
Use our reliable Volvo VIN number lookup tool to find detailed information about any Volvo, including the vehicle specs and history.
