Check any VW VIN Before Buying: Don’t Get Ripped Off

Use our instant VW VIN decoder to verify any VW specs like engine, transmission, and history. Enter the VW VIN number to check the registration details, MOT history, mileage, outstanding finance, and more.

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What is a VW VIN Decoder?

A VW VIN decoder is a tool that reads Volkswagen’s unique 17-digit vehicle identification number to reveal important details about any car. It shows you the manufacturer, exact model, production year, body style, engine type, transmission, original color, and many other factory specifications instantly.

Decoding a VW VIN number also lets you check the car’s complete history and current condition before buying. You’ll know if the vehicle has finance owed, mileage discrepancies, insurance write-off records, stolen vehicle alerts, or if the seller is misrepresenting what they’re actually selling to you.

What is a VW VIN Number?

A VW VIN is a 17-character alphanumeric identifier unique to each Volkswagen vehicle. It provides vital details such as the manufacturer, model, year of production, body style, engine specifications, and assembly plant.

Acting as a vehicle’s fingerprint, the VIN aids in accurate vehicle identification, history tracking, and verification, which is crucial for purchases, repairs, registration, and ensuring legal compliance.

How to Decode a VW VIN Number?

The different sections of a VW 17-digit chassis number hold specific information about the vehicle. Here’s a breakdown of these sections:

The Three Sections of a Volkswagen VIN Number

The structure of a VIN or chassis number is divided into three key sections:

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) (Characters 1-3): Identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer and country of origin.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) (Characters 4-9): Provides detailed specifications, including the model, body style, and engine type.
Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) (Characters 10-17): Contains the vehicle’s model year, assembly plant, and a unique serial number.

What Each of the 17-digit VIN Characters Means

Each of the 17 characters of the VIN holds one or more specific information about the car. Here’s what each represents:

1st to 3rd Characters - Manufacturer and Country of Origin

They represented the Make and country of origin. Some possible characters include:

4th, 5th, and 6th Characters - Body, trim, Engine & Restraint Systems

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 - Vehicle Type

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 - Check Digit

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 - Model Year

This tells you the model year. Each year is represented by either a letter or number. Below is the table showing the codes and years represented

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 - Manufacturing Plant

The eleventh character shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant. The factory locations are represented by these characters:

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
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

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)
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 - Unique Production Number

These characters make up the unique sequential number of the VW, indicating the production number as the car rolled off the assembly line.

How to Conduct a VW Chassis Number Check?

Our Volkswagen VIN decoder can easily do that for you. Once you have the VIN at hand, follow these simple steps for a quick Volkswagen VIN lookup:

Step 1: Enter the VIN

Find and enter the 17-digit VIN into the form above

Step 2: Click “Check Vehicle.”

After completing the form, click the “Check Vehicle” button to begin the process.

Step 3: Get Detailed Vehicle Specifications

Our tool will provide you with the vehicle specifications for free. It will show the year, make, model, colour, engine specs, and the car’s MOT and tax status.

If you’re buying a used car, you need to go deeper to conduct a VW VIN check to access any hidden records, including write off, finance check, stolen records, mileage discrepancies, MOT history, and more

Where is the VIN Number on a VW?

The VW VIN number can be found in several key locations, ensuring accessibility for identification purposes. Here are the most common spots:

Dashboard (Driver’s Side)

Look through the windshield on the lower-left corner of the dashboard.

Driver’s Side Door Jamb

Check the sticker or plate on the inside edge of the driver’s door.

Engine Bay

It may be stamped onto the engine block or near the firewall.

Registration Documents

The VIN is often printed on the vehicle’s registration (V5C logbook), or insurance paperwork.

Why is it Important to do a Volkswagen VIN Number Check?

With thousands of vehicles in the UK flagged as stolen or written off annually, posing risks for unsuspecting buyers, a VW VIN number check is more important now than ever.

Here are six reasons to use our VW VIN number decoder:

Verify Vehicle Authenticity

A VW spec check ensures the car's identity matches official records, confirming it hasn’t been cloned or tampered with.

Reveal Hidden Risks

A Volkswagen VIN lookup reveals past accidents, structural damage, or flood history, helping you avoid vehicles with concealed issues that could compromise safety or value.

Detect Odometer Fraud

Mileage discrepancy is a common car scam in the UK. Looking up the VIN with our VW VIN number decoder exposes odometer rollback, ensuring you don’t overpay for a car with falsified mileage.

Check for Outstanding Finance

Many used cars in the UK are sold with unpaid loans attached. A Volkswagen VIN number check identifies vehicles with outstanding finance, protecting you from legal complications.

Identify Stolen Vehicles

Thousands of cars are flagged as stolen annually in the UK. A VW VIN check confirms whether the vehicle is listed in theft databases, safeguarding you from losing your investment.

Confirm Mileage is Accurate

Dishonest sellers wind back odometers to make high-mileage VWs look barely used and charge more money. A Volkswagen VIN lookup shows recorded mileage revealing if someone's tampered with the numbers to deceive you.

Free VW VIN Decoding Vs. Full Car Check Report

Our tool allows you to conduct a free VIN decoding and a paid car check service. While our free VW VIN decoder provides basic information, the paid version offers premium access to detailed car check reports.

Free Volkswagen VIN Decoding

Our VW VIN decoder offers a good start for learning about a car’s specs and features. By entering the 17-character VIN, you can retrieve basic vehicle information. Here is an overview of the details revealed:

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 VW VIN Check Service

Our paid service allows you to choose between our basic and premium reports to check and retrieve the following records:

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

Having access to crucial data such as write-off, outstanding finance, and ownership history allows you to avoid overpaying or buying a car with hidden issues, which could mean costly future repairs.

Fun Facts About Volkswagen You Didn't Know

Volkswagen has a really interesting history with cool stories, amazing inventions, and records that changed how cars are made around the world.

The Beetle is History's Best-Seller: Volkswagen made over 21 million Beetles, which is more than any other single car design ever. They kept making this iconic car for decades until stopping completely.
VW Means "People's Car": The name Volkswagen means "people's car" in German because it was designed as a cheap car that regular working families could actually afford.
The Golf Changed Everything: When VW launched the Golf in 1974, it became super popular and created a whole new type of car. Over 35 million have been sold, making it Europe's favorite.
VW Owns Fancy Car Brands: Volkswagen Group doesn't just make VWs - they also own Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Bugatti, and several other car companies, making them absolutely massive worldwide.

Smart Car Check provides all the tools you need to buy with confidence or sell transparently. Don’t wait—download the app today and enjoy seamless, reliable car check at your fingertips!

Other Smart Car Check Tools

Our platform offers a variety of specialised tools designed to streamline your vehicle research process and ensure you get the exact information you need. Here’s a breakdown of the additional tools we provide:

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 VIN Decoder By Makes

Aside from our VW VIN decoder, we also look up VIN numbers for other classic car brands, too. Select your manufacturer below to begin with:

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 About VW VIN Decoder

Can I lookup my vehicle specs by VIN number?

Yes, you can lookup your vehicle specs by VIN using our VW spec check tool. It reveals basic information like the year, make, model, engine, transmission, fuel type and more, helping you confirm accurate details of a car before you buy.

Can I get the VIN number from the Registration number?

Yes, you can retrieve a car’s VIN from the registration number using our car reg check tool. The report also reveals other important information such as mileage history, MOT records, insurance write off status, unpaid debt records, and more. This assists in making an informed decision when buying a used car.

How do you check a car’s fuel efficiency in the UK?

To check a car’s fuel efficiency, enter the registration number into our MPG check tool. You can also calculate it manually by dividing the miles driven by litres used over a period. The official method in the UK uses litres per 100km or Miles Per Gallon (MPG) from the automakers.