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- Great Customers Review
- Fast and Accurate
VW VIN Decoder
Use our accurate VW VIN decoder UK to instantly verify any VW specifications and history. Enter the VW VIN number to check the registration details, MOT history, mileage, outstanding finance, and more.
What is a VW VIN decoder?
A VW VIN decoder is a fact-finding tool used to unlock any Volkswagen 17-digit character VIN to reveal the vehicle’s manufacturer, model, production year, body style, engine type, history, and condition.
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 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.
Let’s break down what each of the 17-digit VIN characters means:
1st to 3rd Characters:
They represented the Make and country of origin. Some possible characters include:
- WVW: Volkswagen cars (Germany).
- WVG: Volkswagen SUVs (Germany).
- 1VW: Volkswagen cars (USA).
- 3VW: Volkswagen cars (Mexico).
- 9BW: Volkswagen cars (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:
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:
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:
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?
You don’t need to worry about manually decoding your VW’s chassis number. Our VIN decoder can easily do that for you. Once you have the VIN at hand, follow these simple steps for a quick VW VIN number lookup:
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.
Our VW VIN decoder UK delivers all the crucial details about the vehicle. You can also conduct a VW VIN check to get a detailed car history report to access crucial records, including mileage, damage history, and other past records.
What is a VW VIN Number?
A VW VIN, also known as a chassis number, 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.
Where is the VIN Number on a VW?
The VIN on a VW 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.
- The VIN is also stamped on the car’s chassis, which is why it is also called the ‘chassis number.’
Why is it Important to do a VW VIN Number Lookup?
With thousands of vehicles in the UK flagged as stolen or written off annually, posing risks for unsuspecting buyers, a VW chassis number lookup is more important now than ever.
Here are six reasons why you should do a VIN lookup before buying a used VW for sale in the UK:
Verify Vehicle Authenticity
A chassis number lookup ensures the car's identity matches official records, confirming it hasn’t been cloned or tampered with.
Detect Odometer Fraud
Mileage discrepancy is a common car scam in the UK. A chassis number lookup exposes odometer rollback, ensuring you don’t overpay for a car with falsified mileage.
Uncover Hidden Histories
It reveals past accidents, structural damage, or flood history, helping you avoid vehicles with concealed issues that could compromise safety or value.
Check for Outstanding Finance
Many used cars in the UK are sold with unpaid loans attached. A chassis number lookup 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 chassis number lookup confirms whether the vehicle is listed in theft databases, safeguarding you from losing your investment.
Access Recall and Safety Information
It highlights any unresolved manufacturer recalls, ensuring the vehicle meets safety standards and is free from critical defects.
Free VIN Decoding Vs. Full Car Check Report
Our car check tool can be used to conduct free VIN decoding and paid car check services. While our VW VIN decoder free check provides limited information, the paid version offers premium access to detailed car check reports.
Free VIN Decoding
A free VW VIN decoder offers a good start for learning about a car’s specs and features. By simply entering the 17-character VIN, you can retrieve basic vehicle information. Here is an overview of the details revealed with our free car check:
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
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 accident history, outstanding finance, and ownership details allows you to avoid overpaying or buying a car with hidden issues, which could mean costly future repairs.
Check Smart with Smart Car Check Application
Looking to buy or sell a used car in the UK? Smart Car Check mobile application is your perfect companion for a fast and accurate car history lookup! Available on Google Play and the Apple Store, our app simplifies vehicle checks with just a few taps. Here’s why Smart Car Check UK stands out:
- Quick and Accurate VIN Decoding: Instantly access essential car specifications and history with ease.
- Comprehensive Car Check Reports: Avoid hidden surprises like outstanding finance, theft records, or damage.
- Easy-to-Use Interface: Designed to save you time and deliver results quickly.
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
At Smart Car Check, we go beyond just UK VIN decoding services! Our platform offers a variety of specialized tools designed to streamline your car check 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 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
Can I lookup my vehicle specs by VIN number?
Smart Car Check offers a free VIN number decoder in the UK, but this only reveals limited information. With our paid VIN check UK, you can discover the car’s hidden history, running costs, MOT history, and more. You’ll get a detailed car check report in seconds.
Can I get the VIN number from the Registration number?
Yes, you can retrieve a car’s VIN from the reg using our car reg check tool. The report also reveals other vital information required to make an informed decision when buying a secondhand car.
How do you check a car’s fuel efficiency in the UK?
Easily use our MPG check tool to find out the fuel economy rate of your car or a car you want to buy.
