Volkswagen/Audi VIN Interpretation

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VW - VIN Interpretation

Visitor # 227877 since 04.MAR.2002

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A lot of information can be gleaned from theVehicle Identification Number (VIN) of your Volkswagen. Prior to 1980, VW used a proprietary VIN system, so this data only applies to 1980 and newer vehicles. Some of the links below have some information on the earlier VIN system.

Below is an example VIN with each section linked to the corresponding decoded descriptions.

EXAMPLE

DIGIT:              1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 2 3  4 5 6 7 8 9  0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
-----------------------------------
W V W  D B 4 5 0 5  L K 2 3 4 5 6 7
-----------------------------------
WMI..  VDS........  VIS............
WMI - World Manufacture Index
VDS - Vehicle Descriptor Section
VIS - Vehicle Identifier Section

Other VW-VIN decoding sites may have additional or updated information (these tend to change over time, try them all):

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1 - Manufacturing Country
W - Germany (Europe)
1 - USA
3 - Mexico
9 - Brazil
[Return to example]

2 - Manufacturer
A - Audi
B - VW of Brazil
V - Volkswagen
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3 - Vehicle Type
1 - Pickup / truck
2 - MPV (Multi Purpose Vehicle)
U - Passenger Car (Audi)
W - Passenger Car (VW)
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4 - Body Style
Note: These are only a small set of possibilities.
- If your vehicle body style letter is not listed, try looking for the same letter under other vehicle types, chances are they may be similar.
- If that fails, look at your vehicle and if you have a 7-door Thing-a-ma-jig, then that's what your body style letter means!
- Check some of the other VIN decoding web sites (above) for codes not listed here.
1980-84 Pickup (Caddy)
? - Base Model
? - Sport Truck
L - LX
1987-93 Fox
A - 2 Door Basic
B - 2 Door Economy
C - 2 Door Custom
D - 2 Door Wagon
G - 4 Door Custom
1985-95 Golf
B - 2 Door Custom
D - 2 Door Sport
D - 2 Door GTi
F - 4 Door Custom
H - 2 Door GTi 16V
K - 4 Door Golf III
1985-95 Jetta
A- 2 Door Economy
K - 2 Door Base
M - 2 Door Custom
P - 4 Door Base
R - 4 Door Custom GL / Caret / Economy
S - 4 Door GLS / Custom
T - 4 Door GLI / GLX
1983-95 Rabbit / Cabriolet
A - 2 Door Base
B - 2 Door Custom (1992-93)
C - 2 Door Custom (1983-91)
D - 2 Door Carat
E - 2 Door Etienne Aigner
1983-88 Quantum
A - 1983-88 2 Door Basic
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
C - 1983-88 2 Door Deluxe
D - 1983-88 2 Door Sport
E - 1983-88 4 Door Basic
F - 1983-88 4 Door Custom
G - 1983-88 4 Door Deluxe
1983-88 Scirocco (USA)
A - 1983-88 2 Door Basic
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
C - 1983-88 2 Door Deluxe
D - 1983-88 2 Door Sport
1983-89 Scirocco (Canada)
A - 1983-89 2 Door Basic
B - 1983-88 2 Door Custom
C - 1983-89 2 Door Deluxe
D - 1983-89 2 Door Sport
1990-94 Corrado(USA)
D - 1990-92 2 Door Sport
E - 1992-94 2 Door SLC
1995 Corrado (Canada)
E - 1995 2 Door SLC
Vanagon / Transporter
U - 2 door Pickup
V - 3 door double cab Pickup
W - 3 door Delivery Van
X - 1983-88 Kombi
Y - 1983-92 3 door Bus (Vanagon)
Z - 1983-92 3 door Camper
1992-95 EuroVan
H - EuroVan CL
K - EuroVan GL
1990-95 Passat
C - 4 Door GLS
D - 4 Door Wagon GLS
E - 4 Door GLX
F - 4 Door Wagon GLX
F - 4 Door Custom GL
G - 4 Door Wagon GL
H - 4 Door Base
J - 4 Door Deluxe GLX / GLS
N - 4 Door Wagon Custom GLX
[Return to example]

5 - Engine
A - Lowest output gas engine
B - 2nd lowest output gas engine
C - ...
D-..., typically VR6
E - ...
F - 2nd lowest output diesel engine (1.6/1.9L TD/TDI)
G - Lowest output diesel (1.5/1.6L)
Listed by increasing output available for each model; contact dealer for detailed engine information.
[Return to example]

6 - Restraint System
0 - Active; i.e. Manual seatbelt
2 - Passive w/Manual Lap Belt
4 - ELRA (motorized)
5 - Active Belts w/Driver Air Bag
6 - Front and side Air Bags
8 - Active Belts w/Dual Air Bags
9 - Passive
[Return to example]

7-8 Model
15 - 1983-93 Convertible, Cabriolet
16 - 1983-88 Jetta
17 - 1980?-92 Rabbit, Pickup, Golf, GTi
1C - New Beetle
1E - 1995 Cabrio
1G - 1989-92 Golf / Jetta
1H - 1993-95 Golf / Jetta
24 - VW Transporter (Pickup and Multivan)
25 - 1983-92 Vanagon, Transporter Van
30 - 1987-93 Fox
31 - 1990-95 Passat
32 - 1983-88 Quantum 2 Door and 4 Door
33 - 1985-88 Quantum Station Wagon and Quattro
3A - 1995 Passat
43 - Audi 5000 / older
44 - Audi 5000/100/200/V8
4A - Audi S4/100CS/V8
50 - 1990-95 Corrado
53 - 1983-88 Scirocco
60 - 1994-95 Corrado
70 - EuroVan
78 - Passat?
81 - Audi 4000
83 - Audi 4000
85 - Audi Coupe GT
89 - Audi 90
8A - Audi 90
8B - Audi Coupe
[Return to example]

9 - VIN Check Digit
Manufacturer's Internal Code
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10 - Vehicle Model 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
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11 - Assembly Plant
A - Ingolstadt
B - Brussels
E - Emden
G - Graz
H - Hanover
K - Osnabruck
M - Mexico
N - Neckarsulm
P - Brazil
S - Stuttgart
V - Westmoreland, PA. (USA)
W - Wolfsburg
Y - Spain (SEAT)
[Return to example]

12-17 Serial Number
Sequential Production Number
[Return to example]

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[Last updated: 26.March.2021]

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