Vehicle Identification Numbers

While location may vary by model, these general locations will help you locate your VIN number:
- Vehicle identification plate mounted on the dashboard (post-1967 models)
- Stamped under the front hood
- On a sticker, driver's door pillar
- On state vehicle registration certificate or title
- On price sticker or certificate of origin (new cars)
- Vehicle Identification Label in luggage/spare tire area
- Vehicle Identification Label in Maintenance Booklet

First VIN System: 1949 to July 1964
The VIN for cars produced through July 1964 is merely a production serial number. It is necessary to know what model the vehicle is. No other information can be derived from the serial number.

Second VIN System: August 1964 to July 1980
Beginning in August 1964, a new system was initiated that included vehicle model and year, along with the serial number. The first two digits indicate the model, the third digit indicates the year, and the fourth through tenth digits indicate the serial number.

Due to the difficulty of differentiating 60's vehicles from 70's or 80 vehicles, the following rules apply:

Third VIN System: 1981 to current models.
Due to federal regulations, 1981 and newer vehicles are required to use a 17-digit VIN system. With this system, it is now possible to determine not only the year, model and serial number, but also the country of manufacture, body style, engine type, restraint system, and manufacturing plant.

Mfg. Make: 1,2,3		Series: 4		Engine Type: 5		Restraint System:6
WVW WV2 1VW 3VW 9BW	Europe Pass. Car Europe MPV USA Mexico Brazil Pass. Car	A A A B B C C D D D E F F G H K L M M R R T Y Z	2 Door Basic or Diesel 2 Door L Golf 2 Door 2 Door Custom L Golf GL 2 Door 2 Door Deluxe Coupe Rabbit Convertible/Cabriolet 2 Door Sport S or GTI Coupe 2 Door GTI 16V 4 Door Basic or Diesel 2 Door Custom Sedan Golf GL 4 Door 4 Door Deluxe Wagon 4 Door Wagon Syncro Custom Deluxe LX Models Sport Jetta GL 2 Door Jetta GL 4 DOor Jetta Carat 4 Door Jetta GLI 16V 4 Door Bus Camper	-- A A A B B B C G H -- A A A A B B B B B B B B B B B C E G G J -- B C -- B C D E F -- C D D -- A B -- S -- A A B B E J K L R -- A A B B E F G J K L M R S S -- B C D E F -- B	1982-84 1715cc Gas 1718cc 90hp 4 Cylinder 1970cc Gas 1715cc Gas 1970cc Gas Water Cooled 2144cc Gas 5 Cylinder 1780cc Gas 1566cc Diesel 1588 Turbo Diesel 1985-90 1780cc 81hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 85hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 90hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 100hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 100hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 102hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 105hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 123hp 4 Cylinder 1780cc 158hp 4 Cylinder 1915cc 82hp 4 Cylinder 1984cc 134hp 4 Cylinder 2144cc 100hp 5 Cylinder 2109cc 90hp 4 Cylinder 2226cc 110hp 5 Cylinder 2226cc 115hp 5 Cylinder 1780cc 123hp 4 Cylinder 1984cc 134hp 4 Cylinder California 1588cc 52hp 4 Cylinder Diesel 1588cc 68hp Cylinder TurboDiesel 1984cc 134hp 4 Cylinder Federal CABRIOLET (1991-94) 1780cc 94hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1780cc 94hp 4 Cyl, California CORRADO (1991-94) 1780cc 158hp, Federal 1780cc 158hp, California 2792cc 178hp 6 Cyl, California 2792cc 178hp 6 Cyl, Federal 2792cc 178hp 6 Cyl. EUROVAN (1991-94) 2461cc 109hp 5 Cyl, Federal 2461cc 109hp 5 Cyl, California 2461cc 109hp 5 Cyl (1994) FOX (1991-94) 1780cc 81hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1780cc 81hp 4 Cyl, California GTI (1991-94) 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl. GOLF (1991-94) 1780cc 100hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1780cc 105hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, California 1984cc 134hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 134hp 4 Cyl, California 1780cc 100hp 4 Cyl, California 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, California JETTA (1991-94) 1780cc 100hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1780cc 105hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, California 1984cc 134hp 4 Cyl, Californa 1588cc 59hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1588cc 52hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 134hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1780cc 100hp 4 Cyl, California 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, Federal 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 115hp 4 Cyl, California 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl, California 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl (1994) PASSAT (1991-94) 1984cc 134hp 4 Cyl, Federal 1984cc 134hp 4 Cyl, California 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl, Federal 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl, California 2792cc 172hp 6 Cyl VANAGON (1991-94) 2109cc 90hp 4 Cyl	0 1 2 4 5 8 9	Active Passive Passive w/ manual lap ELRA (motorized) w/ manual lap Air Bag-Driver Active-Dr/Pass Air Bag- Dr/Pass Active-Dr/Pass Passive

Model: 7,8		Check Digit: 9	Model Year:10		Plant Mfg.: 11		Sequential Production #: 12-17
1E 1G 1H 15 16 17 24 25 30 31 32 33 50 53 60 70	Cabrio 89-92 Golf/Jetta Golf 3,GTI,Jetta 3 Cabriolet Jetta Rabbit,Golf,GTI, Truck Vanagon Vanagon Fox Passat Quantum 2/4 door Quantum Wagon & Quattro Corrado Scirocco Corrado EuroVan	Calculate per NHTSA Code	A B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S	1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995	A B E G H K M N P S V W Y	Ingolstadt Brussels Emden Graz Hanover Osnabrueck Mexico Neckarsulm Brazil Stuttgart Westmoreland,PA,USA Wolfsburg Spain	This number is a sequential number given to each vehicle as it comes off the assembly line.

* NOTE: This information has been gathered from Volkswagen publications and the internet, and is for entertainment purposes only.

Update: January 16, 1999. Many thanks to Ron Lehue for supplying additional information to update this page. The "Series" and "Engine Type" catogories are more than blank boxes now!

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Mfg. Make			Series	Engine Type	Restraint system	Model		Check Digit	Model Year	Mfg. Plant	Sequential Production Number