Searching for a car—especially a used one—can feel stressful and overwhelming. Luckily, you don’t have to do it alone. Our Volvo VIN Numbers Decoder will give you peace of mind by providing all the essential information about any vehicle you are considering.
The process is simple: you can use our Volvo VIN Lookup Service to discover any issues with a vehicle that the seller may be trying to hide from you. For example, you can learn if the car has ever been reported as a lemon, flooded, or otherwise damaged in the past. Our goal is to ensure you’re equipped with all the necessary information to be able to make an informed decision with confidence and ease.
Locating a Volvo’s VIN Plate
In a Volvo, the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) can be located in several locations. The first few places you should look are:
- On the dashboard (usually on the driver's side)
- In the front door frame/post
- On the firewall
- On the engine
- On the steering wheel
- On the title/registration
Understanding a Volvo VIN
A Volvo VIN may look like a random jumble of numbers and letters, but it’s actually an identifying code for every specific vehicle. Basically, it’s a fingerprint for a car. Each VIN is composed of 17 unique characters that tell a piece of the vehicle’s story. Let’s break down what each one really means:
1. The 1st character of the Volvo VIN identifies the country of the Volvo’s origin.
| Y | 2 |
| Sweden or Belgium | Canada |
2. The 2nd character is used to identify the manufacturer of the vehicle.
| V |
| Volvo |
3. The 3rd character represents the vehicle type.
| 1 |
| Passenger Vehicle |
4. The 4th character indicates the vehicle series.
| A | B | C | F | G | H | J |
240 Series / S80 Series | 260 Series / V70 Series / XC70 Series | XC90 Series | 740 Series | 760 Series | 780 Series | 940 Series |
| K | L | M | N | R | S | T |
940, 960 Series / S90, V90 Series | 850 Series / S70, V70 Series | C30 Series / S40 Series / V50 Series / C70 Series | C70 Series | S60 Series | V70 Series / XC70 Series | S80 Series |
| V | ||||||
| S40, V40 Series | ||||||
5. The 5th character identifies the body type and restraint system of the Volvo.
| A | C | H | J | K | M | N |
| 3-Point Seatbelt/Driver’sAirBag | Convertible, DualFront, SideAirBags | Sedan AWD, DualAirBags | Wagon AWD, DualAirBags | Coupe, DualFront, SideAirBags | Utility AWD, DualAirBags | Utility FWD, DualAirBags |
| S | T | V | W | X | Y | Z |
| Sedan, DualFront, SideAirBags | Sedan AWD, DualAirBags | Wagon AWD, DualFront, SideAirBags | Wagon, DualFront, SideAirBags | 3-Point Seatbelt | Utility FWD, DualAirBags | CrossCountryWagon w/DualAirBags / Wagon AWD, DualAirBags / Utility AWD, DualAirBags |
6-7. The 6th and 7th characters identify the Volvo engine.
| 25 | 27 | 29 | 38 | 39 | 47 | 50 |
| 1.9L 4Cyl. 16V Turbo (B4204T2) | 1.9L 4Cyl. Turbo (B4204T4) | 1.9L 4Cyl. Turbo (B4204T3) | 2.4L 5Cyl. (B5244S4) | 2.4L 5Cyl. (B5244S7) | 2.1L 4Cyl. Turbo (B21F Turbo) | 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T4) |
| 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 |
| 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5252S) | 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T6) / 2.5L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5254T4) | 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T3) | 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5244T5) | 2.4L 5Cyl. (B5254S) | 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5254T) | 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T) |
| 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 |
2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T5) / 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5244T3) | 2.5L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5254T2) | 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5244T2) | 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5244S) | 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T8) / 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T9) | 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5244T7) | 2.4L 5Cyl. (B5244S6) |
| 67 | 68 | 69 | 76 | 77 | 82 | 83 |
| 2.5L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5254T7) | 2.5L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5254T3) | 2.8L V6 (B28F or B280F) | 2.4L 4Cyl. DieselTurbo (D24 DieselTurbo) | 2.4L 4Cyl. Diesel (D24 Diesel) | 2.3L 4Cyl. (B230FS) | 2.3L 4Cyl. (B230FD) |
| 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 |
| 4.4L 8Cyl. (B84445) | 2.3L 4Cyl. Turbo (B230FT) | 2.3L 4Cyl. Turbo (B230FT) | 2.3L 4Cyl. (B230F) | 2.3L 4Cyl. (B234F) / 2.3L 4Cyl. 16V (B234F 16V) | 2.8L I6 Turbo (B6284T/T6) | 2.9L I6 Turbo (B6294T) |
| 92 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 |
| 2.9L 6Cyl. (B6294S2) | 2.9L I6 (B6294S) | 2.9L I6 (B6304F) | 2.9L I6 (B6304S) | 2.9L I6 Turbo (B6304S Turbo) | 3.2L I6 (B6324S) | 3.2L I6 (B6304T2) |
8. The 8th character represents the emissions.
| A | D | J | H | R | T | V | Y | Z |
| 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 49 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR / ULEV2 | 49 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR | 50 State w/o EGR |
9. The 9th character doesn’t actually give any information about the vehicle. It is used to verify the Volvo VIN as a whole.
10. The 10th character represents the Volvo model year.
| D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L | M |
| 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 |
| N | P | R | S | T | V | W | X | Y |
| 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | |
| 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 20008 |
11. The 11th character identifies the assembly plant where the Volvo was produced.
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | D | F | G |
| Kalmar, Sweden | Torslanda, Sweden | Ghent, Belgium | Halifax, Canada | Turin, Italy (Bertone) | Born, Netherlands | Uddevalla, Sweden |
12-17. The 12th through the 17th characters are the unique serial number of the vehicle.
Steps to use the Volvo VIN decoder
1) Locate the Volvo VIN (Vehicle Identification Number).
First and foremost, you must know the precise 17-digit VIN. On the driver's side, inspect the door frame and windscreen. In addition to the engine bay and trunk, the Volvo VIN can be located in the car firewall and vehicle documents.
2) Decode your Volvo VIN (vehicle identification number). You can put your trust in the vehicle after this process. Report a Volvo VIN decoder that will help you unlock the secrets of a Volvo VIN. Data from NMVTIS and other third parties are included in the vehicle history report. Enter the VIN code in the search box to decode a Volvo VIN today.
3) Request a report on a Volvo vehicle.
Wait a few minutes after providing your VIN for your vehicle to appear.
What Can the VIN of an Older Volvo tell You?
Volvo first started using VINs in 1976 on their 164 and 240 series. Since the VIN format was not yet standardized at that time, the codes of pre-1981 cars were a bit different than the modern Volvo VIN you would see today. Most used to be 15-character long, but they still contained much of the same information such as the Volvo model, engine, year, and country of origin.
Why Should I Run a Volvo VIN Check?
When your safety is at stake, it’s important to be as informed as possible when it comes to finding the right fit for you. There are endless options out there when it comes to purchasing a vehicle and understanding the VIN will get you one step closer to making the best choice.
At EpicVin, we’re committed to making your car buying journey simple and stress-free. Our team delivers 100% verified and accurate data with no hidden fees! When it comes to buying a vehicle, you can’t afford to make a mistake. We’ll ensure you don’t purchase a car with underlying issues through our Volvo VIN Decoder.
We advise you to read the Samples to understand what information can be found in the vehicle history report. This data will help you identify possible problems and avoid buying a car that needs expensive repairs.
Popular Models from Volvo
Looking for a car in 2020? Before we go, let’s talk about some of the top Volvo models. First up is the XC90 Crossover SUV. This model was first introduced in 2015 and has undergone many small updates to stay competitive in today’s market. If you’re looking for something even newer and sleeker, the Volvo S60 series will be the perfect fit for you. For bigger families, we suggest something with a little more leg room. The XC40 and XC60 T5 Momentum is a mid-size SUV that offers ample space and comfort for your family.
Whatever your style, EpicVin is here to ensure you get the most value out of your new car. If you’re ready to learn more, type in a VIN below to start exploring any vehicle history reports.
