Free Volvo VIN Decoder & Lookup

List of Volvo Models

• 240 Series
• 740 Series
• 850 Series
• 940 Series
• 960 Series
• 9700
• BXXR
• C30
• C40
• C70
• Cab Over Engine LT
• EC40
• EX30
• EX40
• S40
• S60
• S70
• S80
• S90
• V40
• V50
• V60
• V70
• V90
• V90CC
• XC40
• XC60
• XC70
• XC90

Volvo VIN Number Lookup

The VIN number is part of the assembly process. This string of 17 characters is stamped, engraved and glued to several locations, so it stays with the vehicle over its life. It’s more than a serial number. It also contains information about when the car was built, which factory it came out of, and how it was equipped. Our decoder tells you this information in plain English, so you can compare it to the vehicle listing. This helps you avoid cars with obvious discrepancies. This could be as simple as saying a car is all wheel drive hen it’s two wheel drive, or as complex as a car made to look like a more desirable performance model.

Where to Search for the VIN?

To use our search tools, you need the car’s VIN. Here’s the most common places to find this 17 digit code on Volvos.

Look at the dashboard. In the front left corner, you should see a small plate with the VIN printed on it. It’s easier to read this number if you look at it from outside the car.

Open the front left door and look at the door pillar. You will see two stickers: a white and yellow sticker with tire pressure information, and a black sticker with vehicle weight information. The VIN is on top left of the second sticker.

Open the hood. Look for a small black sticker on top of the passenger-side fender, close to the windshield cowl. The VIN is printed on this sticker. If it’s an older model, you may see a small black and white plate riveted to the driver’s side inner fender, near the front of the car. The VIN is stamped into the third line on this plate.

You can also find the VIN on the firewall. With the hood open, look at the bottom edge of the windshield cowl. There will be a small cutout, revealing the firewall underneath. The VIN is etched into this spot.

Don’t forget to check official documents that come with the car. The VIN is usually printed on insurance cards, registrations and titles.

Comprehensive VIN Decoder Guide

While the VIN number ends with a serial number, the other places in this number encode factory information. Here’s what you can learn when when you use our VIN check system to decode this number.

The first three places of the VIN identify the manufacturer:

The fourth place is the vehicle series:

The fifth place in the VIN number is the safety system and body type:

The sixth and seventh places in the VIN identify the engine. Here are a few common engine codes:

The eighth place is the body style for 1991 and earlier models:

After 1991, it indicates the emissions standard. This code changed from year to year, so it’s easier to use our VIN check to identify the emission system.

The ninth place is used for a check digit. This confirms the rest of the VIN is correct.

The 10th place is the model year. It alternates between numbers and letters, avoiding characters that might be confused with numbers, like “O” and “0”. Current models use “N” for 2022 or “P” for 2023.

The 11th place identifies the assembly plant:

Places 12 to 17 are the serial number. No two cars will have the same serial and identical characters in the rest of the VIN.