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Read moreCheck vehicle information with Audi VIN
Looking for the VIN?
Here is there you’ll find it:
Although Audi was founded in 1909, the brand we know today didn’t get its start until 1969. After losing its factories to Russia during WWII and being unprofitable during Daimler-Benz’s ownership, the company was bought by Volkswagen. Fearing the brand would be shut down, designers secretly worked on the Audi 100. Volkswagen executives were so impressed by the design that they put the car into production. The company’s success was cemented by their innovative Quattro all wheel drive system, which helped the company dominate rally racing in the 1980s. By the 1990s, they were able to leverage this success to become Volkswagen’s luxury brand.
Whether you dream of owning a classic Quattro or a modern A8, buying a luxury car can be financially risky. By using our tools to decode the VIN, you can learn how a vehicle was built. This helps you verify seller information, so you know the car is still equipped as it was when it rolled off the factory line.
There’s no telling what modifications a car may have, which can make it hard to determine its authenticity. This may include slapping “R” or “RS” badges on a regular Audi, or bolting on accessories that weren’t made for the car. While there are many Audi VIN decoder options out there, our free Audi VIN decoder is the easiest way to get factory information on one of these cars. If you want to learn more about a vehicle, you can use our VIN report to get a full history, based on official resources including state titles, insurance claims and police reports.
Already own an Audi? Running a VIN check makes it easier to keep your car on the road. Although an Audi VIN decoder free check isn’t as in-depth as our paid reports, it does tell you important equipment information. That way, you can be sure you’re getting the correct parts for your car or crossover.
To use our lookup tool, you need to find the VIN number. The vehicle identification number is printed and etched in several places on your vehicle, usually on locations that aren’t easily damaged or removed during the car’s life. These locations vary from model to model. Here are the most common VIN locations on Audis:
The VIN is also used to identify vehicles on official documents. You can usually find it on titles, insurance paperwork and service receipts.
Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 |
H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 |
J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 |
K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 |
L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
The vehicle identification number uses 17 digits. This alphanumeric code includes the sequential production number, as well as information on the model, equipment and manufacturing location. Here’s the VIN decoder Audi information you can get from each of these digits.
The first three digits identify the manufacturer.
The fourth through eighth digits identify the vehicle model and equipment.
Code | Model |
---|---|
FA | A8 and S8 |
FB | A6 and S6 |
FE | Q7 |
FG | R8 |
FH | A5 and S5 Cabriolets |
FL | A4 |
FK | TT and TTS |
FM | A3 |
FP | Q5 |
FR | A5 and S5 |
The ninth digit is a check digit. It matches with other information in the VIN to guarantee its authenticity. This reduces errors when using the VIN in databases, like our VIN lookup tool.
The tenth digit is the model year. This digit is standardized across all vehicles, and alternates between letters and numbers. The letters “O” and “Q” aren’t used, since they can be confused with “0”. This means 2022 models use “N” for this digit, while 2023 models use “P”.
The eleventh digit is the manufacturing plant.
Code | Plant |
---|---|
A | Ingolstadt |
D | Bratislava |
N | Neckarsulm |
1 | Gyor |
The rest of the VIN is the vehicle’s serial number. Since this is only 6 digits, this number is reused. However, no two vehicles have an identical VIN.
Using our Audi decoder, VIN information is easy to access. Here are some examples of what you’ll learn when you look up your vehicle.
Locations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, there are three places you can find the code on most vehicles:
- Look through the windshield at the dashboard. On the driver’s side, you should see a small metal plate with the number stamped into it.
- Open the driver’s door. Look at the front and side of the door pillar for an I.D. sticker. It usually has the manufacturer’s logo on it. The code should be on this sticker.
- Open the hood. You may see a sticker on the firewall or near the passenger’s side strut tower. Some cars have the number engraved in one of these areas.
Since this number is used to identify the vehicle on official documents, you can also find it on the title, the window sticker, and on insurance policies.
We also decode numbers for RVs, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. If you need to decode an RV number, make sure it’s the one issued by the chassis manufacturer, not the RV outfitter.
No. Canadian and Mexican cars usually use the same format. Other countries use their own formats.
It’s up to the manufacturer to determine what they want to include for some parts of the number. For example, some companies don’t include information about transmissions or trim levels.
Usually, no. A few manufacturers stamp the code into the engine. If the VINs on the engine and car match, then it’s the original engine. On most vehicles, there isn’t anything that ties an engine to a specific vehicle. At most, looking up the vehicle on our website will tell you if a different type of engine was installed. For example, if someone swaps a V8 into a Ford Mustang, our site will tell you it originally came with a V6.
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