Audi VIN Decoder

Decode any Audi VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your Audi into the decoder above and get the model, year, engine family, trim, factory options, plant code, and recall status — instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.

This page is the Audi VIN hub. Below you’ll find Audi-specific WMI codes, the brand’s plant codes, a position-by-position guide to reading a Audi VIN, where to find the VIN on your Audi, and direct links to the Audi VIN decoders for individual models.

About Audi

Audi AG traces its history to August Horch’s 1909 founding of Audi Automobilwerke, named for the Latin translation of his surname. Today’s Audi is the premium arm of the Volkswagen Group, headquartered in Ingolstadt, Bavaria. The four-ring logo dates to the 1932 merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer into Auto Union.

Audi assembles vehicles at Ingolstadt (A3, A4, A5, Q5), Neckarsulm (A6, A7, A8, R8, e-tron GT), Győr in Hungary (TT, Q3), Brussels (Q8 e-tron), San José Chiapa in Mexico (Q5 for North America), and Changchun in China. WMI WAU identifies the standard Audi passenger car; WA1 is reserved for Audi’s Q-series SUVs; TRU was used for the TT.

Audi WMI codes (positions 1–3)

The first three characters of your VIN — the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) — tell you who built the vehicle and where. The WMI is assigned by SAE International on behalf of ISO. Here are the WMIs you’ll encounter on Audi vehicles:

If your Audi VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine Audi. A Audi VIN starting with an unlisted WMI may indicate a rebadge, a regional partner build, or a counterfeit — decode the full VIN with the tool above to confirm.

How to read a Audi VIN — position by position

Every Audi VIN built since 1981 uses the ISO 3779 17-character standard. The 17 characters split into three blocks:

Here is what each position means specifically on a Audi:

Positions 1–3: World Manufacturer Identifier

See the WMI table above. The country code at position 1 tells you where the vehicle was assembled — not where Audi is headquartered. A Audi assembled outside Germany (Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm) carries the country code of the assembly plant.

Positions 4–8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

Audi VDS positions encode the platform (MQB, MLB Evo, MEB), body style (sedan, Avant, Sportback, SUV), engine family (EA888, EA897, EA825), and trim package. Position 8 is most often the engine code.

Position 9: Check digit

The check digit is the most important single character in any VIN. It is calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. If even one character of a Audi VIN is mistyped, the check digit will not match — and any compliant decoder, DMV, or insurance system will flag the VIN as invalid.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to a model year on a 30-year cycle. Skim the chart below to translate yours:

The letters I, O, and Q are never used in any VIN — including Audi — because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.

Position 11: Assembly plant

The single character at position 11 identifies the specific factory. A = Ingolstadt, N = Neckarsulm, D = Brussels, H = Győr, K = San José Chiapa.

Positions 12–17: Serial number

The final six characters are the production sequence number stamped on your specific Audi as it rolled off the line. Combined with the previous 11 characters, this makes every Audi VIN globally unique.

Where to find the VIN on a Audi

You can find your Audi VIN in several places. The lower-left windshield and the door jamb are the easiest to read; the others are useful when one of those labels has been damaged or replaced.

• Lower-left corner of the windshield (visible from outside)
• Driver’s side door jamb (Audi data sticker with VIN, paint code, and equipment codes)
• Engine bay — usually stamped on the front bulkhead
• Vehicle title, registration, COC (Certificate of Conformity) for European buyers

If your Audi is older and built before 1981, the chassis number is shorter than 17 characters and follows a Audi-specific format. For pre-1981 vehicles, use our classic car VIN decoder guide.

Check Audi recalls and safety information

Open and historic recalls on Audi vehicles are tracked by national transport authorities. The fastest way to check a specific Audi:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model and model year
2. Cross-reference the 17-character VIN with the NHTSA recall database (US) and KBA (Germany)
3. Review any open safety actions and contact your nearest Audi authorised service centre for free repair

Recalls are repaired free of charge by the manufacturer regardless of vehicle age or ownership history.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Audi VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your Audi’s windshield, driver-side door jamb, or vehicle title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include make, model, model year, body style, engine family, transmission, plant of origin, and open NHTSA recalls. No registration is required.

Where is the VIN on my Audi?

The two easiest spots are the lower-left corner of the windshield (visible from outside the car) and the driver-side door jamb sticker. Both locations are required by federal labelling regulation on every road-going Audi sold in North America and the EU.

Is the Audi VIN decoder free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Audi VIN free of charge with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports — including ownership records, accident history, and odometer history — are available as an optional paid upgrade.

What does the VIN tell me about my Audi?

A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration of your Audi: model, year, body style, engine, transmission, trim level, factory options, country and plant of origin, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record colour (which is on the build sheet), current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain — for those, you need a paid vehicle history report.

Can a Audi VIN be faked?

The 17 characters themselves can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible — any single-character change breaks the math. Audi VIN plates are tamper-resistant by federal standard. If you suspect a cloned VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.

Decode any Audi VIN free

Type your 17-character Audi VIN into the decoder at the top of this page and get a full breakdown instantly. To learn more about VIN structure in general, see our guides:

• How to read a VIN number
• What every character in a VIN means
• Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981)
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report