VW/Audi/Seat/Škoda VIN Decoder

Answers to Frequently Asked Question about VW/Audi/Seat/Škoda VIN decoder

Q: When I enter the VIN code, decoder shows "Unfortunately, the entered VIN cannot be decoded". What's the problem?

A: The decoder can decode only VIN codes of VW/Audi/Seat/Škoda cars. When your car is from one of these manufacturers and you still get this message, please contact me on my e-mail address found below. Maybe your car is a new model and decoder doesn't know that type or maybe there's simply a bug in the decoder. In this case please contact me.

Q: When I enter the VIN code, decoder shows "The entered VIN code cannot be checked for validity". What does it mean to me?

A: Most of VIN codes contain a so called check digit. There's an algorithm for checking the validity of VIN codes and comparing its result to check digit. When this check digit is not filled in the VIN code, it cannot be compared to the algorithm and therefore the VIN code cannot be checked for validity. This doesn't mean the VIN code is bad!

Q: When I enter the VIN code, decoder shows "The entered VIN is not valid". What does it mean to me?

A: This means the VIN code you entered contain a typo or generally is not correct - the check digit and the result of validity check algorithm do not match. Double check the VIN code you entered and try it again.

Q: I entered my VIN code, but decoder displays only general information - there's no information about engine, trim. There's shown just the type in general, factory where the car was made and its production number. Why?

A: Usually VW, Audi and Seat doesn't encode the information about engine, trim, airbags in the VIN code - just Škoda does for certain models. Therefore it's not possible to get this information from your VIN code by simple decoding. Complete information can be read only from the production database which can be accessed only online at an authorised VW/Audi/Seat/Škoda service centre.

Q: My dealer says my car is produced in year 2009, but your decoder says "Model year 2010". Who's wrong?

A: Nobody's wrong! The term "production year" and "model year" means two different things. Production year is a year when the car was produced. When the car was produced between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2010 it means the production year is 2010. Car manufactures keep on improving and changing cars they're building, usually it takes some time to get these improvements and changes from engineer desks' to manufacturing process. This usually happens once a year in late spring or during summer. When this change happens manufacturer changes the model year. So as of summer 2009 cars were build with as "model year 2010" although it was only year 2009 in calendar. We can say that model year 2010 lasts from summer 2009 till summer 2010.

Q: I bought a Škoda in India and your decoder shows incorrect information about model year - dealer is saying car was manufactured in 2010 but model year is 2008. It means my car was build 2 years ago?

A: No. Škoda cars made and being sold in India have different designation of model year in the VIN code. While the VIN code contains the model year it also contains the real month and year the car was produced. However according to my research the encoded information is not accurate to real production date when compared to production database, there are some discrepancies. The reason could be the fact that some of the cars for India are started to be built in Czech Republic, then the not completely assembled cars are transported to India for final assembly. Relevant and correct information about date of production is on the certificate issued by your dealer.

Q: I like your decoder and I'd like to use it on my website as a part of it. Can you share your database and algorithm for decoding VW/Audi/Seat/Škoda VIN codes?

A: Thanks fo visiting my website but as the entire decoder is based on my own research deciphering VIN codes I won't share neither my database nor my algorithm. Feel free to link to my website but that's all how I can help you.

Q: I have different question. How can I contact you?

A: You can contact me at the address shown below. Do not forget to include your VIN code in your email when reporting problem. Please note - answering your mail may take several days, even weeks. This decoder is a non profit project and everything related to it is being solved in my odd time which I don't have as much as I'd like to have. Thanks for understanding.

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