Certcar
Check VIN

Volkswagen VIN check: Golf, Passat and Tiguan.

Enter the VIN and see what has been recorded about the car: mileage, damage, services and factory equipment.

Enter VIN number (17 characters)

You see the make and model for free, before you pay.

The VIN of a Golf 7
17 positions, read one by one
Illustrative example
Positions 7–8
Model code

AU is the Golf 7. This code tells generations apart, for example the Golf 7 (AU) from the Golf 8 (CD).

For your VIN, try the free VIN decoder.

Generation and year, straight from the VIN.

On a European-market Volkswagen, two positions in the VIN tell you which generation and model year you are looking at, before you see the papers.

Position 10 · model year

  • A2010
  • B2011
  • C2012
  • D2013
  • E2014
  • F2015
  • G2016
  • H2017
  • J2018
  • K2019
  • L2020
  • M2021
  • N2022
  • P2023
  • R2024
  • S2025
  • T2026

The letters I, O, Q, U and Z aren't used. Before 2010, the year was written as a digit: 9 for 2009, 8 for 2008. The model year can start a few months before the calendar year.

Positions 7–8 · model code

  • AUGolf 72012–2020
  • CDGolf 82020–
  • 3CPassat B6 and B72005–2014
  • 3GPassat B82014–2023
  • 6RPolo 52009–2017
  • 5NTiguan 12007–2016

A high-mileage Passat.

A Passat or Golf from a fleet may have high mileage. The high figure isn't the problem; a figure that doesn't fit the history is.

The pace, not just the figure

A company car can cover a lot of miles a year. What matters is that the readings rise steadily.

The last reading from abroad

On an imported car, the dashboard mileage must be above the last reading found abroad.

A drop is flagged

If a reading is lower than an older one, the report flags it. Ask for an explanation before paying a deposit.

Sample reportSee the full report
Mileage check
Track how the mileage evolves over time and any discrepancies between records, when they appear.
No inconsistencies
Note
The chart shows the available mileage records. The absence of discrepancies does not guarantee the vehicle's actual mileage.
Last known mileage: 32.831 km
8 mileage records found
Average: about 6.200 km per year

The readings come from service records, inspections and listings, where they exist. Obviously wrong values are removed before the chart. About the mileage check.

The EA189 recall: which engines were affected.

The recall covered the 1.2, 1.6 and 2.0 TDI Euro 5 diesel engines of the EA189 family, including Audi, Skoda and SEAT models from the same period.

Select the car's engine and year to see whether it falls within the affected range.

Check the engineTry it
The engine may be affected
TDI Euro 5 engines from this period received a software update through the recall. Ask the dealer for proof.
A guide only. The dealer confirms from the VIN whether the update was done.

On the test drive.

The report shows the history. Four things you only find out on the car.

  • DSG gearbox

    It should pull away smoothly and shift without jerking. Wet-clutch gearboxes need an oil change at a fixed interval, so ask for the invoice.

  • 4Motion

    All-wheel drive shows in the report's technical data, not on the badge. With 4Motion, the tyres must be the same on every wheel.

  • Timing belt on TDI engines

    Many TDI engines have a timing belt, with an interval in kilometres and years. Ask when it was last changed.

  • Diagnostics

    Fault codes stored in the car's control units don't appear in a history report. A garage reads them with a diagnostic tool.

Volkswagen questions.
What buyers want to know before putting down a deposit on a used Volkswagen.
Enter the 17 characters of the VIN on this page. You see the make, model and year for free, then you can buy the full report: mileage, damage, service history, factory equipment and the other sections available for that car.
On European-market cars, position 10 usually shows the model year: K for 2019, L for 2020, M for 2021 and so on. The model year can differ by a few months from the production date, so the exact year is in the car's data.
Both identify Volkswagen as the manufacturer. WVW usually appears on cars, WVG on SUVs such as the Tiguan or Touareg.
An authorised Volkswagen garage can confirm the status of the recall from the VIN. The seller should also have proof that the update was done.
Yes, if the mileage fits the history. Check that the readings in the report rise steadily and that the last reading from abroad is below the dashboard figure. You check the mechanical condition at a garage.
No. The report shows what has been recorded in the car's history, including the service work found. The gearbox's current condition is checked on a test drive and with diagnostics.
Didn't find the answer?
See all frequently asked questions

Also check.

Found the right Volkswagen?

Check it before you pay a deposit or travel to see it.

Enter VIN number (17 characters)