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Volkswagen VIN decoder for Australia and NZ
Volkswagens are built in several countries: the Golf, Tiguan and Passat mostly in Germany, the Polo in South Africa, and the first-generation Amarok in Germany and Argentina. The manufacturer code also tells passenger cars from commercial vehicles.
Volkswagen manufacturer codes (WMI)
The first three characters of the VIN are the world manufacturer identifier. These are the Volkswagen codes you will see most often in Australia and New Zealand:
| VIN starts with | Meaning |
|---|---|
WVW | Volkswagen passenger car built in Germany |
WVG | Volkswagen SUV (Tiguan, Touareg) and Touran |
WV1 | Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – cargo vans, first-generation Amarok |
WV2 | Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – passenger vans |
AAV | Volkswagen South Africa (Polo) |
Model year in a Volkswagen VIN
German-built Volkswagens use position 10 for the model year in most cases.
Buying a used Volkswagen
Popular models here: Golf, Tiguan, Polo, Amarok, Transporter, T-Roc.
Check the service history of DSG gearboxes and of diesel models affected by the emissions recall. European-built cars often use position 10 for the year, which makes mismatched advertisements easy to spot. Amaroks and Transporters often worked as commercial vehicles, so compare their kilometres with the service records.
Volkswagen VIN questions
Where was my Volkswagen Polo built?
Polos sold new in Australia have mostly come from South Africa, so their VINs start with AAV, the Volkswagen South Africa code. German-built Volkswagens start with WVW or WVG.
What is the difference between WVW and WV1?
WVW is used for Volkswagen passenger cars, while WV1 and WV2 belong to Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles – vans and the first-generation Amarok.