Volvo VIN Decoder
Get the detailed information on Volvo’s past by using our Volvo VIN decoder. View the car’s specs, history, records, and more before you decide to buy it.
What is a Volvo VIN Decoder?
The Volvo VIN Decoder is a tool that breaks down the 17-digit VIN of your vehicle. Each VIN is unique, and it can be used to access the exact specifications and history of each vehicle. As an identifier, no car has the same VIN.
Before you decide to buy a used Volvo, make sure you decode the VIN first and get the information on the car’s past, like the accident history, mileage records, and more.
Why Should You Decode the Volvo VIN?
The Volvo VIN decoder helps you uncover the detailed information of the car that you need to know before you decide to put any money into, say, a down payment. Here’s the reason why you should decode the Volvo’s VIN:
Check car features
Find out what parts and options the car had when it was new. This helps you see if the car still has them.
Look for vehicle damage
You can know if the car was in an accident in the past. This helps you stay away from cars with hidden problems.
Check past owners
You can see how many people owned the car before. If fewer people used the car, it might be in better shape.
Check mileage
You can find out if someone changed the car’s mileage. This helps you not pay too much for a car that was used a lot.
Look for recalls
Make sure the car has no safety problems that were not fixed.
See sale history
You can know when and where the car was sold before. You may also see pictures to know how the car looked.
What Can You Get With a Volvo VIN Decoder?
Our VIN decoder has two different options. The free VIN decoder is a tool used to see the basic information of the vehicle, and the paid ones give you more information about the vehicle. The choice is all yours.
Here’s a clear picture of what you’ll be getting with the free VIN decoder:
- Year
- Make
- Model
- Trim
- Engine specs and size
- Transmission type
- Drive type
- Body type
- Fuel type
- Tire pressure info
- Emissions rating
- Braking system
On the other hand, here’s what you will be getting with the paid Volvo VIN decoder. With this tool, you can examine the car’s actual condition before you decide to buy.
- Vehicle’s Specifications
- Ownership History
- Accident and Damage Records
- Lien and Loan Records
- Service and Maintenance Records
- Vehicle Usage (personal, taxi, rental, etc.)
- Title Brands (Salvage, Rebuilt, etc)
- Auction records and photos
- Sales history
- Recall information
- Warranty information
Where Can You Find the VIN on a Volvo?
To find the VIN on your Volvo, check these locations on the vehicle as well as on the paperwork, as the VIN is usually written on it.
Dashboard
Look at the lower corner of the driver’s side windshield—this is where the VIN is typically etched.
Door Jamb
Open the driver’s door and inspect the frame; the VIN is often printed on a metal plate or label there.
Vehicle Documents
Review the car’s official documents, such as registration or insurance papers, where the VIN is usually listed.
How to Use the Volvo VIN Decoder
Our Volvo VIN decoder gets you all the information you need to know before buying a vehicle. To decode the VIN, follow these steps.
Find the VIN
First things first, you will need to find the VIN of the vehicle. If you have the classic Volvo, you can decode it here, too.
Fill out the Form
Fill out the form along with the VIN, email, and phone number. Then, click on the “Check VIN” button to begin the process.
Get VIN Report
Proceed to payment to see the complete report of the vehicle, like accident reports, ownership history, mileage records, and more.
Why You Need To Check a VIN: A Real-Life Case
Jake was eyeing a car for his birthday. He found the car on an online car listing. The car looks good, and it doesn’t have any scratches or dents in the picture. He decided to see the seller himself to check the car’s condition; it turned out it was just fine. Before he paid for the down payment, Jake decided to run a VIN check.
What's in the report?
- Damage Records (2)
- Salvage branded title
- Events reported (1)
- Auction/Sales (1)
Outcome
Turns out, the vehicle has a lot of hidden issues, including the salvage title. Jake decided to call it off and moved on to find another car.
Original Volvo Build Sheet at Your Fingertips
Looking for more than just standard specs? Grab the Volvo Window Sticker to view all factory-installed features, original MSRP, safety details, packages, fuel efficiency, and more. It's a great way for buyers to understand what’s included and for sellers to highlight added value for their customers.
Breaking Down the Volvo VIN: What Every Digit Means
The VIN is a 17-digit code that acts as the car identifier. Even if two cars share the same make, model, and year, their VINs will always be different.
The VIN has three main parts, namely:
- WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier): The first three digits of the VIN show where the vehicle was manufactured.
- VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section): Characters 4 through 9 provide details about the vehicle’s model, body style, engine type, and other key specifications.
- VIS (Vehicle Identifier Section): Characters 10 to 17 indicate information such as the model year, manufacturing plant, and serial number.
Volvo VIN Breakdown
- 1st Character: The first digit of the VIN shows in which country the vehicle was manufactured. For example, if the first digit starts with the numbers 1,2,3,4,5, then it was manufactured in North America.
- 2nd Character: Many manufacturers use one specific letter or number to specify which manufacturer the vehicle was manufactured by, whether it's in different states or provinces.
- 3rd character: Represents the vehicle’s type, whether it's an SUV, truck, sedan, or motorcycle.
- 4th Character: Represents the car’s body type and drive trains, like a two-door, or two-wheel drive sedan, etc.
- 5th Character: Represents the engine used on the vehicle. It could be a diesel engine, a four-cylinder engine, and many more.
- 6th Character: This shows the vehicle series. The meaning can change, so using a free VIN decoder helps you know if it’s a certain Volvo model.
- 7th Character: Shows the safety feature added by the manufacturer, like the number of airbags and seatbelts.
- 8th character: Identifies the Toyota models, for instance, this digit can be used to see if it's a luxury, SUV, or just the basic model.
- 9th Character: This number checks if the VIN is real. It uses a special formula with the other 16 characters to make sure it’s not fake.
- 10th Character: This tells the year the car was made. Letters and numbers are used. For example, A means 1980 or 2010, and B means 1981 or 2011.
- 11th Character: This shows the factory where the Volvo was made.
- 12th to 17th Characters: These are the car’s serial numbers. They make each Volvo different, even if it’s the same model from the same factory.
Lexus VIN Breakdown
- Volvo invented the three-point seatbelt and gave away the patent for free. In 1959, Volvo engineer Nils Bohlin created the three-point seatbelt, a safety feature now standard in cars worldwide.
- "Volvo" comes from the Latin verb “volvere,” and in the first person singular, it becomes “Volvo,” meaning “I roll.”
- A Volvo holds the Guinness World Record for the highest mileage driven by a car. Irv Gordon’s 1966 Volvo P1800 has covered more than 4.8 million kilometers (3 million miles).
Decode VINs for Other Makes
- Alfa Romeo
- ATV
- Bentley
- Cadillac
- Chevrolet
- Chrysler
- Dodge
- Fiat
- Ford
- Freightliner
- GMC
- Hyundai
- Isuzu
- Jaguar
- Jeep
- Kia
- Lamborghini
- Land Rover
- Lexus
- Lincoln
- Maserati
- Mazda
- Mercedes
- Mercury
- Mitsubishi
- Nissan
- Oldsmobile
- Pontiac
- Porsche
- Saab
- Subaru
- Suzuki
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Volvo
- VW