A Volvo vehicle identification number
(VIN) can be found on the driver’s side of the dashboard, in the warranty manual, on the vehicle registration, or by using the car’s central touch screen. The string of 17 letters and numbers include the codes for the vehicle’s country of origin, manufacturer, model year, and assembly plant. The VIN for your car is an important number to know! You’ll need it to renew your license, sell your car, or find the exact parts you need to repair your vehicle.
If you’re not sure what those 17 letters and numbers mean, not to worry—the car insurance
comparison super app Jerry
is here! We’ve created a guide for decoding your Volvo’s VIN, including where to find it, what information is included, and how to read it for yourself. If you're also looking for the best car insurance rates for Volvos
, we've got you covered. How to check your Volvo’s VIN
A VIN is a vehicle identification number—the 17 digits have a story to tell about your Volvo, where it came from, and what it needs in case of repair.
You can find the VIN for your Volvo in the following locations:
A sticker or metal tag on the driver’s side of your dashboard
A sticker along the driver’s side doorjamb
In Volvo models with a central 9" Sensus touchscreen, you can also find the VIN by going into the “Settings” menu and selecting “System”. Your VIN should be listed under the resulting menu.
How to decode a Volvo VIN
A VIN is a globally-recognized identification number that contains all the important history and unique features of your particular car—but what do those 17 coded digits mean?
VINs started appearing in the U.S. in the 1950s. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA
) standardized VINs in 1981—no matter the model, make, or country of origin, the 17 digits in a VIN are organized in the exact same way. VINs use every numerical digit (0-9) but leave out some letters—I, O, and Q are too similar to 1, 0, and 9. To avoid confusion, these three letters do not appear in VINs.
First position: country of origin
Let’s take a look at what the first three digits of any VIN mean. They are the world manufacturer identifier (WMI) code.
The first number indicates the country where the car was made. For Volvos, a Y means that your car was manufactured in Sweden or Belgium, whereas a 2 indicates that it was made in Canada.
Positions 2-3: manufacturer information
The next two digits will tell you the manufacturer of a vehicle. The third digit usually indicates the type of vehicle. These numbers are simple for a Volvo: the V stands for Volvo and the 1 for passenger car.
Positions 4-8: vehicle-specific information
The next five digits are where it can get a little complicated. This is where you find your Volvo’s vehicle-specific information—the body type
, engine and transmission specifications, and safety features. These digits will help pinpoint your Volvo’s model and trim. Position 9: the VIN check digit
To prevent people from creating fake VINs, the 9th number or letter is included as a “check digit.” It’s based on the other numbers in the VIN, and can verify the authenticity of the number.
Position 10: model year
The numbering system indicating the model year occasionally has to re-use digits the longer a manufacturer makes vehicles. For example, the model year code for Volvo restarted at A in 2010.
You can see VIN model year codes for the past twenty years here:
Position 11: assembly plant
Car manufacturers use the 11th digit of VINs to record the factory where each Volvo was made. Volvo’s assembly plants operate in Sweden, Canada, Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands.
Positions 12-17: vehicle serial number
Last but not least, the six digits at the end of any VIN are the serial number for your vehicle. This sequence of digits is used to confirm the unique identity of each Volvo for registration and legal purposes.
How to find affordable Volvo insurance
Once you’ve found and decoded your Volvo VIN, why not take a moment to find a better deal on your car insurance? With Jerry
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