Decode a Audi VIN
How to read a Audi VIN (position by position)
Every Audi built for North America since 1981 carries a 17-character VIN. The first three characters are the WMI: NHTSA's vPIC lists 5 WMIs used on Audi vehicles, such as TRU, WA1 and WAU.
| Position | Part | On a Audi VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country of manufacture | T, W (Hungary and Germany) |
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | TRU, WA1, WAU, WU1, WUA |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Audi's own codes for model, body, engine and restraints |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other 16 characters |
| 10 | Model year | G (2016) to S (2025) for current Audi models |
| 11 | Plant | Audi plant code (the decoder names the plant) |
| 12–17 | Serial number | Audi's production sequence |
Audi WMI codes
Audi WMIs point to 2 countries of manufacture: Hungary (TRU) and Germany (WA1, WAU, WU1, WUA). vPIC registers Audi WMIs for passenger car and suv / mpv vehicle types.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| TRU | AUDI AG | HUNGARY | Passenger Car |
| WA1 | AUDI AG | GERMANY | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| WAU | AUDI AG | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
| WU1 | AUDI SPORT GMBH | GERMANY | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
| WUA | AUDI SPORT GMBH | GERMANY | Passenger Car |
The plant code (11th character) is defined by Audi itself, and vPIC does not publish a list of them; the decoder above shows the plant city and country for any Audi VIN.
Audi model year codes
The 10th character gives the model year: a 2023 Audi TT carries P, a 2022 Audi TT RS carries N and a 2023 Audi TTS carries P. The letters repeat every 30 years.
Full VIN year chart, 1980–2039 →
Where to find the VIN on a Audi
- On the dashboard, at the base of the windshield on the driver side (read it from outside).
- On the label in the driver-side door jamb.
- On the title, registration and insurance card.
- Often stamped on the engine bay firewall or the frame.
Audi recalls
NHTSA lists 398 Audi vehicle recall campaigns across the 2008–2024 model years (counting each campaign once per model year). The 2022 model year has the most, with 39; 2020–2024 models account for 134.
| Model year | Campaigns |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 15 |
| 2023 | 20 |
| 2022 | 39 |
| 2021 | 30 |
| 2020 | 30 |
| 2019 | 36 |
| 2018 | 30 |
| 2017 | 32 |
| 2016 | 23 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2014 | 17 |
| 2013 | 23 |
| 2012 | 20 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2010 | 13 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2008 | 12 |
Audi models in vPIC
vPIC lists 43 Audi models for the 2016–2025 model years.
- A3 2016–2025
- A4 2016–2025
- A4 allroad 2016–2025
- A5 2016–2025
- A6 2016–2025
- A6 allroad 2020–2025
- A7 2016–2025
- A7 e 2021–2022
- A8 2016–2020
- A8 e 2020
- A8 L 2021–2025
- A8 L e 2021
- e-tron 2019–2023
- e-tron GT 2022–2024
- e-tron Sportback 2020–2022
- Q3 2016–2025
- Q4 2022–2025
- Q5 2016–2025
- Q5 e 2020–2025
- Q6 2025
- Q7 2017–2025
- Q8 2019–2025
- R8 2016–2023
- RS 3 2017–2025
- RS 5 2018–2025
- RS 6 Avant 2021–2025
- RS 7 2016–2025
- RS e-tron GT 2022–2025
- RS Q8 2020–2025
- S e-tron GT 2025
- S3 2016–2025
- S4 2016–2025
- S5 2016–2025
- S6 2016–2025
- S7 2016–2025
- S8 2016–2025
- SQ5 2016–2025
- SQ6 2025
- SQ7 2020–2025
- SQ8 2020–2025
- TT 2016–2023
- TT RS 2018–2022
- TTS 2016–2023
FAQ
How do I tell the year of a Audi by its VIN?
Read the 10th character: on Audi models from 2016 to 2025 it runs from G to S (L = 2020, R = 2024). The same letters were used 30 years earlier.
What does a Audi VIN tell you?
The maker and country (characters 1–3), model, body and engine (4–8), a check digit (9), the model year (10), the plant (11) and the serial number (12–17). It does not record color, options or accident history.
Can I find a Audi paint code from the VIN?
Usually not: the paint code isn't part of the VIN. It's printed on the vehicle's information label, often in the driver's door jamb, and a Audi dealer can look it up from the VIN.