Volvo VIN decoder for USA

Free Volvo VIN Decoder to check car history and specifications for Volvo USA

What is Volvo VIN?

Volvo VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character code unique to every vehicle. You can use it to identify a specific car and learn more about its features and history.

Besides encoding technical details of a vehicle, the VIN number is also used to record various events that happen during its lifetime (accidents, damages, theft, etc.). Therefore, using a Volvo VIN decoder can be a game changer if you’re looking to buy a used car, as this can reduce the chances of overlooking some hidden damage, odometer fraud, and other potential issues that may otherwise stay secret.

Founded nearly 100 years ago in Sweden, Volvo is known for its commitment to safety, durability, and innovation. Over the years, this car manufacturer has earned a reputation as a trusted brand, producing a wide range of vehicles that prioritize driver and passenger well-being while embracing the best vehicle manufacturing practices.

Where to search for the VIN on your Volvo?

A vehicle’s VIN number is located in multiple places and can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Where to find VIN - location Volvo USA

Here’s where you can find it in Volvo cars:

  • Dashboard. Typically, the dashboard is the first place you may want to check when searching for your Volvo VIN number. Often, it’s located on a small metal plate or transparent sticker that you can see through the windshield on the driver’s side.
  • Driver’s side door pillar. Open the driver’s door and look for an engraved/printed metal plate or a sticker, often beginning with “YV.”
  • Under the hood. In some older Volvo cars, the VIN number can also be found on various engine compartment components, such as the firewall, inner fender, or radiator support.
  • The front end of a frame. Some older Volvos have their VINs placed on the inner front wheel arch.
  • Vehicle documentation. If you have a vehicle registration or insurance documents nearby, it might be the quickest way to check your Volvo VIN number.

What is Volvo VIN decoder?

VIN lookup is common among individuals and businesses in the automotive industry. If you want to change your car and a Volvo is on your radar, a VIN number lookup can come in handy, especially if it’s a used vehicle.

To check a car’s past, enter its VIN into the VIN decoder and get a vehicle history report, which will uncover a wealth of essential information. This can include past ownership, damage records, odometer readings, theft records (if any), market trends, and more. Having access to this information can help you assess the condition and reliability of a used car you’re about to buy.

How accurate is the information provided by the Volvo VIN decoder?

Using the Volvo VIN decoder is a great way to learn more about a vehicle you own or one you plan to buy. Information provided by carVertical is collected from over 900 reputable global sources, including state registries, insurance companies, auto repair shops, connected vehicle fleets, and many more, ensuring its legitimacy and accuracy.

How to decode a VIN number - Volvo VIN decoder

A standard VIN consists of 17 characters that are divided into four different sections:

  • World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
  • Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
  • Security Check Digit
  • Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

Each section represents different information about a vehicle and can be decoded to learn more about its specifications and more. For this, you can either use a VIN decoder USA (the fastest and most reliable way) or do it manually (time-consuming as you need to learn what each section and character represents for a specific brand).

Let’s take a look at how it works.

VIN breakdown (Volvo USA)

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The first three characters of the VIN are called the World Manufacturer Identifier section. By decoding them, you can learn about the country of origin (first character), manufacturer of the vehicle (second character), and its type (third character), e.g., passenger car, bus, truck, etc.

WMICountryType
YV1SwedenPassenger Cars
YV2SwedenTrucks
YV3SwedenBuses
YV4SwedenMultipurpose Passenger Vehicle
YV5SwedenTrucks - Incomplete Vehicle
7JRUnited StatesPassenger Cars made in the USA
PNVMalaysiaPassenger Cars made in Malaysia
LVYChinaPassenger Cars made in Daqing, China
LYVChinaPassenger Cars made in Chengdu & Luqiao District of Taizhou, China

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The fourth to eighth character of the Volvo VIN is the Vehicle Descriptor Section, which refers to vehicle-specific information, such as engine size as type, car series, body style, and emissions.

CharacterInformationExamples
4thVehicle seriesA – 240/S80; B – 260/V70/XC70; C – XC90; F – 740
5thBody type & restraint systemC – Convertible, DualFront, SideAirBags; H – Sedan AWD, DualAirBags; X – 3-Point Seatbelt
6th-7thVolvo engine27 – 1.9L 4Cyl. Turbo (B4204T4); 50 – 2.3L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5234T4); 63 – 2.4L 5Cyl. Turbo (B5244T7)
8thEmissionsA – 50 State w/o EGR; 3 – 49 State w/o EGR

Security Check Digit

The Security Check Digit is a single-digit character that appears in the 9th position of the Volvo VIN. Technically, it doesn’t provide any information about the vehicle – a Security Check Digit is used to detect any potential errors or tampering in the VIN and verify Volvo VIN as a whole.

The Security Check Digit is calculated based on a specific algorithm called the VIN formula. It uses the remaining 16 characters of VIN, each of which has a weight assigned to it. The Check Digit is calculated based on the sum of these weighted values.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The Vehicle Identifier Section is the last part of the Volvo VIN and consists of the remaining seven characters.

The 10th character denotes the model year. All car manufacturers use the same system shown below:

CodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYear
A1980L1990Y2000A2010L2020Y2030
B1981M199112001B2011M202112031
C1982N199222002C2012N202222032
D1983P199332003D2013P202332033
E1984R199442004E2014R202442034
F1985S199552005F2015S202552035
G1986T199662006G2016T202662036
H1987V199772007H2017V202772037
J1988W199882008J2018W202882038
K1989X199992009K2019X202992039

The 11th refers to the assembly plant where the Volvo was produced:

CodeAssembly plant
0[Sweden] Kalmar Plant
1[Sweden] Torslanda Plant VCT 21(Volvo Torslandaverken) (Gothenburg)
2[Belgium] Ghent Plant VCG 22
3[Canada] Halifax Plant
4[Thailand] - Thai-Swedish Assembly Co. Ltd.
5[Malaysia]
6[Australia]
7[Indonesia]
B[China] - Chengdu
D[Italy] - Bertone models 262C (US/CDN), 780
E[Singapore]
F[The Netherlands] Born Plant (NEDCAR)
G[United States] Charleston Plant
J[Sweden] Uddevalla Plant VCU 38 (Volvo Cars/AutoNova/Pininfarina Sverige AB)
P[China] - Daqing

12th to 17th is a serial or production number that is unique to every vehicle.

Is a Volvo VIN decoder available for a free VIN check in the USA?

A free VIN decoder in USA provides basic information about a vehicle you’re interested in. For example, you can check a specific car’s make, model, year of manufacture, and vehicle attributes.

However, if you want to better understand a car's past and condition, you will have to get a vehicle history report. This is because vehicle history reports gather and process data from various paid databases worldwide that are sometimes not available to regular individuals.

List of Volvo models in the USA

  • Volvo V40
  • Volvo V40 Cross Country
  • Volvo V60
  • Volvo V60 Cross Country
  • Volvo V90
  • Volvo S80
  • Volvo S90
  • Volvo XC40
  • Volvo XC60
  • Volvo XC70
  • Volvo XC90
  • Volvo S60
  • Volvo S90 Cross Country
  • Volvo C40
  • Volvo EX30
  • Volvo EX90

FAQ

Can I use a Volvo VIN decoder to find out the car's manufacturing date and location?

Yes, you can either use a VIN decoder or manually decode a Volvo VIN to find out its manufacturing date (10th character) and location (11th character).

Can the VIN decoder tell me about the car's previous accidents or damage history?

Yes, you can get a vehicle history report to check accident history and the scale of damage to any car.

Can I use the VIN decoder to determine the model, engine type, and other specification details of the Volvo vehicle?

Yes. Entering a Volvo VIN into the VIN decoder gives you access to the vehicle's original specifications, so you can learn more about them or check if any parts have been changed during its lifetime.

Can a VIN decoder tell me if the Volvo vehicle has ever been stolen or salvaged?

Yes, a vehicle history report can help you learn whether a vehicle has been stolen/salvaged in the past or is currently wanted as stolen.