Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes)/Volvo/VIN Codes

Volvo Cars uses the following VIN codes and formats:

These VIN number decoding and designation is used primarily only for the North American Market. European and other Asian markets use another nomenclature systems.

Volvo Car Corporation is a registered Swedish based company that was headed by parent group FoMoCo PAG until 2010 when Ford Motor Company sold it to Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. The Volvo Car Corp still has concerns with its past parent AB Volvo when it comes to vehicle safety systems, crash testing, engines, ocean races, and some parts.

Volvo Car Corp uses World Manufacturer Identifiers beginning with YV and 7JR.

Volvo VIN History and Updates
The Volvo Cars group started using a standard VIN pattern in 1975 on the 164 and 240 series vehicles. Since the VIN specification had not been defined yet, the codes are a somewhat different configuration than modern VIN codes yet still contain much of the same information. The most distinguishable features are the 2 character manufacturer identifier "VC" and 15 character length.

At least European models of 240 series prior to 1981 may have a VIN with 13 characters, or even 12 characters, in this case VIN omitting one number where a two-number motor code should be, right before the year-of-manufacture-letter (B, E, H,L,M for years 1975-1979, respectively). Examples in the internet often prefix the VIN with "VC" or "YV", but this is not always present in these older models.

In 1981 Volvo changed the VIN pattern in accordance with the ISO Standard 3779 for vehicle VIN numbers. Volvo cars sold in North America from 1981 to 1991 had a VIN pattern that is slightly different than Volvo cars produced after 1991. The most significant changes in the post 1991 VIN were the 5th and 8th position characters. The 5th character was changed from representing the safety equipment to represent the body style and safety equipment. This also helped ease the integration of front wheel drive configurations (850 series) into the existing VIN pattern. It seems likely that the old (81-91) position 8 character was combined with the position 5 codes in 1992 which resulted in new codes in the 5th character position. This left the 8th character position open to represent the engine emission control setup.

With the discontinuation of the rear wheel drive models, Ford acquisition, and new series designations (C, S and V series and later XC) in 1999, Volvo VIN patterns changed again. The main change came again to the 5th character representing body style and safety equipment. After 1998 the 5th character changed to represent the vehicle platform. While the information being represented by the character position was somewhat backwards compatible with the codes used prior to 1999, it should be considered representational of a different data set. After 1999 the 4th character should also be considered representational of a new data set for vehicle code to with the change of series designations.

In 2008 the U.S. National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration decided to change the structure of the VIN pattern. For model year 2010 and forward all cars with market code 31 and 39 (USA and Canada) position 4-5 change places with position 6-8 (i.e. 12345678 becomes 12367845).

Position 1 - 3: World Manufacturer Identifier

 * YV1 = Passenger Cars
 * YV2 = Trucks
 * YV3 = Buses
 * YV4 = Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle
 * YV5 = Trucks - Incomplete Vehicle
 * XLB = passenger cars built by Volvo Car BV / NedCar BV
 * LVY = Passenger Cars made in Daqing, China
 * LYV = Passenger Cars made in Chengdu & Luqiao District of Taizhou, China
 * PNV = Passenger Cars made in Malaysia
 * 7JR = Passenger Cars made in USA


 * MHA = PT. Central Sole Agency

Position 5: Safety Equipment, Body Style, Platform Code
[1981-1991] Safety Equipment
 * A = Air bag + 3-point safety harness (seat belt)
 * C = Air bag + 3-point safety harness (seat belt) + seat belt tensioners
 * X = 3-point safety harness (seat belt)
 * Y = 3-point safety harness (seat belt) + seat belt tensioners

[1992-1998] Body and Safety Equipment
 * S = Sedan (4-door) with Air Bag & 3-Point Safety Harness (Seat Belt)
 * W = Wagon (5-door) with Air Bag & 3-Point Safety Harness (Seat Belt)
 * T = Sedan (4-door) 3-Point Safety Harness (Seat Belt) - Canada
 * X = Wagon (5-door) 3-Point Safety Harness (Seat Belt) - Canada

[1999-Present] Vehicle Platform
 * C = All-New C70
 * H = S40 AWD, S60 AWD, S80 AWD
 * J = V50 AWD, V70 AWD
 * K = C30 FWD
 * L = XC60 2WD
 * M = XC90 5-Seater AWD
 * N = XC90 5-Seater FWD
 * R = XC90 5-Seater AWD
 * S = S40 FWD, S60 FWD, S80 FWD
 * T = XC90 R-Design
 * V = V40 FWD
 * W = V50 FWD, V60 FWD, V60 AWD, V60 Plug-In Hybrid (AWD), V70 FWD, V70 AWD
 * Y = XC90 7-Seater FWD
 * Z = XC60 AWD, XC70 AWD, XC90 7-Seater AWD, EX30

[2013-Present] 
 * M = V40, V40 Cross Country AWD

Position 6- 7: Engine Code
Vin   Engine
 * 11 = B17A
 * 15 = B20F
 * 16 = B4204S
 * 20 = B200G
 * 21 = B19A, B200FT
 * 22 = B200GT
 * 24 = B19E/B200E
 * 25 = B204FT
 * 26 = B19ET
 * 27 = B200F
 * 37 = D20
 * 41 = B21A
 * 44 = B21E
 * 45 = B21F (1976-81 US, 1976-80 CDN, 1976-84 JAPAN)
 * 46 = B21ET
 * 47 = B21FT
 * 48 = B21F-LH (LH-Jet 1.0)
 * 49 = B21F-MPG (1981-82)
 * 61 = B27A
 * 62 = B28A
 * 64 = B27E
 * 65 = B27F
 * 68 = B28E, B280E
 * 69 = B28F, B280F
 * 74 = D24 TIC with EGR
 * 75 = D24 TIC without EGR
 * 76 = D24T
 * 77 = D24 (1980-1984)
 * 80 = B230G
 * 81 = B23A, B230A, B230FK
 * 82 = B230GT, B230FD (LH 3.1)
 * 83 = B230FD w/pulsair (LH 2.4)
 * 84 = B23E, B230E, B230GK
 * 85 = B230FB
 * 86 = B23ET, B230ET (1983-88), B230FT - EGR (1994-98?)
 * 87 = B23FT (LH 2.1), B230FT (LH 2.2, 2.4) - non EGR (1984-98)
 * 88 = B23F (1983-1984 - LH 2.0), B230F (1985-95 - LH 2.2, 2.4)
 * 89 = B234F
 * 92 = B6244F
 * 93 = B6254F
 * 95 = B6304F/S 1992-94
 * 96 = B6304S 1995-98
 * 98 = N6304G
 * 99 = B6254G


 * 11/12 = B4164  1995-2004 105HK
 * 10 = B4164S2  2000-2004 109HK
 * 13 = B4184SM  1998-2000 125HK
 * 15 = B4184S3
 * 12 = B4184S 1,8  1995-1999 115HK
 * 14 = B4184S2 1,8  2000-2004 122HK
 * 26 = B4184SJ 1,8i 1995-2004 125HK
 * 28 = B4184S10
 * 30 = B4184S9
 * 16 = B4204S 2,0  1995-2004 137HK
 * 17 = B4204S2 2,0  1995-2004 136HK
 * 19 = B4204T 2,0T  1998 160HK
 * 25 = B4204T2 2,0T  1999-2000 160HK
 * 29 = B4204T3 2,0T 2001-2004 160HK
 * 27 = B4204T4
 * 18 = B4194T T4  1998-1999 200HK
 * 24 = B4194T2  2000 200HK
 * 37 = B4204T5 2001-2004 200HK
 * 73 = D4192T2 1,9d 1999-2001 95HK
 * 78 = D4192T4 D 2001-2004 102HK
 * 70 = D4192T3 1,9D 2001-2004 115HK


 * 04 = B4204S4 C30/S40/V50/V70 2.0 Flexifuel FWD
 * 08 = B4184S8 C30/S40/V50/V70 1.8 Flexifuel FWD
 * 17 = B4204S2 V40 2.0l FWD
 * 18 = B4194T V40 1.9l Turbo FWD
 * 20 = B4164S3 C30 1.6 FWD
 * 21 = B4184S11 V50/S40 1.8
 * 30 = D5244T18 XC90 2.4 AWD
 * 31 = D5204T7 XC60
 * 38 = B5244S4 C30/S40/V50 2.4i FWD
 * 39 = B5244S7 S40/V50 2.4i FWD
 * 40 = B4204T11 S60/V60 2.0 T5 FWD
 * 41 = B5202S 850/V70 2.0i FWD
 * 43 = B5204T3 850/V70/S80 2.0 T5 FWD, or B4204S3 S80(2.0F 2007-2010)
 * 47 = B5204T 850/V70 2.0 T5 FWD
 * 50 = B5234T4 V70 R AWD
 * 51 = B5252S 850/V70 2.5i FWD or D5204T6 V40/V40CC D3/D4
 * 52 = B5254T4 S60/V70 R AWD
 * 53 = B5234T3 S60/V70 T5 FWD
 * 54 = B5244T5 S60 T5 FWD
 * 55 = B5254S; B5254FS 850/V70/S70 FWD
 * 56 = B5254T S70/V70 GLT FWD V70 XC AWD - 1999
 * 56 = B5244T 2000 -
 * 57 = B5234T 850/V70 2.3T FWD Turbo
 * 58 = B5234T5 1995-1997 850 T-5R/R ; B5244T3 S60/V70/S80/XC70 2000 -
 * 59 = B5254T2 S80/S60/XC90 2.5T FWD/AWD, V70 2.5T FWD, XC70 AWD
 * 60 = B5254T10 V70/S80 2.5t FWD/AWD
 * 61 = B5244S S60/V70 2.4 FWD
 * 64 = B5244S6 S60/V70 2.4 FWD
 * 65 = B5244S2 S80/V70/S60 2.4 FWD
 * 66 = B5244S5 S40/V50 2.4 FWD
 * 67 = B5254T7 C30/C70/V50 T5 FWD/AWD
 * 68 = B5254T3 S40/V50 T5 FWD/AWD
 * 69 = D5244T5 S80/V70 2.4D FWD
 * 70 = D4192T3 S40/V40
 * 70 = D5244T10 XC60 AWD D5(205)
 * 71 = D5244T4 V70 AWD D5(185), XC90 AWD D5(185)
 * 72 = D5252T S70/S80 2.5TDi FWD
 * 73 = D4204T5 S60/V60
 * 73 = D4192T2 S40/V40
 * 74 = D5244T2
 * 75 = D4204T C30, S40 2.0D
 * 76 = D4164T V50, 1.6D (PSA-Ford Engine)
 * 77 = D5244T8 S40 D5 AT
 * 78 = D4192T4 S40/V40
 * 79 = D5244T D5(163)
 * 81 = D5244T7 V70 2,4 D5 93kW (2005-2007)
 * 82 = D5244T15 XC60/V60 AWD D5(215)
 * 84 = D4162T C30, V50, V70, S60 1.6D/DRIVe (PSA-Ford Engine)
 * 85 = B8444S XC90/S80 V8 AWD
 * 88 = D5204T3 XC60
 * 90 = B6284T S80 2.8 T6
 * 91 = B6294T S80/XC90 2.9 T6
 * 94 = B6294S S80 2.9 FWD
 * 97 = B6304S S80 2.9 FWD
 * 98 = B6324S XC90/S80/V70 3.2 FWD/XC70 AWD
 * 99 = B6304T4 S80 3.0 T6 AWD
 * A0 = B4204T43 S60/V60 Polestar 2.0L (362 hp)
 * A2 = B4204T27 S60/V60, XC60, S90/V90, XC90 2.0 T6 (320 hp)
 * A3 = B4204T29 S60/V60, XC60, S90/V90, XC90 2.0 T6 (310 hp)
 * A4 = D4204T11 S60/V60, XC90 D5
 * A5 = D5244T21 V60 2.4 D4
 * A6 = D4204T12 XC40 D4
 * A8 = D4204T14 V40, V60, 2.0 D4
 * A9 = B6304T5 S60/V60 Polestar 3.0L (350 hp)
 * AA = D82PHEV V60 Plug-In Hybrid
 * AC = B4204T47 XC40 T4
 * AJ = D5244T22 (220 hp)
 * BR = B4204TSH S60/V60 T8, S90/V90 T8, XC60 T8, XC90 T8 (313hp+87hp)
 * BK = B4204TSH S60/V60/XC60 T8 Polestar Engineered (328hp+87hp)

Position 8: Body Style/Emissions Code
[1981-1991] Body Style
 * 2 = 2 Door / 2 Door Coupe (US/Canada Bertone)
 * 4 = 4 Door
 * 5 = 5 Door (Wagon)
 * 7 = 2 Door Coupe (Bertone - European market)

[1992-Present] Emission Control Equipment
 * 0 = non-EGR / Engine codes 82, 83, 87, 88; SULEV+ (Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) / Engine Codes 39, 55, 64, 72
 * 1 = EGR / Engine codes 82, 83, 86, 88
 * 2 = ULEV2 (Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle) / Engine Codes 38, 41, 51, 59, 61, 67, 68, 85, 98, 99
 * 4 = Engine Codes 71
 * 5 = ?
 * 7 = LEV2 (Low Emissions Vehicle) / Engine Codes 52, 54
 * 8 = Engine Codes 70
 * C = EURO 6
 * D = L6
 * K = What the mean???
 * L = What does it mean?
 * V = what does it mean?

Position 9: Gearbox/Check Digit

 * USA /Canada Check digit
 * Elsewhere used for gearbox:
 * 700/900/90 series gearbox
 * 1 = M90 manual
 * 2 = M46 Manual
 * 3 = M47 Manual
 * 5 = ZF22
 * 6 = AW70/71/72 lock-up
 * 7 = AW70/71 no lock-up
 * 850/60/70/80 series
 * 1 = M59 manual
 * 2 = M56 Manual
 * 3 = M58 Manual
 * 4 = M66 Manual
 * 5 = AW55-51SN Auto
 * 6 = AW42 Auto
 * 7 = AW50AWD Auto
 * 8 = AW42AWD Auto
 * 9 = AW55-50SN Auto C30/V50, AW55-51 S40D5 AT
 * 0 = AWTF-80 SC
 * 2 = MTX75 Manual

Position 10: Year Model Code
See: Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN codes)/Model year

Position 11: Plant of Assembly Code

 * 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
 * S = [China] - Zhangjiakou