Porsche Certificate of Authenticity vs Build Sheet
The Porsche Certificate of Authenticity (COA) no longer exists under that name: Porsche renamed it the Porsche Production Specification in 2019. In the US it costs $150, is ordered only through Porsche's documentation website, and arrives by mail in about 6–8 weeks. A VIN build sheet shows the factory spec instantly.
By CarWhere Research · Updated
What a Porsche COA is today
Porsche Cars North America states that the former COA program was updated in 2017 and renamed the Porsche Production Specification (PPS) in 2019. It is available for all model years of street vehicles (motorsport variants are not supported), and it is mailed — Porsche does not email it — to addresses in the United States and Canada only. The exterior color code on the PPS is Porsche's own paint code, which you can look up in the Porsche paint code reference.
What it leaves out matters as much as what it includes. Porsche says engine and transmission numbers are not released on the PPS; Sonderwunsch (special-request) and dealer-installed options are not shown because they happened after initial production; and Porsche does not disclose the original selling dealer or previous ownership history.
COA vs build sheet vs window sticker vs Kardex
| Document | Issued by | Cost | Turnaround | What it shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Porsche Production Specification (PPS) — formerly the COA | Porsche Cars North America | $150 | Est. 6–8 weeks, mailed (US & Canada only) | Production details and the Porsche exterior color code. Not engine/transmission numbers, dealer-installed or Sonderwunsch options, the selling dealer or ownership history. | Official record for a car you own; provenance file for a sale. |
| Classic Technical Certificate (CTC) | Porsche Classic Partner or qualified dealer | From $500 plus tax | Set by the dealer | VIN, model type, production date, delivery point, engine and transmission number verification, exterior/interior information, plus an expert condition assessment. | Classic models (356 through 997, 986/987, Carrera GT, first-gen Cayenne and others) where matching numbers matter. |
| Monroney label (window sticker) | Porsche, via My Porsche | Free | Instant download | The original window sticker. | Owners of model year 2019 and newer cars. |
| Kardex | Porsche factory archive (historic) | n/a | n/a | Paper production card for early cars; content per enthusiast references. | Early 356 / 911 / 912 history research. |
| CarWhere VIN build sheet | CarWhere (licensed VIN-level build data) | $9.99, only if data exists | Instant | Factory trim, exterior and interior colors, installed options and packages when the build data includes them, original MSRP when available, PDF. | Buyers checking a car they don't own yet; anyone who needs the spec today. Not an official Porsche document. |
Prices and turnaround per Porsche Cars North America's vehicle documentation FAQ as of November 2026.
When you need each one
- Selling or insuring a collectible: the Production Specification (or, for a classic, the Classic Technical Certificate) is the official record buyers and appraisers recognize.
- Proving matching numbers on a classic: only the Classic Technical Certificate verifies engine and transmission numbers against original records.
- You own a 2019-or-newer Porsche: download the window sticker free in My Porsche first.
- You are shopping and don't own the car: you can't wait 6–8 weeks for a document mailed to the owner. A VIN build sheet shows the factory trim, colors and installed options in minutes, so you can check the seller's spec before you commit.
How to order a Porsche COA (Production Specification)
- Have the full 17-character VIN ready (windshield, door jamb, title or registration).
- Order on Porsche's US vehicle documentation site, vehicledocumentation.porsche.com — Porsche says the PPS can only be ordered there.
- Pay the $150 fee and provide a US or Canadian mailing address.
- Allow an estimated 6–8 weeks for the printed document to arrive.
- For a classic Technical Certificate instead, contact a Porsche Classic Partner or qualified dealer; pricing starts at $500 plus tax and includes an inspection of the car.
The fast alternative: a Porsche build sheet by VIN
CarWhere's Porsche build sheet by VIN checks free whether detailed build data exists for the exact VIN; if it does, the report is $9.99 one-time. It shows the factory trim, exterior and interior colors, installed options and packages when the build data includes them, and original MSRP when available, as a downloadable PDF. It is reconstructed from licensed VIN-level build data — a research aid, not an official Porsche certificate — so use the Production Specification when you need Porsche's own paperwork. Model-specific pages: 911, 718, Cayenne, Macan, Panamera, Taycan.
Need the spec today, not in 6–8 weeks?
Enter the VIN on the Porsche build sheet page. The availability check is free; you pay $9.99 only if detailed build data exists for that car.
Free availability check first · $9.99 one-time only if detailed build data exists for the VIN · no subscription
FAQ
How much is a Porsche Certificate of Authenticity?
In the US, the former Certificate of Authenticity is now the Porsche Production Specification (PPS). Porsche Cars North America lists it at $150, ordered only through Porsche's vehicle documentation website and mailed in an estimated 6–8 weeks.
Is a Porsche COA the same as a build sheet?
Not exactly. The COA/Production Specification is Porsche's official production record for the car. A build sheet is a listing of the factory configuration — trim, colors and installed options — for a VIN. CarWhere's build sheet is reconstructed from licensed VIN-level build data, is instant, and is not an official Porsche document.
Does Porsche still issue Certificates of Authenticity?
Under a new name. Porsche says the former COA program was updated in 2017 and renamed the Porsche Production Specification in 2019. For classic models, Porsche also offers the Classic Technical Certificate, which adds a physical inspection.
Does the Porsche Production Specification show engine and transmission numbers?
No. Porsche states engine and transmission numbers are not released on the PPS. The Classic Technical Certificate verifies engine and transmission numbers against original records for eligible classic models.
How do I get the window sticker for my Porsche?
For model year 2019 and newer, Porsche says eligible owners can download the Monroney label (window sticker) free in My Porsche. If you are not the owner, a VIN build sheet is the practical alternative for seeing the factory configuration.
What is a Porsche Kardex?
A Kardex is the paper production data card Porsche kept for individual early cars such as the 356, 911 and 912. Enthusiast references note the COA largely replaced owner copies of the Kardex, transcribing some of its information.
Sources
- Porsche Cars North America — Vehicle Documentation FAQ (US) — PPS price, eligibility, delivery, exclusions; CTC contents and pricing; Monroney via My Porsche
- Der Whites 356 Literature — Kardex vs Certificate of Authenticity — enthusiast reference on the Kardex
- CarWhere Porsche option code reference
Related Porsche resources
- Porsche build sheet by VIN
- Porsche research hub
- Porsche option codes
- Porsche paint codes
- Porsche VIN decoder
- Porsche window sticker by VIN
Build sheet by model
- Porsche 911 build sheet
- Porsche 718 Boxster & Cayman build sheet
- Porsche Cayenne build sheet
- Porsche Macan build sheet
- Porsche Panamera build sheet
- Porsche Taycan build sheet