Free Audi VIN Decoder
Audi VIN Decoder & Lookup Tool
Enter any 17-character Audi VIN to decode year, trim, engine, transmission, body style, drive type, and assembly plant. Then see what verified buyers actually paid for the same Audi.
Try a sample: WAUFFAFL7GA123456Sample 2016 Audi A4 quattro built at Ingolstadt, Germany.
Enter a VIN to Decode
About Audi
Audi is the luxury arm of Volkswagen Group, founded in 1909 by August Horch. The four-ring logo represents the 1932 merger of Audi, DKW, Horch, and Wanderer into Auto Union. The Audi Q5 is built exclusively at San José Chiapa, Mexico (WMI: WA1 — though Mexico builds typically use the Mexico WMI series), making it the rare luxury German SUV with a North American VIN prefix on certain trims.
CarWhere has 169 verified Audi buyer transactions with an average selling price of $54,733 and average discount of 3.9% off MSRP. Use the VIN decoder above to identify the exact Audi configuration, then compare it against real transaction prices.
What a Audi VIN Tells You
Every Audi VIN encodes 13 distinct vehicle attributes. Our decoder surfaces the ones that matter most for identifying, valuing, and researching a specific Audi:
Year
Model year — encoded in character 10 of the VIN
Model & Trim
Specific Audi model line and trim level
Engine
Displacement, cylinder count, and fuel type
Transmission
Automatic, manual, CVT, or DCT — and gear count
Drive Type
AWD, FWD, RWD, or 4WD configuration
Body Style
Sedan, SUV, truck, hatchback, coupe, convertible
Plant
Where this specific Audi was assembled
Country
Country of origin — derived from the WMI prefix
How a Audi VIN Is Structured
All modern Audi VINs follow ISO 3779 — the international 17-character VIN standard adopted in 1981. The 17 characters break into four fixed sections:
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
For Audi, the WMI is typically WAU, WA1, TRU, WUA. WAU and WA1 identify Audi passenger cars and SUVs built in Germany at Ingolstadt or Neckarsulm. TRU identifies Audi Hungary (Győr) — the TT, RS series, and certain Q3 builds. WUA identifies Audi RS / quattro GmbH high-performance models.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Encodes the Audi model line, body style, restraint system, and engine. Position 8 specifically identifies the engine — the most ambiguous character because the same digit can mean different engines on different Audi models.
Check Digit
A mathematical checksum derived from the other 16 characters. If a Audi VIN doesn't pass the check-digit test, it's either a typo or a forgery.
Model Year
A single character encoding the model year. Examples on a Audi: L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.
Plant Code
Identifies the specific Audi assembly plant. Audi operates plants in Ingolstadt, Germany, Neckarsulm, Germany, Győr, Hungary.
Sequential Production Number
The unique six-character serial number for that specific Audi unit. Two Audi vehicles with the same year, model, trim, and plant will differ only in this final segment.
Popular Audi Models
The most common Audi models by U.S. sales volume. Click any model to see verified buyer transactions and current pricing on CarWhere.
Where Audi Vehicles Are Built
The 11th character of a Audi VIN identifies the assembly plant. Audi operates the following facilities that supply U.S.-market vehicles:
- •Ingolstadt, Germany
- •Neckarsulm, Germany
- •Győr, Hungary
- •Brussels, Belgium (e-tron, Q8 e-tron)
- •San José Chiapa, Mexico (Q5)
How to Decode a Audi VIN
Find the VIN on your Audi
Locate the 17-character VIN on the lower driver's-side corner of the windshield, the driver's door jamb, your registration, or your insurance card.
Enter the VIN
Type or paste the 17-character VIN into the decoder above. We strip spaces and dashes automatically and convert lowercase letters to uppercase. The tool rejects VINs containing I, O, or Q.
Decode instantly
Click "Decode VIN." Our server queries the NHTSA vPIC database and returns the full vehicle specification in under a second.
See what buyers paid for the same Audi
If we have verified buyer transactions for the decoded year/make/model, we surface the average selling price, average discount off MSRP, and total verified deal count — and link you to the full Audi model page.
Audi VIN Decoder FAQ
What does a Audi VIN decoder tell you?
A Audi VIN decoder reveals the model year, model name, trim level, engine type and displacement, transmission, drive type, body style, and assembly plant of any Audi vehicle. It uses the official NHTSA Vehicle Identification Number database, which every Audi sold in the United States is registered against. It does not show accident or ownership history.
What does a Audi VIN start with?
Audi VINs typically start with WAU, WA1, TRU, WUA. WAU and WA1 identify Audi passenger cars and SUVs built in Germany at Ingolstadt or Neckarsulm. TRU identifies Audi Hungary (Győr) — the TT, RS series, and certain Q3 builds. WUA identifies Audi RS / quattro GmbH high-performance models.
Where is the VIN on a Audi?
The easiest place to find the VIN on a Audi is the lower corner of the windshield on the driver's side dashboard, visible from outside the vehicle. It's also printed on the driver's door jamb sticker, the vehicle title, the registration card, and the insurance card. On older models the VIN may be stamped on the engine block or firewall.
How many characters is a Audi VIN?
Every Audi VIN is exactly 17 characters — a mix of letters and numbers. Like all modern VINs, Audi VINs never contain the letters I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with the digits 1, 0, and 9. A Audi VIN with fewer or more than 17 characters is either a partial reference or an error.
Is the Audi VIN decoder really free?
Yes. CarWhere's Audi VIN decoder is completely free with no signup, account, or credit card required. We use the NHTSA vPIC API — the official U.S. government VIN database that every U.S.-market Audi is filed against. We additionally cross-reference the decoded year, make, and model against verified buyer transactions in our deal database.
Where are Audi vehicles built?
Audi operates assembly plants in Ingolstadt, Germany, Neckarsulm, Germany, Győr, Hungary, Brussels, Belgium (e-tron, Q8 e-tron), plus additional facilities globally. The 11th character of a Audi VIN identifies the specific plant of manufacture, while the first three characters (the World Manufacturer Identifier) identify the country.
Can I check Audi recalls by VIN?
Yes — once you decode a Audi VIN here, you can cross-reference open recalls at the official NHTSA recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Audi also operates an owner portal where logged-in owners can view recall status and schedule free repairs at any authorized Audi dealer.
Does a Audi VIN reveal accident history?
No. A VIN decode reveals factory specifications only — make, model, trim, engine, plant. To check accident history, salvage titles, or odometer rollback on a Audi, you need a vehicle history report from Carfax or AutoCheck, both of which use the VIN as the lookup key but pull from insurance and DMV records.
VIN Decoders for Other Makes
Decoded a Audi VIN? See what buyers paid.
CarWhere has verified buyer transactions for Audi vehicles nationwide — real prices from real deal sheets, not dealer ads or algorithm estimates.