Free 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN Decoder

How to decode a 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the first three characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle or a manufacturing division. For the 2003 Volkswagen Golf, the WMI is “9BW”, indicating that it is a model produced by Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. This particular manufacturer is based in Herndon, Virginia, United States, and specializes in passenger cars. The WMI not only pinpoints the brand but also helps to verify the authenticity of the vehicle. It plays a crucial role in vehicle tracking, registration, and recalls initiated by the manufacturer.

List of WMI Codes for a 2003 Volkswagen Golf

WMI: 9BW

• Model Years Covered: 2000-2006
• Example VIN: 9BWGP61J134062742
• Manufacturer Name: Volkswagen Group of America, Inc.
• Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
• City: Herndon
• State or Province: Virginia
• Country: United States

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

• Engine type
• Transmission
• Model or trim
• Body style
• Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2003 Volkswagen Golf:

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN — Year Code

11th Character in the 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2003 Volkswagen Golf Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2003 Volkswagen Golf

The final 6 characters in a 2003 Volkswagen Golf’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

What info can a 2003 Volkswagen Golf VIN reveal?

• Model Year and Make: The VIN might reveal the vehicles model year being the year 2003, possibly indicating a Volkswagen Golf in this scenario.
• Engine Specifications: Detailed engine information, including the manufacturer (Volkswagen), the engine displacement in liters (1.896L), and the type of fuel it uses (Diesel), can reportedly be discovered through a VIN.
• Safety Features: The presence of safety features like curtain airbags in the 1st row for both driver and passenger, front airbags in the same locations, and a side airbag for the driver seat could be inferred from the VIN details, according to some sources.
• Body Class and Doors: The VIN may provide insight into the body type of the vehicle, in this example indicating a Hatchback/Liftback/Notchback, and the possibility of 2 doors.
• Vehicle Weight Class: Information regarding the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, potentially indicating the vehicle falls within Class 1 (6,000 lb or less), could be encoded within the VIN.
• Manufacturing Details: The VIN might include manufacturing information, such as the plant city (Curitiba) and country (Brazil), possibly providing insight into where the vehicle was produced, according to some interpretations.
• Fuel Efficiency and Emissions: Details about fuel type and emissions certification, possibly indicating a primary Diesel fuel type and adherence to certain emission standards, are speculated to be parts of the VIN’s coded data.

Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2003 Volkswagen Golf