If you own a Porsche, you may have heard the term “VIN number” thrown around. But what exactly is a Porsche VIN number, and why is it important? In this article, we will dive into the details of Porsche VIN numbers, what they mean, and why they matter.
What is a Porsche VIN Number?
A Porsche VIN number is a unique code assigned to every Porsche vehicle. VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number, and it serves as a way to identify a specific vehicle. Think of it as a social security number for your car.
Why is a Porsche VIN Number Important?
The Porsche VIN number is a crucial piece of information that serves multiple purposes. First and foremost, a Porsche VIN number is a legal requirement. It is mandatory for all Porsche vehicles to have a VIN number. The VIN number helps in regulating the automotive industry by enforcing safety standards, emission regulations, and tracking vehicle recalls.
Secondly, the Porsche VIN number is vital in establishing a vehicle’s history and ownership. It serves as a record of the vehicle’s manufacturer, model, year, and country of origin. The VIN number also contains information about the engine type, transmission, and other essential specifications of the vehicle. This information can be useful when purchasing a used Porsche car, as it can help you identify any past accidents, repairs, or modifications.
Thirdly, the Porsche VIN number is an essential tool in preventing vehicle theft and recovering stolen vehicles. The VIN number is a unique identifier that can help law enforcement agencies track down stolen vehicles. Porsche VIN numbers are registered in a national database, making it easier for authorities to identify and recover stolen cars.
Lastly, the Porsche VIN number is critical when making insurance and warranty claims. The VIN number helps insurance companies and warranty providers verify the vehicle’s authenticity and eligibility for coverage.
How to Find Your Porsche VIN Number
Your Porsche VIN number can be found in several locations on your vehicle. The most common location is on the:
Here are the steps to find your Porsche VIN number:
Check the Vehicle Title and Registration Documents
The first and easiest way to find your Porsche VIN number is by checking the vehicle title and registration documents. The VIN number is usually printed on the top of the title document, and it is also listed on the registration documents. If you are buying a used Porsche car, ensure that the VIN number on the title and registration matches the number on the car’s dashboard and door jamb.
Check the Dashboard
Another way to find your Porsche VIN number is by checking the dashboard. The VIN number is usually located on the lower-left corner of the dashboard, near the windshield. You can view the VIN number by standing outside the car and looking through the windshield from the driver’s side.
Check the Driver’s Side Door Jamb
If you cannot find the VIN number on the dashboard, another location to check is the driver’s side door jamb. The VIN number is usually printed on a metal plate that is attached to the door jamb. To view the VIN number, open the driver’s side door and look for the plate on the door jamb.
Check the Engine Bay
In some Porsche cars, the VIN number is located on the engine bay. To find the VIN number in this location, open the engine bay and look for a metal plate or sticker that contains the VIN number.
Check the Owner’s Manual
If you still cannot find the Porsche VIN number, another location to check is the owner’s manual. The VIN number is usually printed on the first page of the owner’s manual, along with other important information about the vehicle.
Check the Vehicle History Report
If you are still unsure about the Porsche VIN number, another way to confirm the number is by checking the vehicle history report. A vehicle history report is a comprehensive report that provides information about the vehicle’s history, including accidents, repairs, recalls, and ownership history. The report also contains the VIN number of the vehicle, which can be used to verify the authenticity of the car.
Porsche 924 / 944 / 968
General view of the engine compartment | The VIN can sometimes be obscured by a plastic cover |
| Porsche 924 / 944 / 968 | |
General view of the engine compartment  | The VIN can sometimes be obscured by a plastic cover  |
| Porsche 928 | |
General view of the engine compartment  | Close-up |
| VIN Number Porsche 911 (911 / 964 / 993) | |
Boot with carpet | Boot carpet removed: The petrol tank is above the VIN, the spare wheel is below  |
| Porsche 911 (996) / Boxster (986) | |
Boot | The VIN is beneath the plastic covering  |
| Porsche 911 (997) / Boxster (987) / Cayman (987) | |
As on the 996/986, but the somewhat large plastic covering must be removed first  | VIN Number finds itself under the right cover  |
Close-up  | |
| Porsche 911 (991) / Boxster (981) / Cayman (981) / Macan (95B) | |
In front of the right front seat under a carpet flap  | VIN is stamped after painting (carpet lug opens forward)  |
| Porsche Cayenne 9PA VIN Number | |
General view of the boot  | Close-up  |
| Porsche Cayenne 92A | |
Vehicle floor, in front of the right front seat, under plastic cover  | Close-up  |
| Porsche Panamera 970 | |
VIN Number under the right front seat, under plastic cover  | Close-up  |
| Porsche Carrera GT | |
| (The production became in 2006 opposed. All together 1270 vehicles were built) | |
On the floor, underneath the front passenger’s seat  | Close-up: The metal plate with the VIN is glued onto the carbon monocoque.  |
On the Porsche Carrera GT (980) VIN Number is also stored on a chip which is located in the area of the driver’s entry sill in the monocoque. This chip can only be read out at the works using a special reader.
Porsche VIN Lettering
Examples of the lettering of a stamped Type 928::
Porsche VIN Number applied with a laser
The changeover to laser engraving from stamping took place for
4-cylinder vehicles: 944 S2/Cabrio/Turbo and 968/Cabrio/CS from 01.10.1992
6-cylinder vehicles: all versions of the 911 from 01.12.1992
8-cylinder vehicles: 928 S4/GT/GTS from 01.10.1992
The changeover to laser engraving from stamping took place for
| Type 968: |
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| Type 993: |
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| Porsche VIN Number Etching |
| The changeover from lasered VIN to etched VINs took place from MY 2000 (Y). Some vehicles produced during the first 14 days of that model year changeover may still have a lasered VIN. |
| Boxster (Type 981) |
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| Cayman (Type 981) |
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| 911 (Type 996) |
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| 911 (Type 997) |
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| 911 (Type 991) |
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| Carrera GT (Type 980) U.S. VIN |
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| Panamera (Type 970) |
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| Panamera (Type 970) U.S. VIN |
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| Type Macan 95B |
| (shorter letters than other Porsche models) |
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| Macan (Type 95B) U.S. VIN |
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| Cayenne I (Type 9PA) |
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| Cayenne I (Type 9PA) U.S. VIN |
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| Cayenne II (Type 92A) |
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| Cayenne II (Type 92A) U.S. VIN |
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| Porsche VINs on the Type 996 / 997 / 987 are protected against corrosion by a transparent film |
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| Close-up image of etching (taken from a Cayman 987) covered with transparent film |
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Change of the original vehicle identification number in the Porsche work
In case of the improper and wrong stamp of a VIN Porsche this becomes complete with – sign crossed “X”. The former figures and letters must remain readable.
The right VIN is smashed about or under with crossed wrong VIN.
Beside the corrected VIN the manufacturer’s code is smashed.
Porsche VIN Number Visible
| Since February 1992, an additional VIN, visible from outside the vehicle, has been applied to the left A-pillar. On the type 964 from 9/92 and more recent models the VIN is on the left, over the dashboard and is also visible from outside the vehicle. |
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| Cayenne (92A) |
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| The VIN is stuck on a metal girder. The VIN sticker has rounded or straight edged corners (picture before the windscreen is installed) |
| (Picture after the windscreen assembly) |
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| Cayman (981) |
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| 911 (996) |
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| 911 (991) |
| Before the windscreen is installed |
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| Panamera (970) |
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| Macan (95B) before the windscreen is installed |
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| Macan (95B) after the windscreen is installed |
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When a new car is handed over, the keys are on a key hanger which has a sticker with the last 8 characters of the Porsche VIN. The sticker is made of the same material as the type plate and visible VIN sticker in the vehicle and the content is put on in the same way. This key hanger is sometimes still on the key ring
Thatcham sticker with VIN and engine number
In Panamera (970) and Cayenne models, Thatcham stickers are attached to the vehicles. These stickers comprise the VIN and the engine number. The sticker is made of the same foil as the adhesive type plate.
| Cayman 981 |
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| 991 |
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| Panamera |
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| Macan |
| N.B.: On the right side of the sticker there is the VIN again shown as QR-code. |
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| CAYENNE (92A) Thatcham sticker on the right side of the hood  Thatcham sticker on the right A-pillar  Thatcham sticker on the right side of the frame of the tailgate  PANAMERA Thatcham sticker on the right side of the hood  Thatcham sticker on the right side on the inside of the door  Thatcham sticker on the right side of the frame of the tailgate  911 (991) Thatcham sticker on the right side of the boot panel  Thatcham sticker on the right A-pillar  Thatcham sticker on the right side of the hood  BOXTER / CAYMAN (981) Thatcham sticker on the right side of the front boot panel  Thatcham sticker on the right A-pillar  Thatcham sticker on the right side of the boot panel  MACAN Thatcham sticker on the right side of the hood  Thatcham Porsche sticker on the right A-pillar  Thatcham sticker on the right side of the frame of the tailgate Close-up  |
| U.S.A. tire pressure sticker with VIN |
| According to regulations, the Panamera (970) and Cayenne (92A) and Boxster (981) models destined for the U.S. market have tire pressure stickers at the left B-pillar. On this sticker, the complete VIN Number is indicated upright on the right side. |
Overview (92A) Overview (981)  |
| Close-up |
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Porsche VIN Number Decoding
Decoding a Porsche VIN number can reveal valuable information about the vehicle’s specifications and history. Each digit of the VIN number represents a different aspect of the vehicle, such as the model year, engine size, and transmission type. Here is a breakdown of how to decode a Porsche VIN number:
- The first three digits of the Porsche VIN number represent the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). The WMI identifies the manufacturer, country of origin, and vehicle type. In the case of Porsche, the first three digits are WP0, which stands for “World Porsche 0” and identifies the vehicle as a Porsche.
- The fourth through the eighth digits of the Porsche VIN number represent the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). The VDS contains information about the vehicle’s model, body style, engine type, and transmission. The fourth through sixth digits indicate the model type, while the seventh and eighth digits indicate the body style. The ninth digit is a check digit that is used to verify the authenticity of the VIN number.
- The ninth through 17th digits of the Porsche VIN number represent the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). The VIS contains information about the vehicle’s production sequence, including the plant where the vehicle was manufactured, the model year, and the production number. The ninth digit is the check digit, while the 10th digit represents the model year. For example, A is used for 1980, B is used for 1981, and so on. The 11th digit represents the plant where the vehicle was manufactured, while the 12th through 17th digits represent the production sequence number.
By decoding the Porsche VIN number, you can obtain information about the vehicle’s model, body style, engine type, transmission, and production sequence. Additionally, you can use the VIN number to access a vehicle history report, which provides information about the vehicle’s previous accidents, repairs, recalls, and ownership history.
It is important to note that decoding a Porsche VIN number can be complex and may require the assistance of a professional. Additionally, not all VIN decoding tools are created equal, so it is essential to use a reliable and accurate source. Porsche provides an online VIN decoder tool on its website, which can be used to decode the VIN number for Porsche vehicles manufactured from 1981 to the present day.
Specific features: On vehicles with an American VIN, the stamped or laser engraved VIN corresponded to the VINs on vehicles for the rest of the world until model year 1991. However the U.S. version is applied to the A-pillar (visible VIN).
Starting in model year 1992, the visible VIN corresponded to the stamped or laser engraved VIN. This change was introduced without hiccoughs into production in model year 1992.
A handwritten VIN can be present in the driver’s door on the Porsche 928.
There have been cases on the older 911 series, where the Porsche VIN Number had not been stamped at the proper location. Porsche could not explain why this was so.
Porsche which have been delivered to Sweden have an additional VIN:
– 911 on a metal strip on the bonnet
– 924, 928 on a metal strip on the right, in front of the spare wheel in the boot
Model 1965 to inclusive 1967 Model 1968 Model 1969
Model 1970 to inclusive 1979 Model 1980 Model 1981
