If you own a Seat vehicle, you may have heard of the term “VIN number”. But what exactly is it, and why is it important? In this article, we will discuss everything you need to know about your Seat VIN number.
What is a Seat VIN Number?
A Seat VIN Number is a unique 17-digit code assigned to every Seat vehicle produced after 1981. The VIN Number contains information about the vehicle’s year, make, model, engine type, and other important details. It serves as a unique identifier for the vehicle and helps to prevent fraud and theft.
The VIN Number is often referred to as the “DNA” of a vehicle because it provides a complete history of the car’s production, including the manufacturer, plant where it was built, and the serial number assigned to it. This information is important for a variety of reasons, including vehicle registration, insurance, and maintenance.
Seat VIN Number Location
The location of a Seat vehicle’s VIN number may vary depending on the model year and the specific model. However, there are a few standard locations where you can typically find the VIN number:
Dashboard
One of the most common locations for a Seat VIN number is on the dashboard of the car. The VIN number is typically located on the driver’s side of the dashboard, and it can be seen through the windshield from outside the vehicle. The Seat VIN number may be stamped on a metal plate, or it may be printed on a sticker.
Door Frame
Another location where you can typically find a Seat VIN number is on the driver’s side door frame. The VIN number is usually printed on a sticker or stamped into the metal frame. To see the VIN number, you may need to open the driver’s side door and look for it on the frame near the door latch.
Engine Block
In some cases, the VIN number may be located on the engine block of the car. To find the Seat VIN number on the engine block, you may need to open the hood of the car and look for a stamped or engraved number on the block itself.
Vehicle Registration and Title
If you cannot find the Seat VIN number on your Seat vehicle, you can also find it on the vehicle registration and title documents. The VIN number is typically listed on these documents along with other important information about the vehicle.
Vehicles up to MY 1999
The Seat VIN Number is located on the bulkhead, in the middle, between the passenger compartment and the engine compartment Arrow –A-.
Vehicles from MY 1999
| Leon up to and including MY 2005 Toledo up to and including MY 2004 Exeo from MY 2009 Engine splash plate, in the middle  | Ibiza and Cordoba Right suspension strut dome  |
| Alhambra Engine splash plate, in the middle, behind a plastic window  | Altea Altea Freetrack from MY 2008 On the right wing  |
| Toledo from MY 2005 Leon from MY 2006 Ibiza from MY 2009 Leon from MY 2013 On the inside of the wing, on the left, seen in the direction of travel  | Alhambra from MY 2011 Engine splash plate on the right  |
Mii from MY 2012
Seat Mii VIN Number diagonally on the mounting plate of the strute dome in the right front
Seat VIN Lettering
Ibiza (before 1999)
Arosa
Alhambra
Cordoba
Ibiza (until MY 2008)
Leon and Toledo
Toledo (from MY 2005), Leon (from MY 2006) and Altea Freetrack (from MY 2008)
Exeo, Leon (Facelift 2009), Ibiza (from MY 2009) and Alhambra (from MY 2011)covered with protective film
Mii (from MY 2012) covered with protective film
Leon (from MY 2013) covered with protective film
Seat VIN Number Visible
There is an additional Seat VIN number behind the windscreen near the left A-spar on all the more recent Seat vehicles.
Visible Seat VIN Alhambra (from MY 2011)
foil with the VW-Logo
Seat VIN Number Decoder
After locating your Seat VIN number, the next step is to decode it. The Seat VIN number is made up of 17 characters which represent different pieces of information about the vehicle. Here’s how to decode Seat VIN number:
- First character: The first character represents the country of manufacture. For Seat cars, it will always be a “V” for Spain.
- Second and third characters: The second and third characters represent the manufacturer. For Seat cars, these will always be “S” and “E” respectively.
- Fourth to ninth characters: These characters represent the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). They provide information about the model, body style, engine type, and other vehicle characteristics.
- Tenth character: The tenth character represents the model year of the vehicle. It can be a number or a letter.
- Eleventh character: The eleventh character represents the manufacturing plant where the vehicle was assembled.
- Twelfth to seventeenth characters: These characters represent the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). They provide a unique identification number for each vehicle produced.
Here’s an example of a Seat VIN number and how to decode it:
VSEMK41F5E7501234
- V = Spain (country of manufacture)
- S = Seat (manufacturer)
- E = Seat (manufacturer)
- MK41F5 = Vehicle Descriptor Section (model, body style, engine type)
- 5 = Model year (2015)
- E = Martorell (manufacturing plant)
- 7501234 = Vehicle Identifier Section (unique identification number)
Seat Gearbox number
The gearbox numbers of current vehicles consist of 3 letters and the 5-digit date of construction.
Example: DTR28020
DTR = Transmission identification
28 = Day
02 = Month
0 = Year, e.g. 2000
VAG gearboxes – Gearbox attribution lists
Sorted by gearbox identification letters
2Y – DZL EAS – FZQ GDL – HXW JBH – MUF
Location of the Seat gearbox number
Seat Technical Service Label
The technical service label is printed by computer and made of adhesive paper. It contains important information for the identification of the vehicle.
The technical service label is often removed when a car is customised. In most cases, however, bits of it are left sticking on the panel. If you soak these in solvent, they can be removed. Against a backlight, the VIN or other data can be read.
Location of the technical service label
The technical service sticker on the Alhambra: In the right-hand side compartment in the boot
What the technical service label looks like and the information it contains
Examples:
Except for the day of the week (0), the production identification number 48-0-5840 matches the online information, but not however the type plate. On this vehicle for example, the production identification number on the type plate is 0024701. This number is found on the top right of the technical service label and cannot be used for identification purposes.
The production identification number 07-5-5977 agrees with the type plate and the online information.
Toledo (from MY 2005)
With the exception of the day of the week (0), the production identification number matches the online information, but not the type plate.
Alhambra
Production identification number 35-3-5069 matches the online information, but not the type plate. Instead of the production identification number, the type plate always has the same number (4020183) as the VW Sharan.
Starting with the end of MY 2005, the production identification number (PKN) on the type plate matches the PKN on the technical service sticker and the online information.
With the exception of the day of the week (0), the production identification number matches the online information, but not the type plate.
Except for the day of the week (0), the production identification number matches the online information. The PKN on the type plate contains the correct number for the day.
There is no production identification number on the technical service label for the SEAT Ibiza until MY 2005.
Seat Radio Number
Broken down as on all VAG vehicles
Appearance and seat of the number see under VW Briefcase
| SE | Z | 1 | Z | 3 | W | 0123456 |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 |
1=Producer of the vehicle
| SE | = | SEAT |
2=Filler
3=Producer of the radio
| 1 | = | Blaupunkt |
| 2 | = | Grundig |
| 3 | = | Sony |
| 4 | = | Delphi / Delco |
| 5 | = | Panasonic |
| 6 | = | Philips |
| 9 | = | Clarion |
4=Filler
5=Radio Type
| 1 | = | Alpha |
| 2 | = | Beta |
| 3 | = | Gamma |
| 4 | = | Mini Disk |
| 5 | = | Gamma in-built CD changer |
| 7 | = | Large-screen navigation apparatus |
| 8 | = | CD changer / Single |
Exception:
| 2 | = | Navigation apparatus with Beta radio |
| 7 | = | Premium |
| 8 | = | Sound 4000 |
6=Year of manufacture
The letters correspond to the model year letters on the VIN, but begin again with ‘’A’’ from 2001
| A | = | 2001 |
| B | = | 2002 |
| C | = | 2003 |
| D | = | 2004 |
| E | = | 2005 |
| F | = | 2006 |
| G | = | 2007 |
| H | = | 2008 |
| J | = | 2009 |
7=Serial number
Serial number given to the apparatus during production
Starting with the letter ‘’Y’’ (2000), the radio number can be checked in the VW works.
In the future there will no longer be an individual number on the apparatus (radio etc). It will be recorded in the apparatus itself and can be read off at a VW garage.
Seat CD Changer Number
