VAG stands for Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, the German parent company behind Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Škoda, Porsche, Bentley and Lamborghini. It isn't a brand you'll find on a badge, so "VAG VIN decoder" searches usually mean one of two things: someone with a Volkswagen-platform vehicle who isn't sure which brand page applies, or someone trying to understand why cars from different VAG brands share so much under the skin.
VAG brand WMI prefixes
| Brand | WMI prefixes | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | WVW, WVG, 3VW, 1VW, 9BW | Germany, Mexico, US, Brazil |
| Audi | WAU, WA1, TRU | Germany, Hungary |
| SEAT | VSS, VSZ | Spain |
| Škoda | TMB, TMP | Czech Republic |
| Porsche | WP0, WP1 | Germany |
| Bentley | SCB | United Kingdom |
| Lamborghini | ZHW | Italy |
Notice there's no single VAG prefix. Each brand keeps its own national WMI block, so a Volkswagen and a Škoda VIN look nothing alike at positions 1 to 3, even though the Golf and Octavia they might belong to share the same MQB platform underneath.
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Why shared platforms don't mean shared VINs
The Volkswagen Group builds much of its lineup on a small number of shared architectures, MQB for compact and mid-size front-drive models, MLB for larger Audi and Porsche models. A VW Golf, an Audi A3, a SEAT Leon and a Škoda Octavia can sit on the same MQB platform and share suspension, wiring and even some engine codes. None of that changes the VIN. The world manufacturer identifier is assigned to the company that sells the vehicle, not the factory or the platform, so each brand's VIN stays in its own national block regardless of how much hardware it shares with a badge-mate.
Which decoder page to use
Match the badge on the vehicle, not the platform:
Volkswagen VIN decoderAudi VIN decoderSEAT VIN decoderŠkoda VIN decoderPorsche VIN decoderBentley VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
What does VAG stand for?
Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, German for Volkswagen public limited company. It's the parent group for Volkswagen, Audi, SEAT, Škoda, Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti. VAG isn't a badge you'll see on a car.
Do all VAG brands use the same VIN format?
They all use the standard 17-character format, but each brand has its own world manufacturer identifier tied to its own country of registration, so the actual prefixes differ brand to brand even on shared platforms.
Why does my Audi share engine codes with my friend's VW?
Group brands share platforms and components extensively, the MQB architecture underpins several compact VW, Audi, SEAT and Škoda models, but each brand still files its VIN separately with its own national and NHTSA authorities.