Porsche VIN decoder

What is a Porsche VIN?

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character combination that makes every vehicle unique. It’s necessary to register a vehicle, pass an MOT, or check its history.

The format of VIN numbers (previously known as chassis numbers) in Porsche cars has changed several times over the years. In the mid-1960s, the Porsche chassis numbers were simply a 6-character sequential number, later evolving into 8, 9, and 10-character combinations that also provided some additional information.

The current 17-character VIN format was standardized in 1981 and is still used.

Porsche is a German automobile manufacturer founded in 1931 by Ferdinand Porsche. Initially focusing on vehicle development and consulting, Porsche's first major assignment was to design a car for the people, leading to the iconic Volkswagen Beetle. The company's first model, the Porsche 356, debuted in 1948, marking the start of its legacy in sports cars.

Over the years, Porsche has gained fame for several models, the most well-known being the 911, which is known for its distinctive design, great reliability, and performance. The brand has consistently participated in motorsports, notably in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Today, Porsche symbolizes innovation, luxury, and sports car heritage.

Where to search for the VIN?

A vehicle’s VIN is located in multiple places to help ensure its legitimacy. However, there are specific common locations where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Here’s where you can find it in Porsche cars:

• On the dashboard near the windshield
• Driver’s side door pillar
• Under the right front seat
• Bottom of the trunk
• Engine bay

Remember that a VIN plays an important role in a car’s ownership. It should be printed on a tamper-proof sticker or stamped into metal. Make sure the numbers in each location match, and there are no signs of tampering.

What is a Porche VIN decoder?

One of the most important things about VIN numbers is that they can provide essential information about the car’s history. Once you have the VIN number of your vehicle or a car you want to buy, you can use a VIN decoder to perform a VIN lookup and learn more about its historical facts, including mileage rollbacks, damage records, and ownership changes.

Our Porsche VIN decoder is very easy to use – enter a car’s VIN, and you’ll find specifications, historical facts, and other information about the vehicle.

How accurate is the information provided by the Porsche VIN decoder?

carVertical’s Porsche VIN decoder collects data from numerous trusted sources, such as governmental registries, vehicle inspection centers, law enforcement databases, dealerships, and insurance companies. Information in vehicle history reports is always up-to-date and legitimate, allowing an easy evaluation when buying a car or providing more information when selling it.

Sometimes, databases don’t have much information about particular vehicles, and reports are less informative. However, if a full history report is scarce and provides little to no information, you’ll get your spent credits back automatically.

How to decode a VIN number - Porsche VIN breakdown

Most 17-character VIN numbers are divided into four main sections: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS).

While the Check Digit section is a single number used for security reasons, characters in other sections hold particular vehicle-related information, such as model, body style, year of manufacture, etc. Different car makers typically choose different meanings for each letter and number.

You can technically decode an entire VIN manually if you know the meaning of each character, but it’s very inconvenient compared to the Porsche VIN decoder. However, knowing what a few characters mean can help you reveal essential information about the car at a glance. Let’s break down each section to reveal the most valuable data of any Porsche VIN.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The first three characters of a VIN number create a WMI section. The 1st character reveals the country of origin (W for Germany), the 2nd is the manufacturer (P for Porsche), and the 3rd one is the type of vehicle (0 for passenger and sports cars, 1 for SUVs).

As a result, most VINs of modern Porsche vehicles start with WP0 or WP1.

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second section (VDS) contains five characters and provides information about the car’s model, engine, and restraint systems.

For instance, all modern Porsche vehicles have their model coded in the 7th, 8th, and 12th characters of their VIN, allowing you to quickly check the legitimacy of the VIN.

Here are some examples of model type codes:

Porsche cars manufactured for the North American market after 2010 have an ‘A’ instead of ‘9’ in the 7th position.

Security Check Digit

The 9th character in a VIN is a Security Check Digit, which helps verify that the VIN is valid. This digit varies in different VINs because it’s a result of the special U.S. Department of Transportation formula that uses all of the remaining VIN characters.

The Check Digit won’t be the same if one or more characters of the VIN are changed.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The last section has eight characters, but only two of them can be helpful when decoding VIN manually.

The 10th character of VIN always reveals the model year, while the 11th represents the assembly plant.

Here’s what model years each character represents:

The 11th position usually holds one of the six characters that represent assembly plants:

The last six characters in a VIN form a sequential production number. Only the 12th and 13th characters can be tied to the model.

Is a Porsche VIN decoder available for a free VIN check?

The Porsche VIN decoder is free if you want to reveal a car’s model, specs, and other basic information. However, if you want to learn about a car’s history, you’ll have to buy a full history report.

These reports aren’t free because raw data is taken from various reliable sources, processed, and provided in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

List of Porsche models

Current Porsche models include:

• Porsche Boxster/718 Cayman
• Porsche 911
• Porsche Cayenne
• Porsche Macan
• Porsche Panamera
• Porsche Taycan

Some of the most popular discontinued Porsche models include:

• Porsche 924
• Porsche 928
• Porsche 944
• Porsche 959
• Porsche 968
• Porsche Carrera GT
• Porsche 918 Spyder

Check car VIN number by make:

• Ford VIN Decoder
• Toyota VIN Decoder
• Mercedes VIN Decoder
• Dodge VIN Decoder
• Jeep VIN Decoder
• Chevrolet VIN Decoder
• Volkswagen VIN Decoder
• Nissan VIN Decoder
• RAM VIN Decoder
• Lexus VIN Decoder