Volkswagen Build Sheet by VIN — Decode the PR-code sticker (Datenträger)
A Volkswagen build sheet is the PR-code sticker — the Datenträger that records every factory option as a PR (Primärkennzeichnung) code, with the paint code, model code, and engine and transmission codes. VW prints two identical stickers per car.Start with the VIN to lock in the year and plant — it's free.
Look Up a Volkswagen Build Sheet by VIN
Enter the VIN and we'll fix the year, plant, and body so the build record decodes correctly
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How a Volkswagen Build Sheet Lookup Works
The VIN points you to the right reference; the PR-code sticker (Datenträger) fills in the original factory configuration.
Enter the Volkswagen VIN
Type the VIN from the dash, door jamb, title, or registration. It fixes the model year, assembly plant, and body style before you read the rest.
We tie it to the PR-code sticker (Datenträger)
The VIN points to the right reference so the build record's option, paint, and equipment codes decode correctly for that exact car.
Reconstruct the original spec
The build record rebuilds the factory order: options, colors, drivetrain, and the plant it came from — the configuration the car left the line with.
Where to Find Volkswagen Build Data
Volkswagen records the build in the PR-code sticker (Datenträger). Here is where that data lives and how to reach it.
- 1
Sticker in the spare-tire well or on the trunk floor
- 2
A second identical sticker in the service booklet
- 3
PR codes retrievable from the VIN through the VAG parts catalogue (ETKA)
Volkswagen option-code format
Volkswagen PR codes are three-character alphanumeric codes grouped by equipment family. Older VWs used M-codes (option numbers). The paint code is the 'L'-prefixed code on the sticker.
Start the Volkswagen build lookup by VIN:
What a Volkswagen Build Record Shows
The PR-code sticker (Datenträger) documents the car as it left the factory — far more detail than the window sticker ever showed the buyer.
Every factory option as a PR code (older cars: M-codes)
Paint code (Lack) and interior code
Model code, engine code, and transmission code
Assembly plant and the full VIN
Factory packages and individual equipment lines
Decode Your Volkswagen's Original Build
Enter the VIN to lock in the year and plant, then read the PR-code sticker (Datenträger) for the original options, colors, and equipment. Free, in seconds.
Volkswagen Build Sheet Tips
What buyers, collectors, and restorers should know before trusting a Volkswagen build record.
On a classic Beetle, Bus, or Golf, the M-code list is what restorers use to confirm original colors and options.
The PR sticker carries the exact factory paint code — handy when the door label has faded.
VW and Audi share the PR-code system, so the same equipment-family codes recur across both brands.
Volkswagen Build Data — Sources & Authority
Volkswagen Classic Volkswagen Classic holds the brand's heritage records and documents original build specifications for historic VW models. The references below are the authoritative public origins behind Volkswagen VIN, recall, and title data in the United States.
- NHTSA VIN Decoder ↗
Federal reference decoder for Volkswagen VIN structure.
- NHTSA — Safety Recalls ↗
Open Volkswagen recall lookup by VIN.
- NMVTIS — Bureau of Justice Assistance ↗
Federal title-brand database covering every Volkswagen across all 50 states.
- IIHS — Safety Ratings ↗
Independent crash-test results for modern Volkswagen models.
Build Sheets for Other Brands
Every manufacturer records the factory build differently. Jump to another brand's decoder.
More VIN Tools for Volkswagen Owners
The build record is the starting point. These checks complete the picture on any Volkswagen.
Always check the VIN before you buy
Our free report reveals accidents, title brands, odometer rollback, theft records, and open recalls in seconds.
Volkswagen Build Sheet — Frequently Asked Questions
The questions Volkswagen owners and buyers ask most about the PR-code sticker (Datenträger).
What is a Volkswagen build sheet?+
A Volkswagen build sheet is the PR-code sticker (Datenträger) — the factory record of how a single vehicle was originally specified. It is the Datenträger that records every factory option as a PR (Primärkennzeichnung) code, with the paint code, model code, and engine and transmission codes. VW prints two identical stickers per car. It documents every factory option as a pr code (older cars: m-codes), paint code (lack) and interior code, model code, engine code, and transmission code, and more.
How do I find a Volkswagen build sheet by VIN?+
Enter the 17-character VIN in the form above. The VIN fixes the model year, assembly plant, and body style, which is what lets the PR-code sticker (Datenträger) decode correctly. You can find the VIN on the dashboard, the driver-side door jamb, the title, or the registration.
What do Volkswagen option codes look like?+
Volkswagen PR codes are three-character alphanumeric codes grouped by equipment family. Older VWs used M-codes (option numbers). The paint code is the 'L'-prefixed code on the sticker.
Where is the Volkswagen build data located?+
On a Volkswagen, the build data is found in these places: Sticker in the spare-tire well or on the trunk floor; A second identical sticker in the service booklet; PR codes retrievable from the VIN through the VAG parts catalogue (ETKA).
Why do Volkswagen buyers and collectors check the build sheet?+
The build record is how you confirm a factory option, package, or color was fitted at the factory rather than added later — which directly affects what a Volkswagen is worth. Volkswagen Classic is the authority that volkswagen Classic holds the brand's heritage records and documents original build specifications for historic VW models.
Look Up a Volkswagen Build Sheet by VIN
Enter the VIN to anchor the year and plant, then decode the PR-code sticker (Datenträger) — factory options, paint and interior codes, and drivetrain.
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