All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet.

It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows:

 

The first 3 characters are TMB for Škoda cars.

 

The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. 

 

The 5th character tells you the engine: E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS. (Anyone know the code for the 2.0 TDI 115PS engine or Russian 1.6 MPI engines?) 

 

The 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag.

 

The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on).

 

The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code.

 

The 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018, K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019, L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020, M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021.

 

The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia.

 

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

 

 

If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please give me the details so I can update this guide.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

Hi Chris,

 

I've heard from the dealer that my new car is with them and, from the CRD that I've signed, the 10th character of the VIN is the letter N; so, presumably MY 2022.

 

Allan

Updated for MY22 cars.

 

All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet.

It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows:

 

The first 3 characters are TMB for Škoda cars.

 

The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. 

 

The 5th character tells you the engine: E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS. (Anyone know the code for the 2.0 TDI 115PS engine or Russian 1.6 MPI engines?) 

 

The 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag.

 

The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on).

 

The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code.

 

The 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018), K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019), L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020), M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021), N = MY2022 (ie manufactured between summer 2021 and summer 2022).

 

The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia.

 

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

 

 

If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please give me the details so I can update this guide.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

Edited 19 August, 20214 yr by CJJE

For the next update...........

Mine ordered 6th Jun 22 (picked up 10th October) has  P   for its 10th character .

Updated for MY23 cars.

 

All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet.

It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows:

 

The first 3 characters are TMB for Škoda cars.

 

The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. 

 

The 5th character tells you the engine: E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS. (Anyone know the code for the 2.0 TDI 115PS engine or Russian 1.6 MPI engines?) 

 

The 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag.

 

The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on).

 

The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code.

 

The 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018), K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019), L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020), M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021), N = MY2022 (ie manufactured between summer 2021 and summer 2022), P = MY2023 (ie manufactured between summer 2022 and summer 2023).

 

The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia.

 

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

 

 

If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please give me the details so I can update this guide.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

Updated for MY23 cars and non-European cars (with thanks to Varooom).

 

All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet.

It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows:

 

The first 3 characters are XW8 for cars made in Russia, or TMB for cars made in other Skoda manufacturing plants.

 

The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. 

 

The 5th character tells you the engine: C = 1.4 TSI 150 PS, E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, F = 2.0 TDI 115 PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, H = 2.0 TDI 140 PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, N = 1.6 MPI 110 PS (Russian market), P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS.

 

In Europe, the 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag. (However in India, this character is used to show the month of manufacture: A = January. B = February, C = March, D = April, E = May, F = June, G = July, H = August, J = September, K = October, L = November, M = December.)

 

The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on).

 

The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code.

 

For European cars, the 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018), K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019), L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020), M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021), N = MY2022 (ie manufactured between summer 2021 and summer 2022), P = MY2023 (ie manufactured between summer 2022 and summer 2023). (However in India this character tells you the year of manufacture: J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023. 

 

The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; C = Brataslava, Slovakia; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia.

 

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

 

If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please tell me so that I can update this guide.

Thanks

 

Chris

Is there a (free) decoder that tells you the build/spec of the car from the VIN? - I've Googled and read through FB and Forum posts, and any links don't seem to work, or they start asking for money... 

Advice appreciated. Thanks 

3 hours ago, PaulCourtney said:

Is there a (free) decoder that tells you the build/spec of the car from the VIN? - I've Googled and read through FB and Forum posts, and any links don't seem to work, or they start asking for money... 

Advice appreciated. Thanks 

Nope, but...

 

Web chat to Skoda UK, they can provide.

Visit dealer is another free way.

11 hours ago, PaulCourtney said:

Is there a (free) decoder that tells you the build/spec of the car from the VIN? - I've Googled and read through FB and Forum posts, and any links don't seem to work, or they start asking for money... 

Advice appreciated. Thanks 

It's not free, but the ERWIN system lets you buy a short trial access to the VAG database pretty cheaply. 

 

See 

 for details

 

Chris 

Can confirm that "Web chat to Skoda UK" works... took a few minutes.

On 11/06/2021 at 12:16, CJJE said:

All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet.

It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows:

 

The first 3 characters are TMB for Škoda cars.

 

The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. 

 

The 5th character tells you the engine: E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS. (Anyone know the code for the 2.0 TDI 115PS engine or Russian 1.6 MPI engines?) 

 

The 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag.

 

The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on).

 

The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code.

 

The 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018, K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019, L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020, M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021.

 

The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia.

 

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

 

 

If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please give me the details so I can update this guide.

 

Thanks

 

Chris

Thanks for this, but on my one the 11th character is "C", and I have no idea where it have been produced. 

11 minutes ago, Mi8Yan said:

Thanks for this, but on my one the 11th character is "C", and I have no idea where it have been produced. 

 

Bratislava?

On 15/11/2022 at 16:14, CJJE said:

For European cars, the 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018), K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019), L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020), M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021), N = MY2022 (ie manufactured between summer 2021 and summer 2022), P = MY2023 (ie manufactured between summer 2022 and summer 2023). (However in India this character tells you the year of manufacture: J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023. 

 

Siirley this should be  : J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, O = 2023, P =2024 (summer 2023-Summer 2024)?
 

Mine is a P and got to the main Dealer in the UK in April 2024.  So presumably made in the 2nd half of 2023? Ie the Summer 2023-Summer 2024 production.
 

Due to silicon chip shortages in the automotive world in the previous couple of years, there was a shortage of new cars across all manufacturers and the Karoq has a lot of ships and software in it. So I can't see it taking over 9 months to get from production in Czechia to the UK. 

 

 

The letters I, O and Q are not permitted to be used in a VIN.

On 15/11/2022 at 16:14, CJJE said:

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

Any way of decoding these?

Mine are 112453  The car is a P  22/23 (registered April 24) so I assume a 23 mfr

 

The last 6 characters/numbers are simply a numerical sequence. The vehicles either side of yours will have been 112452 and 112454.

In the case of my Karoq, the number is 007961.

1 hour ago, AMcK said:

The last 6 characters/numbers are simply a numerical sequence. The vehicles either side of yours will have been 112452 and 112454.

In the case of my Karoq, the number is 007961.

I am not so sure of that.  The information on the VIN says, year, line and number for the last 6 digits. The total number of Karoq's in any year is 15K 
The VIN also gives in other places the run (across 2 years) and the factory of 4. so less than 10K per factory which only needs 4 digits which would leave for line and 1 for year  

1 hour ago, AMcK said:

The last 6 characters/numbers are simply a numerical sequence. The vehicles either side of yours will have been 112452 and 112454.

In the case of my Karoq, the number is 007961.

 

last 6 will be production line order?

Edited 29 January, 20251 yr by Stonekeeper

16 minutes ago, chills said:

I am not so sure of that.  The information on the VIN says, year, line and number for the last 6 digits. The total number of Karoq's in any year is 15K 
The VIN also gives in other places the run (across 2 years) and the factory of 4. so less than 10K per factory which only needs 4 digits which would leave for line and 1 for year  

 

Where is the 15,000 a year figure from?

Edited 29 January, 20251 yr by Stonekeeper

This taken from COMMISSION REGULATION (EU) No 19/2011, based on ISO 3779.

 

2.1 The VIN shall consist of three sections:

(a) the world manufacturer identifier (WMI);

(b) the vehicle descriptor section (VDS);

(c) the vehicle indicator section (VIS).

 

2.2. The WMI shall consist of a code assigned to the vehicle manufacturer to enable him to be identified.

2.2.1. The code shall comprise three alphanumeric characters, capital roman letters or Arabic numerals, which shall be assigned by the competent authority in the country where the manufacturer has his principal place of business.

2.2.2. The competent authority shall act in agreement with the international organisation referred to in Standard ISO 3780: 2009 on ‘Road vehicles — World manufacturer identifier (WMI) code’.

2.2.3. Where the manufacturer’s global production is less than 500 vehicles per annum, the third character shall always be ‘9’. In order to identify such manufacturers, the competent authority referred to in point 2.2.1 shall assign the third, the fourth and the fifth character of the VIS.

 

2.3. The VDS shall consist of six alphanumeric characters, capital roman letters or Arabic numerals, which shall serve to indicate the general characteristics of the vehicle. Where the manufacturer does not use one or more of the six characters, the unused spaces shall be filled in with alphanumeric characters at the manufacturer’s discretion in order that the total number of characters required shall be 6.

 

2.4. The VIS shall consist of eight alphanumeric characters, capital Roman letters or Arabic numerals, of which the last four shall consist of digits only.

 

It shall provide, in conjunction with the WMI and the VDS, clear identification of a particular vehicle. Any unused space shall be filled in with the digit ‘0’ in order that the total number of characters required shall be 8.

 

In the case of the Karoq, the first character of the VIS (10th character of the VIN) is the model year code letter, the second character of the VIS (11th character of the VIN) is the place of manufacture code letter or numeral, and the final 6 characters of the VIS (12th to 17th characters of the VIN) are the serial number.

4 minutes ago, Stonekeeper said:

Škoda don't produce the Yeti any more.   Also, Škoda are only claiming 109K for the Karoq (I was wrong too) and that is between several plants producing the Karoq.
So and the year and plant are determined by other letters in the VIN, as the Škoda information says it is line, year and number for those 6 digits. Four digits can go to 9,999 per line.   Multiple lines per plant and multiple plants.  As the batch is across 2 years and the year of MFR is a digit then they are only looking at a serial number for 6 months?  Especially as they release figures in 6 month blocks. 
 

 

My chart was for number on the road 454000 ish so i was querying your 15000 a year when it's not been around very long.

1 hour ago, Stonekeeper said:

My chart was for number on the road 454000 ish so i was querying your 15000 a year when it's not been around very long.

Yes, I got it wrong by 40K It looks like they did 109,000 i Karoq's n 2024.   So 340K in the previous 6 years by your numbers? 

On 15/11/2022 at 18:14, CJJE said:

Updated for MY23 cars and non-European cars (with thanks to Varooom).

 

All cars have a unique 17 character identity code – their Vehicle Identification Number or VIN. For Karoqs this is displayed at the bottom lefthand corner of the windscreen, on a sticker at the base of the middle body pillar, and stamped into the righthand suspension turret under the bonnet.

It takes the form: TMB LJ7 NU 7J5 012345 and can be decoded as follows:

 

The first 3 characters are XW8 for cars made in Russia, or TMB for cars made in other Skoda manufacturing plants.

 

The 4th character tells you the chassis type: J = left-hand drive FWD, K = right-hand drive FWD, L = left-hand drive 4x4 and M = right-hand drive 4x4. 

 

The 5th character tells you the engine: C = 1.4 TSI 150 PS, E = 2.0 TSI 190PS, F = 2.0 TDI 115 PS, G = 1.6 TDI 115PS, H = 2.0 TDI 140 PS, J = 2.0 TDI 150PS, M = 2.0 TDI 190 PS, N = 1.6 MPI 110 PS (Russian market), P = 1.0 TSI 115PS, R = 1.5 TSI 150PS.

 

In Europe, the 6th character tells you how many airbags the car has: 2 = 2 front airbags, 4 = 2 front and 2 side airbags, 5 = 2 fronts + 2 sides + 1 knee airbag, 6 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads, 7 = 2 front airbags + 2 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag, 8 = 2 front airbags + 4 sides + 2 heads, 9 = 2 front bags + 4 sides + 2 heads + 1 knee airbag. (However in India, this character is used to show the month of manufacture: A = January. B = February, C = March, D = April, E = May, F = June, G = July, H = August, J = September, K = October, L = November, M = December.)

 

The 7th and 8th character tell you the vehicle model: NU = the Karoq (2017 on).

 

The 9th character is a check digit to validate the code.

 

For European cars, the 10th character tells you the car's model year: J = MY2018 (ie manufactured between summer 2017 and summer 2018), K = MY2019 (ie manufactured between summer 2018 and summer 2019), L = MY2020 (ie manufactured between summer 2019 and summer 2020), M = MY2021 (ie manufactured between summer 2020 and summer 2021), N = MY2022 (ie manufactured between summer 2021 and summer 2022), P = MY2023 (ie manufactured between summer 2022 and summer 2023). (However in India this character tells you the year of manufacture: J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023. 

 

The 11th character tells you where your car was built: 0 to 4 = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia; 5 = Kvasiny, Czechia; 7 or 8 = Vrchlabi, Czechia; B = Solomonovo, Ukraine; C = Brataslava, Slovakia; H = Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; J = Osnabruck, Germany; K = Kaluga, Russia; N = Mladá Boleslav, Czechia.

 

Then finally the 12th to 17th numbers are the unique production number for that production line and year. 

 

If anyone has a character in their VIN not listed above, please tell me so that I can update this guide.

Thanks

 

Chris

Hi,

My VIN (Skoda Superb Mk4) has a "0" for the 6th (#airbags) character. What does this mean?

Thanks!

The Superb will have its own character decode information, but I do not have access to that.