Where is the VIN number in Audi A3 (8L)?

This guide covers the VIN (chassis number) locations for the Audi A3 (8L) produced between 1998–2003. Use the quick checks first (door jamb and trunk sticker), then move to the engine bay stamping if you need a “hard” chassis match.

Chassis Number Locations

1) B-Pillar / Door Jamb (Type Label)

• Where to look: Open the front door and inspect the B-pillar door shut (the vertical pillar between the front and rear side windows). Look for a black or silver manufacturer label that lists the VIN plus weight ratings.
• Access: Low difficulty. No tools—just open the door and wipe dust off the sticker if needed.
• Note: Written for LHD vehicles; the label is commonly on a door jamb/B-pillar area—check both sides if you don’t see it immediately.
• Tip: If the VIN is small or the print is faded, scan it directly with ScanVin.app so you don’t misread characters like S/5 or B/8.

2) Dashboard / Windshield (Visible VIN)

• Where to look: From outside the car, check the lower corner of the windshield on the left side (LHD, driver side) where a VIN plate/window is commonly placed.
• Access: Moderate difficulty. The VIN may be hard to see due to reflections—and on some older European-market A3 8L cars it may be missing/blank.
• Note: If your windshield corner area looks “empty,” move to the B-pillar label and trunk build sticker.
• Tip: To beat glare and reflections on glass, capture it with your phone using ScanVin.app and let OCR do the reading instead of squinting through the windshield.

3) Trunk / Spare Wheel Well (Build Sticker)

• Where to look: Open the trunk, lift the carpet, and inspect the spare wheel well floor or side wall for a white paper data sticker. It usually includes the VIN plus paint/option codes.
• Access: Moderate/High difficulty. You may need to empty the trunk and lift trim; the sticker can be torn, faded, or water-damaged on a 20+ year old car.
• Note: This sticker is extremely useful for checking option codes, but it’s not as “tamper-resistant” as a metal stamping.
• Tip: If the sticker is aged or blotchy, use ScanVin.app’s VIN scanner to pick out the characters without manually transcribing a half-faded print.

4) Engine Bay (Firewall / Plenum Chamber)

• Where to look: In the engine bay, check the center rear area near the firewall, around the plenum chamber/rain tray below the windshield. The VIN may be stamped into metal or shown on a tag—sometimes you’ll need to lift a rubber seal or remove a small plastic cover to see it.
• Access: High difficulty. This area traps leaves, dirt, and grime, and it’s usually in deep shadow under the hood line.
• Note: If you’re confirming identity, this is one of the most important checks because it ties back to the body structure.
• Tip: Clean the surface first, then use ScanVin.app in high-contrast scanning mode to decipher weak stamping and dirty characters without guessing.

Video Guide

No video sources were approved for publication for this exact Audi A3 (8L) 1998–2003 VIN-location guide.

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Windshield VIN hard to read (or missing): reflections, tint, and older EU-spec fitments can make the dash VIN area unreadable or blank—use the door jamb label and trunk sticker as primary alternatives.
• Engine bay stamping buried in grime: the plenum/firewall area often packs with dirt and leaves; scrub and wipe before attempting to read or scan.
• Sticker validity warning: the trunk build sticker and B-pillar label can be damaged or replaced—when buying a car, always cross-check with a metal-stamped VIN location where possible.

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