Quick response
Quick Answer: The most reliable VIN location for the Audi A3 (8P) is the stamped chassis number in the engine bay on the right-side fender apron/strut tower area (next to the coolant expansion tank). It’s stamped directly into the metal beside the coolant reservoir, but it often sits in shadow and can be dirty—use a flashlight and clean the area first.
Where is the VIN number in Audi A3 (8P)?
This guide shows you where to find the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) / chassis number on the Audi A3 8P, produced between 2004–2012—including the quickest scan points and the backup sticker locations.
Chassis Number Locations
1) Engine bay – stamped chassis number (primary) 
- Where to look: Open the hood. On LHD cars, go to the right side of the engine bay and locate the coolant expansion tank (round/spherical tank with a blue cap). The VIN is stamped into the metal fender apron running alongside the coolant tank.
- Access: Usually visible, but expect shadows from hoses/tank and dirt/grease buildup on the painted metal—wipe it and angle a light across the stamping to make the characters pop.
- Note: The “right side” is the vehicle’s right side (direction of travel). Video shown is LHD.
- Tip: If the stamping is faint or grimy, use ScanVin’s high-contrast camera OCR to pull the characters cleanly—scan the stamped VIN directly instead of guessing at worn digits.
2) Engine bay – manufacturer label/sticker (near stamped VIN)
- Where to look: Still on the right-side strut tower/fender apron area, look for a black or silver manufacturer sticker near the stamped VIN, sometimes closer to the firewall or slightly lower on the tower.
- Access: Easy to reach, but stickers can fade, peel, or go glossy from heat, making them hard to read at certain angles.
- Note: Use this as a supporting check, not the main legal identifier (the stamped VIN is the priority).
- Tip: If the sticker print is washed out, capture it with your phone using the VIN scanner to reduce misreads (especially with worn fonts).
3) Windshield VIN tag (dashboard) 
- Where to look: From outside the car, look through the glass at the bottom corner of the windshield on the driver’s side (LHD). The VIN sits on a small plate visible through the windshield.
- Access: Fastest to check, but you’ll fight glare/reflections, and the windshield’s dotted border can block the best viewing angle.
- Note: Some European-spec cars of this era may be missing the windshield VIN plate—if it’s not there, go straight to the engine-bay stamped VIN.
- Tip: If sun glare is washing out the plate, scan it instantly with your camera while shading the glass with your body to avoid transcription errors.
4) Trunk/boot floor – build sticker (service sticker) 
- Where to look: Open the trunk and lift the carpet/spare wheel cover. In or near the spare wheel well, find the paper build sticker with the VIN and option codes.
- Access: Requires unloading the trunk and lifting the floor. The paper sticker is often damaged by moisture or cargo abrasion.
- Note: This is a backup VIN source for verification (great when windshield/engine bay is missing or unreadable).
- Tip: If the sticker is scratched or partially torn, use the VIN reader to scan what’s left and confirm the missing characters from the OCR result.
5) Service book/documents – build sticker
- Where to look: Check the original maintenance/service booklet. The build sticker (same style as the trunk sticker) is commonly pasted on an early page.
- Access: Only works if the car still has its original documents, but it’s usually the cleanest and easiest VIN to read.
- Note: Documents can be lost or swapped—always verify against the stamped chassis VIN when buying.
- Tip: If you have the booklet in hand, scan the VIN from the sticker to avoid typing mistakes and to speed up decoding.
Video Guide
Video Tutorial: Where is the VIN number of my Audi A3 8P ( 2003 – 2013 ) | All Possible VIN Number Locations
- Walkaround on an Audi A3 (8P) showing the stamped engine-bay VIN, the nearby sticker, and the windshield VIN plate.
Common Problems & Troubleshooting
- Stamped VIN hard to read in the engine bay: Dirt/grease and shadowing are common—scrub the area and shine a light across the stamp at a low angle.
- Windshield VIN glare: Reflections can hide characters—shade the glass and change your viewing angle (stand to the side, not straight-on).
- Sticker warning: Engine-bay/trunk/service-book stickers can fade or be replaced—when verifying identity, the stamped chassis VIN is the primary reference.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the VIN on Audi A3?
Check the stamped VIN in the engine bay on the right-side fender apron/strut tower area next to the coolant expansion tank, and the windshield VIN plate at the bottom corner of the driver-side windshield.
Which VIN location is the most important for Audi A3?
The stamped chassis VIN on the body is the most important because it is physically permanent and used as the primary legal identifier. Stickers and document VINs are helpful for confirmation but can be damaged or replaced.
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Note on Data Sources
Information about VIN location in this model comes from aggregation of official technical documentation (OEM) and spare parts catalogs. Despite careful algorithmic verification, the data is for reference purposes only. Final vehicle identification should always be confirmed by an authorized technician.
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