Where is the VIN in the Audi Q5?

This guide covers where to find the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) on the Audi Q5 (Audi Q5 III (GU) [2021-2021]) produced between 2021–2021, including the quickest scan points and the chassis-stamped backup locations.

Chassis Number Locations

Driver’s Door Pillar (B-Pillar Sticker)

• Where to look: Open the driver’s door and locate the certification label on the driver’s side B-pillar, positioned low in the door jamb. The VIN is printed clearly above the barcode.
• Access: Very easy access and high contrast print, but because it sits low it can be dirty/scuffed from shoes and road grime—wipe it clean first.
• Note: On LHD vehicles, this is on the left side of the car (driver’s side).
• Tip: If the label is dusty or partially scuffed, wipe it and then scan it directly with the free VIN reader so you don’t misread similar characters like B/8 or S/5.

Engine Bay (Strut Tower)

• Where to look: Pop the hood and check the left-side strut tower (this is typically the passenger side on LHD cars). The VIN is stamped directly into the metal bodywork, slightly recessed below nearby plastic trim.
• Access: The stamp is usually strong and OCR-friendly, but the viewing angle is deep and engine bay shadows/cables can hide parts of the characters—use a light and adjust your angle.
• Note: “Left” means the vehicle’s left when facing forward (direction of travel), not your left while standing in front of the car.
• Tip: Because shadows are the main issue, use your phone light and capture it with ScanVin.app so the app can read the stamped characters without you leaning over and guessing.

Windshield (Dashboard VIN Plate)

• Where to look: From outside the car, look through the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side. The VIN plate sits on the dashboard and is meant to be visible through the glass.
• Access: Fastest to check, but glare/reflections and windshield dirt can make it hard to read accurately—move your body/phone to change the reflection angle.
• Note: On LHD vehicles, the windshield VIN plate is typically on the left (driver’s) side.
• Tip: If the sun is washing it out, use the phone scanner to grab the VIN instantly instead of manually transcribing characters through reflections.

Infotainment System (MMI VIN Display)

• Where to look: In the MMI infotainment settings, the VIN may appear under menus like System Maintenance or Version/Vehicle Information.
• Access: Requires ignition on and menu navigation; it’s convenient for cross-checking but it’s not a physical chassis marking.
• Note: Use this to compare against the physical VIN locations (windshield, B-pillar, engine bay stamp).
• Tip: If you’re comparing VINs during a purchase, scan the physical VIN with ScanVin.app and match it to the MMI readout to spot mismatches quickly.

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: AUDI SQ5 II (2017-2020) – VIN Number Location

▶ Watch Audi Q5 VIN Location Guide

• A clear walkthrough showing the engine bay stamped VIN, the windshield VIN plate, the driver door jamb (B-pillar) sticker, and a mention of the MMI VIN display.

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Windshield glare/reflections: If the VIN plate is reflecting the sky/sun, change your viewing angle, shade it with your body, or scan from a slight offset instead of straight-on.
• Engine bay shadows hiding the stamp: Use a flashlight and look from a lower angle so the stamped characters cast contrast shadows.
• Sticker validity warning: The B-pillar label can be replaced (accident repair/door swap). Always cross-check the sticker VIN against the windshield plate and the stamped engine-bay VIN before buying.

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This guide covers all confirmed VIN (chassis number) locations for the Audi Q5 II (FY) produced between 2018 and 2021, so you can verify the vehicle identity before registration, service, or purchase.

Chassis Number Locations

Engine Bay – Left Front Strut Tower (Chassis Stamping)

• Where to look: Open the hood and go to the left front strut tower / suspension turret. The VIN is stamped directly into the metal immediately beside the red positive (+) battery jump terminal (you’ll see heavy battery/jump cables in the same area).
• Access: Visibility is generally good, but the letters can be hard to read because the stamping is painted the same color as the body. Cables run above it, and a plastic trim/cowling may slightly overhang the edge—wipe dust off and shine a light across it.
• Note: On RHD markets, the cabin VIN and door sticker move sides, but this engine-bay stamping is typically still on the left strut tower.
• Tip: If the stamped characters look “flat” due to body-color paint, use the app’s high-contrast capture—scan the stamped VIN with your phone while aiming your flashlight at an angle to create shadows in the stamp.

Lower Windshield – Dashboard VIN Plate (Visible VIN)

• Where to look: From outside the vehicle, look through the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side (LHD). The VIN is displayed on a tag embedded in the dashboard trim.
• Access: Easy to reach, but you’ll often fight windshield glare/reflections. A dirty windshield can also distort the characters.
• Note: For RHD vehicles, this visible VIN shifts to the right side of the windshield.
• Tip: If reflections make you misread 8/B or 5/S, capture the windshield VIN instantly to avoid transcription mistakes and double-entry errors.

Driver’s Door Jamb – B-Pillar Manufacturer Label (Sticker)

• Where to look: Open the driver’s door (LHD) and check the left B-pillar down low, below the door striker, near the rocker panel. You’re looking for a silver/black manufacturer label with VIN text and a barcode.
• Access: It sits very low, so you’ll need to crouch. Because it’s in a high-traffic entry area, it can be scuffed, torn, or peeling—clean gently, don’t scrub aggressively.
• Note: On RHD models, this label is typically on the right-side door jamb.
• Tip: Since it’s awkward to read while crouched, scan the sticker barcode/VIN so you don’t have to write it down in an uncomfortable position.

MMI / Infotainment – Digital VIN (Verification)

• Where to look: In the MMI infotainment system, navigate to Settings > General > Version Information (or a similar “system maintenance/version” menu depending on software).
• Access: Requires the vehicle to have power (key on / ignition on). Screen refresh and glare can make camera scanning unreliable.
• Note: Treat this as a verification reference, not your primary physical identifier.
• Tip: If you’re cross-checking numbers during a purchase, scan the physical VIN first (stamping or sticker) and then compare it to the MMI display.

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: AUDI SQ5 II (2017-2020) – VIN Number Location

▶ Watch Audi Q5 VIN Location Guide

• A complete walkthrough showing the engine-bay VIN stamping, windshield VIN, driver door-jamb sticker, and where to find VIN info in the MMI.

Video Tutorial: Audi Q5 2018 engine and chassis number

▶ Watch Audi Q5 VIN Location Guide

• Clear daylight view of the strut-tower VIN stamping and a demonstration of the engine serial number (which is not the VIN).

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Stamped VIN is hard to read in the engine bay: The stamping is often body-colored and low contrast; wipe the area and use oblique flashlight lighting so shadows form inside the characters.
• Windshield VIN reflections: Bright sun or overhead lights cause glare—change your viewing angle, shade the area with your hand, and clean the glass.
• Door-jamb label issues: If the B-pillar sticker is missing/damaged, don’t rely on it alone—verify against the engine-bay stamping and visible windshield VIN (stickers can be replaced).

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This guide shows you where to find the VIN (chassis number) on the Audi Q5 I (8R) produced between 2009 and 2017, using the most common factory locations you can check in minutes.

Chassis Number Locations

Windshield (Visible VIN plate)

• Where to look: From outside the car, look through the bottom corner of the front windshield on the left side (LHD driver side) for the VIN plate on the dashboard.
• Access: Easiest access, but glare/reflections on the glass can make it hard to read.
• Note: This is the quickest verification point for an LHD Q5—no tools needed.
• Tip: If the sun is reflecting, use your phone to capture it instantly—you can scan the VIN directly to avoid misreading characters through the glass.

B-Pillar / Door Jamb (Passenger Side)

• Where to look: Open the right-side front passenger door (LHD) and inspect the lower B-pillar/door jamb area (the post between front and rear doors) for a VIN/vehicle data sticker.
• Access: Simple, but the label sits low, so you’ll likely need to crouch.
• Note: On some Q5s, the “main” sticker people expect on the driver side may appear on the passenger side—check both.
• Tip: Because it’s low and awkward to copy by hand, use your camera instead of writing it down—use the free VIN reader to grab the barcode/text cleanly.

B-Pillar / Door Jamb (Driver Side)

• Where to look: Open the left-side front driver door (LHD) and check the lower B-pillar/door jamb for the VIN/vehicle data sticker (placement can vary by market/trim).
• Access: Easy to reach with the door open; you may still need to bend down due to low placement.
• Note: For LHD vehicles, this is a common place to find the official type label—if it’s missing, verify other VIN points.
• Tip: To avoid transcription errors from stamped/printed small text, capture it with your phone while you’re crouched down.

Engine Bay (Type Plate / Manufacturer Label)

• Where to look: Pop the hood and look at the firewall/bulkhead at the back of the engine bay, slightly to the right of center (when facing the car). You’ll find a metal plate or black sticker, riveted or adhered to the vertical metal surface.
• Access: Requires opening the hood; the plate is usually high-contrast but can be obscured by dirt/engine grime.
• Note: Best checked in daylight; wipe the label before scanning.
• Tip: If it’s grimy or faded, scrub lightly and let the camera do the work—scan it in High Contrast AI mode to pull the VIN from dirty labels.

Engine Bay (Stamped Chassis Number)

• Where to look: In the engine bay, locate the VIN stamped directly into metal on the right-side suspension strut tower (right side of the car in direction of travel; passenger side for LHD). On some Q5 (8R) setups, it may instead be on the firewall shelf/plenum chamber area, which can require lifting a rubber weatherstrip and slightly moving a plastic cowl cover to view.
• Access: Often painted over or dirty with low contrast; stamping can be shallow. A flashlight helps.
• Note: This is one of the harder “hard ID” checks—use it to confirm the vehicle matches the visible VIN and stickers.
• Tip: If the stamping is faint under paint, scan it with High Contrast AI assistance so you don’t misread shallow characters.

Video Guide

Video Tutorial: Where is VIN Number Location in AUDI Q5 I ( 2008 - 2016 )

▶ Watch Audi Q5 VIN Location Guide

• A clear walkthrough showing the engine bay plate, stamped chassis number, both door-jamb sticker areas, and the windshield VIN.

Common Problems & Troubleshooting

• Windshield glare: If you can’t read the VIN through the glass, change your viewing angle, shade the area with your hand, or record a quick close-up video and pause on the frame.
• Dirty/painted stamping in the engine bay: Spray a mild cleaner, wipe, and use a flashlight at an angle to make the stamped digits cast shadows.
• Sticker validity warning: Door-jamb labels can be replaced after body repairs—always cross-check the VIN against the windshield VIN and the stamped chassis number before you buy.

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