How to decode a 2020 Audi S8 VIN

Characters 1-3 of a 2020 Audi S8 VIN

A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is a unique code assigned to every vehicle manufacturer globally, serving as the initial three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The WMI for the 2020 Audi S8, “WAU,” designates Audi AG as the manufacturer, highlighting its origin from Ingolstadt, Germany. This code is crucial for identifying the vehicle’s manufacturing details, including its country of origin, the manufacturer name, and the specific type of vehicle, in this case, a passenger car. The WMI, as an integral part of the VIN, plays a pivotal role in vehicle tracking, registration, and identification processes worldwide. Understanding a vehicle’s WMI can reveal significant insights about its production and origin, serving both legal and commercial needs.

List of WMI Codes for a 2020 Audi S8

WMI: WAU

Model Years Covered: 2001-2003, 2007-2009, 2013-2016, 2020-2024
Example VIN: WAU8SAF80LN001413
Manufacturer Name: Audi AG
Vehicle Type: Passenger Car
City: Ingolstadt
State or Province:
Country: Germany

Characters 4-8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) of a 2020 Audi S8 VIN

These characters correspond to components like:

Engine type
Transmission
Model or trim
Body style
Gross vehicle weight range

Below find the known vehicle descriptor codes for a 2020 Audi S8:

Known VDS for a 2020 Audi S8
8SAF8	8SBF8

Auto manufacturers have some discretion to decide how they want to code this section, but its contents and decoded results are generally consistent.

Character 9 is the “check digit” in a 2020 Audi S8 VIN.

Based on a formula developed by the US Department of Transportation, it helps reduce fraud by ensuring the validity of the VIN.

10th Character in the 2020 Audi S8 VIN — Year Code

Year Code	Year
L	2020

11th Character in the 2020 Audi S8 VIN — Plant Code(s)

Known 2020 Audi S8 Assembly Factory VIN Code(s)

Plant Code	Plant City	Plant State	Plant Country	Plant Company Name	Example VIN
N	Neckarsulm		Germany		WAU8SAF80LN001413

VIN Characters 12 - 17 of a 2020 Audi S8

The final 6 characters in a 2020 Audi S8’s 17-digit VIN are its serial number, which will be unique to every vehicle.

Check your Audi S8’s VIN below:

How to find a 2020 Audi S8’s VIN?

Locating the VIN number on your 2020 Audi S8 is key for identification. Here’s how to find it:

Inspect the dashboard on the driver’s side of your Audi S8. You can usually see the VIN through the windshield on a plate at the corner.
Check the door jamb on the driver’s side of your Audi S8. The VIN can often be found on a sticker where the door latches when closed.
Look at the engine block of your Audi S8, as the VIN is sometimes stamped onto the engine itself.
Examine the car’s firewall inside the engine compartment for your Audi S8’s VIN, which may be stamped onto a metal plate.

What info can a 2020 Audi S8 VIN reveal?

Model Year: The VIN can indicate the vehicle’s model year, revealing it to be a 2020 Audi S8. This provides insights into the age and potential market value of the vehicle.
Manufacturing Details: The VIN can specify where the vehicle was assembled, as in the case of the 2020 Audi S8 being assembled in Neckarsulm, Germany, demonstrating the VIN’s capability to reveal make, model, and origin.
Engine Specifications: The VIN can offer detailed information about the engine, such as revealing an 8-cylinder 4.0L engine with 563 horsepower, providing insights into the engine size, type, and power output.
Body Class and Doors: A VIN can specify the body class, exemplified by the 2020 Audi S8 being classified as a Sedan/Saloon with 4 doors, offering detailed insights into the vehicle’s design and structure.
Safety Features: The VIN can detail extensive safety features, with specific mentions of airbag locations and types, aiding in potential inferences about standard safety equipment.
Fuel Type: The VIN can provide information about the vehicle’s fuel preference, as seen in the case of the 2020 Audi S8, which is primarily gasoline-powered, contributing to an understanding of the vehicle’s efficiency and environmental impact.
Transmission and Drive Type: The VIN can detail transmission style and, indirectly, drive type, evidenced by the 2020 Audi S8 having an automatic transmission and the “S8 quattro” series hinting at all-wheel drive, essential for drivability insights.
Advanced Safety and Tech Features: Occasionally, the VIN can offer insights into specific safety and technological features of the vehicle, as seen with mentions of manual seat belt type and indirect tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS).

Don’t have your 2020 Audi S8’s VIN handy? Try our license plate lookup instead!

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Sample VIN Decode Report for a 2020 Audi S8

Vehicle Spec	Value
Body Class	Sedan/Saloon
Curtain Air Bag Locations	All Rows
Displacement (CC)	4000.0
Displacement (CI)	244.09497637892
Displacement (L)	4.0
Doors	4
Engine Brake (hp) From	563
Engine Manufacturer	Audi
Engine Number of Cylinders	8
Front Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Fuel Type - Primary	Gasoline
Knee Air Bag Locations	1st Row (Driver and Passenger)
Model	S8
Model Year	2020
Other Engine Info	Test Group: LVGAJ04.0NAT; Emis. Std: Tier 3 BIN 125 LEV3 ULEV125
Other Restraint System Info	Advanced Front Airbags; Front Center Airbags
Plant City	Neckarsulm
Plant Company Name
Plant Country	Germany
Seat Belt Type	Manual
Series	S8 quattro
Side Air Bag Locations	1st and 2nd Rows
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Type	Indirect
Transmission Style	Automatic
Vehicle Descriptor	WAU8SAF8*LN
Vehicle Type	Passenger Car
Sample_VIN	WAU8SAF80LN001413