Free VIN decoder
Skoda VIN decoder
Decode a Skoda VIN character by character: what TMB means, the model codes from 1U to NX, the year table, a real VIN taken apart, and a free check of what the registries hold on the exact car.
Updated 8 September 2026
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How the free check works
Enter a Skoda VIN in the box above and we check it against official registries and manufacturer build data, with a free preview of what exists for the exact car. The tables below decode the number by hand: nearly every Skoda on the road opens with TMB, and characters 7 and 8 pin down the model and generation.
How a Skoda VIN is built
Skoda uses the Volkswagen Group layout: characters 1 to 3 name the manufacturer, 4 to 6 are the filler letters ZZZ on European cars, 7 and 8 carry the model code, 10 the model year, 11 the assembly code, and 12 to 17 the serial number.
TMB is Skoda Auto in the Czech Republic, covering the Mlada Boleslav, Kvasiny and Vrchlabi plants. An imported Skoda keeps that code forever, so a TMB car registered anywhere in Europe still reads as a Czech build.
A Skoda VIN, decoded
TMBZZZ5EZF0123456
Take this Octavia VIN as a structural example:
| VIN characters | What this part says |
|---|---|
TMB | Skoda Auto, Czech Republic. |
ZZZ | Filler: a European market car. |
5E | Model code for the Octavia III. |
Z | Filler position on a European car. |
F | Model year 2015. |
0 | Assembly code. |
123456 | The serial number of the individual car. |
Skoda model codes (characters 7 and 8)
The codes you will meet most often on the used market:
| Code | Model and generation |
|---|---|
6Y | Fabia I (1999 to 2007) |
5J | Fabia II, Roomster (2006 to 2015) |
NJ | Fabia III (2014 to 2021) |
1U | Octavia I (1996 to 2010) |
1Z | Octavia II (2004 to 2013) |
5E | Octavia III (2012 to 2020) |
NX | Octavia IV (2019 on) |
3U | Superb I (2001 to 2008) |
3T | Superb II (2008 to 2015) |
3V | Superb III (2015 to 2023) |
5L | Yeti (2009 to 2017) |
NS | Kodiaq I (2016 to 2024) |
NU | Karoq (2017 on) |
Model year codes (character 10)
This make follows the industry standard year code at position 10, in a 30 year cycle. The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the digit 0 are never used:
| Code | First cycle | Current cycle |
|---|---|---|
A | 1980 | 2010 |
B | 1981 | 2011 |
C | 1982 | 2012 |
D | 1983 | 2013 |
E | 1984 | 2014 |
F | 1985 | 2015 |
G | 1986 | 2016 |
H | 1987 | 2017 |
J | 1988 | 2018 |
K | 1989 | 2019 |
L | 1990 | 2020 |
M | 1991 | 2021 |
N | 1992 | 2022 |
P | 1993 | 2023 |
R | 1994 | 2024 |
S | 1995 | 2025 |
T | 1996 | 2026 |
V | 1997 | 2027 |
W | 1998 | 2028 |
X | 1999 | 2029 |
Y | 2000 | 2030 |
1 | 2001 | 2031 |
2 | 2002 | 2032 |
3 | 2003 | 2033 |
4 | 2004 | 2034 |
5 | 2005 | 2035 |
6 | 2006 | 2036 |
7 | 2007 | 2037 |
8 | 2008 | 2038 |
9 | 2009 | 2039 |
A car built late in the year often carries the next year's code, and first registration can lag build by months. A one year gap between the advert and the VIN is normal; a bigger gap is a question for the seller.
The factory build list, by VIN
As a Volkswagen Group make, the VIN unlocks the factory build list: engine and gearbox codes, the paint code, and every option the car left the plant with. Sellers cannot edit it, and equipment added later is not on it.
A MrVIN report includes the build data we can retrieve for the exact VIN alongside the recorded history, and the free preview shows what exists for the car before you pay anything.
Where to find the VIN on the car
Check at least two locations and make sure they agree with each other and with the documents. A VIN that differs between locations is a walk away flag on its own.
- Windscreen base visible from outside through the glass on the driver side.
- Door jamb sticker on the driver side B pillar on most cars.
- Body stamp under the bonnet, under a floor flap, or in the boot, depending on the make.
- Documents the registration certificate and the service book both carry it, and both must match the metal.
Works for every Skoda
The check reads the VIN, not the badge, so every model is covered. The ones buyers look up most:
The same decoding sits behind our partner API: send a VIN, get the identity and the recorded history back as JSON. Dealers, marketplaces and fleets use it to check cars before listing them.
Read the VIN decoder API reference →
Decode your VIN now
See what the registries hold on the exact car: recorded mileage, damage, imports and the factory build. The preview of the findings is free.
Example: WVWZZZ1JZ3W386752Free preview included
Not ready yet? See a full sample report
Frequently asked questions
Can I decode a Skoda VIN for free?
Yes. The tables on this page decode the structure by hand, and the check box runs the VIN against official registries and manufacturer build data with a free preview of what exists for the exact car. Only the full history report is paid.
What does TMB at the start of a Skoda VIN mean?
Skoda Auto, Czech Republic: virtually every Skoda opens with it, whichever Czech plant built the car. The code travels with the car for life, so it also tells you an imported Skoda started as a Czech build.
Can I see the factory equipment of a Skoda by VIN?
Yes. Skoda is a Volkswagen Group make, so the factory build list was recorded against the VIN at production: engine and gearbox codes, paint, and the fitted options. A MrVIN report includes the build data we can retrieve for the VIN, with a free preview first.
What can a VIN check tell me that the VIN itself cannot?
Everything that happened after the factory: odometer readings recorded at inspections and services, damage and theft records, the import trail across countries, and the factory specification to compare against the advert. The preview of those findings is free at MrVIN.
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MrVIN is operated by VERIFY SIA and is independent of the maker of Skoda vehicles. Skoda and the model names on this page are trademarks of their owners, used only to identify the vehicles this page is about.