Where do I find the VIN on a Citroën?

The vehicle identification number of a Citroën is on the windscreen at the bottom left (readable from outside through the glass), on the type plate in the engine bay — usually on the chassis rail or the bulkhead — as well as on the driver's-side door pillar and the B-pillar. Typical for Citroën, many compact models (C3, C4, Berlingo) have an additional stamped location under the passenger seat or on the boot floor, fitted as an extra anti-tampering measure. In the vehicle documents, the VIN is recorded in field E of the registration certificate Part I and in full in the registration certificate Part II (vehicle title). The WMI code VF7 stands for Citroën S.A. of France and is the first identifying feature of a genuine Citroën VIN.

When buying a used Citroën, it is advisable to check the VIN in at least three independent locations and to compare the numbers character by character. Any discrepancy — even a single letter — is a serious warning sign. Windscreen: The most reliable and quickest-to-access position is the bottom corner of the windscreen. On Citroën models the VIN plate usually sits at the bottom left from the driver's position, readable from outside through the glass. On the C3 (I from 2002, II from 2009, III from 2016) and the C4 (I from 2004, II from 2010, III from 2020) the plates are clearly visible and readable without tools. On the larger C5 Aircross the plate may be offset slightly to the right depending on the year of production. Engine bay: The VIN is stamped on a plate on the left or right chassis rail or on the bulkhead at the front. On Citroën diesel models with the 1.5 BlueHDi and the 1.6 BlueHDi the plate may be obscured by components or wiring looms — but it can be found reliably with a torch. Driver's-side door pillar: After opening the driver's door, the type plate with the VIN and further vehicle data is clearly visible on the door frame at hip height. On newer models (C5 Aircross II, Berlingo III) an additional VIN plate can be found on the B-pillar. Under the passenger seat: On compact models (C3, C4, Berlingo) Citroën stamps a VIN deep into the bodywork under the passenger seat. Checking this area is awkward but indispensable if tampering is genuinely suspected — it is almost impossible to forge without leaving clear traces. Boot floor: On the Berlingo and the Citroën C8 there is an additional stamped location on the boot floor beneath the trim, which serves as an extra safeguard on vans and commercial vehicles. Vehicle documents: Field E of the registration certificate Part I and the registration certificate Part II carry the full VIN. When buying, always ask for the original title, never a copy.

Citroën is part of the Stellantis group and shares platforms and drivetrains with Peugeot, DS Automobiles and Opel. This has direct consequences for the VIN check. The WMI code VF7 identifies Citroën vehicles built in France. Prospective buyers should bear in mind that the WMI codes of the group siblings look very similar: VF3 (Peugeot), VF7 (Citroën), VF8 (DS Automobiles). Anyone buying a vehicle as a Citroën but reading a different WMI code must have the discrepancy explained immediately. Because Citroën and Peugeot have used shared platforms for decades (PSA platforms, today Stellantis EMP2 and CMP), many components are identical — but this also means that Citroën-specific weak points and Peugeot weak points are often the same. On the 1.2 PureTech three-cylinder (timing chain), the 1.5 and 1.6 BlueHDi (DPF, EGR) and the EAT6 automatic transmission, the same warning signs apply as on the sister model from Peugeot. The model-year field (position 10) of the Citroën VIN is not encoded to the ISO standard on European vehicles. The VIN decoder only provides a hint with an explicit caveat. The authoritative source is the date of first registration in the registration certificate Part I. For prospective buyers: use the VIN decoder for free (check the WMI), then a digital VIN lookup for history data (from €29), and for real peace of mind commission an on-site inspection through checkdenwagen.de (from €289 incl. VAT and travel).