France · VIN notes & WMI codes
Peugeot VIN decoder
Most Peugeot VINs start with VF3 or VR3, two codes registered in France to Peugeot and its parent group. Peugeot belongs to Stellantis, the group formed in January 2021 when PSA merged with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Its range covers hatchbacks such as the 208 and 308, SUVs such as the 2008, 3008 and 5008, and vans including the Partner, Rifter and Expert.
Enter all 17 characters. For vehicles built for other markets, expect the maker and region rather than full specifications.
- 1 WMI code in vPIC
- origin: France
- no U.S. recall or complaint data (not sold there since 1995)
Two of Peugeot's main French plants are Sochaux, which builds the 3008, and Mulhouse, which builds the 308. The WMI does not name the plant, though: under the international VIN standard it reflects the country where the manufacturer is headquartered, which for Peugeot is France.
Peugeot is not sold in the United States today. It sold cars there from 1958 until 1991, when falling sales led it to close its U.S. and Canadian operations. That is why this page has no NHTSA recall or complaint statistics, and why our decoder, which relies on NHTSA's vPIC database, can usually confirm the manufacturer of a Peugeot but not its model, engine or trim. The notes below explain what a Peugeot VIN does tell you, where to find it and where to check recalls in Europe.
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. NHTSA’s vPIC database decodes 1 WMI to Peugeot; this is the complete list, with the manufacturer name, country and vehicle type vPIC records for each.
| WMI | Manufacturer (vPIC) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| VF3 | AUTOMOBILES PEUGEOT | France | Passenger Car |
See the WMI code guide for how the codes are assigned.
Which WMI codes appear on Peugeot VINs?
VF3 is the long-standing code of Automobiles Peugeot and is the only Peugeot car code NHTSA's vPIC database knows. VR3 is newer: Germany's Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) lists it under Stellantis Auto SAS, previously PSA Automobiles SA, and French recall notices show it on the 208, 308, 2008 and Rifter. KBA's manufacturer list, dated 15 January 2026, gives the following Peugeot-related codes.
| WMI | Manufacturer (source) | Country | Vehicle type |
|---|---|---|---|
| VF3 | Automobiles Peugeot, Poissy (KBA); Automobiles Peugeot (NHTSA vPIC) | France | Passenger car (vPIC) |
| VR3 | Stellantis Auto SAS, previously PSA Automobiles SA (KBA) | France | Not stated |
| VXE | Automobiles Peugeot, Poissy (KBA) | France | Not stated |
| VXF | Automobiles Peugeot, Poissy (KBA) | France | Not stated |
| VS8 | Citroën Hispania SA, listed for Peugeot (KBA) | Spain | Not stated |
Stellantis codes are not always brand-specific. KBA lists VXE under Automobiles Peugeot, yet a November 2025 French recall notice for the Opel and Vauxhall Zafira and Vivaro vans quotes VINs that begin with VXE. The WMI narrows down the manufacturer; positions 4 to 8 and the registration document identify the model. See the WMI code guide for background.
Do Peugeot VINs have a check digit?
Often not, on older models. Until July 2022, EU rules mirrored ISO 3779, which leaves positions 4 to 9 to the manufacturer and makes a year code optional; only U.S. rules (49 CFR Part 565) required a check digit in position 9. EU Regulation 2021/535 has required a check digit for vehicle types approved since 6 July 2022, and from 7 July 2026 vehicles without one cannot be registered in the EU. Public records show the effect of the old rules. We extracted every VIN quoted in vehicle recall notices on RappelConso, the French government recall site, published between September 2018 and August 2026:
| WMI | Distinct VINs | Pass the check digit | Letter other than X in position 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| VF3 | 88 | 15 | 68 |
| VR3 | 70 | 46 | 20 |
A letter other than X in position 9 can never be a valid North American check digit, so most VF3 VINs in these notices do not use one, while most VR3 VINs do. A Peugeot from a model line approved before July 2022 that fails a check-digit test is therefore normal and not evidence of tampering. For the same reason, treat any year read from position 10 as a hint and confirm it against the registration certificate; our model-year code guide and European VIN decoding guide explain why.
Where is the VIN on a Peugeot?
Peugeot's handbook for the 2008 lists three places: stamped on the chassis under the bonnet, on an adhesive label on the dashboard that you can read through the windscreen, and on the manufacturer's label on the right-hand door, which also carries the European type-approval number. The VIN is printed on the registration certificate as well. Other Peugeot models may differ slightly, so check your own handbook or our guide to where to find your VIN.
How do you check Peugeot recalls outside the U.S.?
NHTSA's recall data covers vehicles sold in the United States, and no current Peugeot is. Its database only holds older campaigns filed by Peugeot, Inc., such as 89V092000 for the 1989 Peugeot 405. Our recall lookup is built on that NHTSA data, so use these national services for a European Peugeot instead:
- France: RappelConso (rappel.conso.gouv.fr), the government recall site run by French state directorates including the DGCCRF. Many Peugeot notices there list the affected VIN ranges.
- United Kingdom: the GOV.UK service Check if a vehicle, part or accessory has been recalled, which looks cars up by registration number or by make, model and year.
- Germany: the recall database (Rückrufdatenbank) of the Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, linked from kba.de.
- Anywhere: a Peugeot dealer can check open campaigns against the full VIN.
Peugeot shares its parent group with Citroën, Opel, Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge and Ram.
Can I check a Peugeot's recalls on this site?
Not for current models. Our recall data comes from NHTSA and covers vehicles sold in the U.S., which Peugeot left in 1991. For a European Peugeot, use RappelConso in France, the GOV.UK recall checker in the UK, the KBA recall database in Germany, or ask a Peugeot dealer to check the VIN.
Why does my Peugeot VIN fail the check-digit test?
Because older Peugeots were not required to use one. Until July 2022, EU rules did not require a check digit, and in our analysis of French recall notices only 15 of 88 VF3 VINs passed the North American formula. A failed check is normal for an older Peugeot; vehicle types approved in the EU since July 2022 must carry one.
Will the decoder show my Peugeot's model and engine?
Probably not. Our decoder uses NHTSA's vPIC database, which recognises the VF3 code as Automobiles Peugeot but is unlikely to return model data for a European Peugeot and does not list VR3. Expect the manufacturer and country rather than a full specification.
Were Peugeots ever sold in the United States?
Yes, from 1958 until 1991. NHTSA's recall database still lists campaigns for some of those cars, for example 89V092000 for the 1989 405, but it has nothing for later Peugeot models.
Brands mentioned in the notes above, each with its own VIN notes and WMI list.
- Citroën (no NHTSA model pages) France
- Opel (no NHTSA model pages) Germany · 6 WMI codes
- Fiat (5) Italy · 24 recall campaigns
- Alfa Romeo (6) Italy · 34 recall campaigns
- Maserati (14) Italy · 50 recall campaigns
- Jeep (31) United States · 307 recall campaigns
- Chrysler (37) United States · 208 recall campaigns
- Dodge (58) United States · 436 recall campaigns
- Ram (11) United States · 194 recall campaigns