Which radio is in your Vauxhall Vectra?
The Vectra has had 3 sets of radios since 1995, from the CAR 300, CCR 600, CDR 500 and Blaupunkt radios to the CD30, CD70 Navi, CDC 40 and DVD90. Find yours by year below, but go by the serial: radios get swapped, and the free check reads it for you.
How to find your Vauxhall Vectra radio serial number
On the label
- The serial is not shown on screen.
- Take the radio out with radio removal keys (some have extra screws to undo first).
- Copy the serial from the label: 14 letters and numbers starting GM.
Photograph the label rather than copying it by hand — 0 and O, 1 and I are easy to mix up.
It comes out with a pair of radio removal keys. Which keys, and where they go: how to remove a car radio.
Tips for your Vauxhall Vectra
- The Vectra C came with both kinds of radio. The name is printed on the front: a CDR 2005 we can do, a CD30 or CD70 we can’t.
- Four U-shaped keys release the radio. The serial is on the label on top or on the side.
- The free check reads the serial and tells you straight away, so you never pay for the wrong kind.
What your serial looks like
-
GM0205Y9019162Vauxhall CDR500 / CDR200514 letters and numbers starting GM Instant -
BP3782R3701682Blaupunkt / Bosch14 letters and numbers starting BP, BO or PO Instant
How to enter your Vauxhall Vectra radio code
- Hold AS and switch the radio on. The screen shows SAFE, then 10 - - - -.
- Buttons 1 to 4 set each number.
- Hold AS until it beeps.
- Buttons 1 to 4 each set one number.
- Hold button 5 (or the tuning knob) to finish.
- Won’t go above 1 for the first number? Use the second code we give you.
Every button press, and what the screen does if the code is wrong: How to enter a Philips radio code.
If your Vauxhall Vectra radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
| Radio | What to do |
|---|---|
| Vauxhall CDR500 / CDR2005 | You only get 10 tries before the radio locks for good, so please don’t guess. |
| Blaupunkt / Bosch | After a wrong code, most Blaupunkt radios make you wait before the next try, and the wait gets longer each time. Leave the radio switched on until it asks for the code again. |
What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →
Vauxhall Vectra radio code questions
Can you unlock a Vectra C radio?
Yes, if it is a CDR 2005 with a GM serial. The CD30, CD70 and DVD90 radios are matched to the car with its Car Pass, so those need a dealer.
Where is the serial on a Vectra radio?
On the label on the radio case, so the radio has to come out. It is 14 characters and starts GM or BP.
My Vectra B radio says SAFE.
That’s the code screen. Get the code from the serial, then set each number with the numbered buttons as the radio’s steps show.
Can you do every Vauxhall Vectra radio?
For 1995–2002, 2002–2008, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2002–2008, not at the moment. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.
Which radio does my Vauxhall Vectra have?
It depends on the year. 1995–2002 (Vectra B): CAR 300, CCR 600, CDR 500 and Blaupunkt radios. 2002–2008 (Vectra C with a CDR 2005): CDR 2005. 2002–2008 (Vectra C with CD30, CD70 or DVD90): CD30, CD70 Navi, CDC 40 and DVD90. Radios were often swapped, so the serial on yours is what counts.
What does the serial look like on a Vauxhall Vectra?
1995–2002: 14 characters on the label, starting GM or BP. 2002–2008: 14 characters starting GM. For example GM0205Y9019162.
Do I have to take the radio out of my Vauxhall Vectra?
Yes: the serial is on the label, not the screen. It comes out with a pair of radio removal keys.
How do I enter the code on a Vauxhall Vectra?
Hold the AS key down while switching the radio on. The display shows SAFE, then 10 - - - -, where the 10 is how many attempts you have left. Preset 1 sets the first digit, preset 2 the second, preset 3 the third and preset 4 the fourth — press each repeatedly until the right digit shows. Then press and hold AS until it beeps. A wrong entry means starting the whole number again.
Updated October 2026