Which radio is in your VW Transporter?
The Transporter has had 3 sets of radios since 1990, from the Beta, Gamma and Delta radios to the Touchscreen radios. 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 VW Transporter radio serial number
On the label
- Check the radio card in the handbook wallet first.
- Otherwise take the radio out with radio removal keys.
- Copy the serial from the label: 14 letters and numbers starting VWZ, AUZ, SKZ or SEZ.
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 VW Transporter
- Take the radio out with radio removal keys and copy the serial from the label.
- Campervan conversions often keep the factory radio, so the same steps apply.
How to enter your VW Transporter radio code
VW group (Beta, Gamma, RCD, Concert…)
- Buttons 1 to 4 set each number (press again to count up).
- Hold one of the arrow (seek) buttons for 2 seconds or more to finish.
If your VW Transporter radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
| Radio | What to do |
|---|---|
| VW group (Beta, Gamma, RCD, Concert…) | SAFE — leave the radio on for 1 hour (the ignition must stay on), then try again. |
What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →
VW Transporter radio code questions
Where is the serial on a T5 radio?
On the label on the radio. Take it out with radio removal keys and copy the 14 letters and numbers starting VWZ.
My T5 radio says SAFE.
Leave the radio on with the ignition on for an hour, then enter the right code.
Can you do every VW Transporter radio?
For 1990–2003, 2003–2015, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2015 on, not at the moment. These radios are matched to the van rather than unlocked with a code. A VW dealer or specialist can help. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.
Which radio does my VW Transporter have?
It depends on the year. 1990–2003 (T4): Beta, Gamma and Delta radios. 2003–2015 (T5): RCD 200, 300, 310, 500 and 510, and RNS 510. 2015 on (T6 on): Touchscreen radios. Radios were often swapped, so the serial on yours is what counts.
What does the serial look like on a VW Transporter?
14 letters and numbers starting VWZ. For example VWZ1Z2S4292662.
Do I have to take the radio out of my VW Transporter?
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 VW Transporter?
Button 1 sets the first digit, button 2 the second, and so on, pressing repeatedly to increment. Confirm by holding either rocker switch for more than two seconds.
Updated October 2026