You will have to go to a dealer to get the radio code. They will enter your VIN on their computer and access the Volvo database for the code. The radio loses its code when the battery dies or is disconected. Once you have the code, turn on radio, and use the station presets to enter the code. No, you do not have to enter it every time. If the wring code is entered 3 times, the redio locks up, and the key and radio have to remain on undisturbed for two hours to unlock it. If the code obtained by VIN # does not work, that means the radio was replaced and data base not updated. In that case you have to remove the radio so they can use the serial# to get the code.nIf they want to charge you to get the code, give them a middle finger salute and try another dealer.