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Decoding Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINS)

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Vehicle identification numbers (VINs) were first used by auto manufacturers in 1954. Between 1954 and 1981, there was no standard format and VINs varied considerably between manufacturers. Under standards set by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), every car and light truck model year 1981 or later has a unique 17-digit VIN in a fixed format.

Digits in a VIN tell specific information, including the vehicle's year, make, model, country of origin, assembly plant, and more. The VIN also enables you to run the CARFAX Vehicle History Report.

Information indicated by a VIN

Example VIN:1HGCM82633A004352

  World Manufacturer Identifier Vehicle Descriptor Section Vehicle Identifier Section
Type of information provided Country Manufacturer Type Details Check digit Year Assembly plant Production number
VIN digits 1 2 3 4-8 9 10 11 12-17
Values from example VIN
1HGCM82633A004352		 1 H G CM826 3 3 A 004352

Note: The letters I, O and Q never appear in a VIN.

World Manufacturer Identifier

The first three digits make up the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

Country
The first digit in the VIN indicates the vehicle's country of origin, or final point of assembly.  Here are some examples:

Value

Country

1, 4 or 5

United States

2

Canada

3

Mexico

J

Japan

K

Korea

S

England

W

Germany

Y

Sweden/Finland

Manufacturer
The second digit in the VIN indicates the manufacturer.  Some manufacturers are listed below:

Value

Manufacturer

A

Audi, Jaguar, or Mitsubishi

B

BMW or Dodge

C

Chrysler

D

Mercedes-Benz

F

Ford or Subaru

G

General Motors, Pontiac or Saturn

H

Honda or Acura

J

Jeep

N

Nissan

R

Audi

T

Toyota or Lexus

V

Volkswagen (VW) or Volvo

1

Chevrolet

4

Buick

6

Cadillac

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vehicle Type
The third digit indicates the vehicle's type or manufacturing division.


Vehicle Descriptor Section

Digits 4 through 9 make up the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS).

Vehicle Details:  Model, Body Style,
Digits 4 through 8 identify the vehicle's model, body style, engine type, transmission, and more.  Service shops commonly use this information to identify systems installed by the manufacturer so that they can properly service a car. 

Check Digit
The ninth digit, or check digit, is used to detect invalid VINs based on a mathematical formula that was developed by the Department of Transportation. 


Vehicle Identifier Section

Digits 10 through 17 make up the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS).

Vehicle Year
The tenth digit identifies the vehicle's model year.  The year may be indicated by either a letter or number.  Here are some examples:

Value

Year

W

1998

X

1999

Y

2000

1

2001

2

2002

3

2003

4

2004

5

2005

6

2006

7

2007

8

2008

9

2009

A

2010

Assembly Plant
The eleventh digit identifies the manufacturing plant in which the vehicle was assembled.  Each manufacturer has its own set of plant codes.


Production Number
Digits 12 through 17 indicate the production or serial number.  This number could indicate the sequence in which a vehicle came off the assembly line.  Since there is no fixed standard for this number, each manufacturer may use this number differently. 
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