What is a VIN code?
You find it on your registration papers, on your vehicle title and even on your insurance documents.....But what do those combined 17 didgits and letters mean? That there is what you call your Vehicle Identification Number or "VIN".
A VIN is an identifier/manufacturer’s serial number. Each character in your VIN has a significant meaning. And what happens when you put them all together....They create a code that tells you everything about your vehicle and its unique history.
Now, prior to 1980, VIN codes only contained 13 characters and prior to the 1950's vehicles were not required to have one. During this time, the first few characters of the VIN identified the make and model of the vehicle and the remaining characters identified the model year. Very few auto manufacturers assigned characters for their assembly plant and the number of cylinders the engine had.
Click on picture to to enlarge
What a VIN code tells you
By using your VIN you can order a vehicle history report. This report can tell you if a car has been reported stolen or even wrecked. You can also find out if there are any recalls for it, prior flood damage and even if the odometer has been tampered with. VIN numbers also hold important registration records. These records can tell you how your car was used in the past....Police business, Taxi, Fleet, even if your car was salvaged or rebuilt.
Where to find your VIN code
Depending on the year, make and model of your vehicle, your VIN code could be located in any of the following places:
Firewall
Left inner wheel well
Steering column
Radiator Support Bracket
Dash by windshield (drivers side)
Drivers door or post
Maintenance Book / Vehicle documents
Machined Pad (front of engine)
Frame
Later model years - most common area's of VIN:
Dash plate by window
Drivers door or post
Firewall
How to decode a VIN
When the VIN is decoded, it will tell the country it was made in, the year it was made, make, model, serial number and where it was assembled. And, in some cases it can even identify what the vehicle came equiped with.
Here's how it works:
The letters A - Z are used for the characters and then the numbers 1 - 9 and even 0. Remember...the letters "I", "O" and "Q" are never used. Most likely due to the fact they can be misinterpreted for the numbers 1 & 0, (which could lead to the DMV or your insurance agent scratching their head).
Your vehicle identification number is divided into four parts:
World Manufacturer's Identification - (three characters)
Vehicle Description Section - (five characters)
The VIN Accuracy Check Digit
Vehicle Identification Section - (eight characters)
| Standard
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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9
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10
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11
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12
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13
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14
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15
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16
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17
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| ISO 3779
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WMI
|
|
|
VDS
|
|
|
|
|
|
VIS
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| North American
|
Manufacturer Identifier
|
|
|
Vehicle Attributes
|
|
|
|
|
Check Digit
|
Model Year
|
Plant Code
|
Sequential Number
|
|
|
|
|
|
World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI)
The first character in the WMI sequence represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured. Countries like the United States (1 or 4), Canada (2) and Mexico (3) are represented by numbers while other countries such as Germany (W), Italy (Z) and Japan (J) are represented by letters.
The second character refers to the manufacturer. The characters can be either letters or numbers. For example: Jaguar (A), Dodge (B), Chrysler (C), Jeep (J), Buick (4), Cadillac (6) or Saturn (8).
The third character represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division.
Vehicle Description Section (VDS) and Check Digit
The vehicle description section consists of five characters (the 4th to 8th characters) which identify everything from the body style, engine type, braking system to model, series and restraint systems. The 9th character is a VIN accuracy check digit which verifies the previous VIN numbers. It is determined by carrying out a mathematical computation developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT).
Vehicle Identification Section (VIS)
The vehicle identification section includes the last eight characters in the VIN code. The numbers identify the model year (10th character) and the assembly plant for the vehicle (11th character). A number or letter may represent the model year. For example: 1998 (W), 2000 (Y), 2007 (7) or 2008 (8).
The 12th to 17th characters are the actual serial number of the vehicle—these last 6 digits make the vehicle unique (think of your DNA). It can also help you to identify whether the vehicle was the first, the hundredth, or the last vehicle off the manufacturer’s assembly line. This is extremely valuable information for classic collectors.
So now, the next time you see that long conglomorate of letters and numbers printed on your registration papers or stamped across your dashboard, you’ll know exactly what it is, what it means and how to decode it. We hope that this information has given you a better understanding of your vehicle identification and where your ride actually came from!
Thanks for reading!
Annie & Denis
eBay Auctions
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August 9th, 2008 at 10:58 am
Thank you for posting this information.
You have taken the mystery out of deciphering Vin Codes!