VIN

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VIN - VEHICLE INDENTIFICIATION NUMBER (VIN) INFORMATION

 

Beginning in 1981 all manufacturers of vehicles sold in the United States were required to use a standardized 17-digit VIN structure for identification purposes. This series of number and letter must be unique and specific to each individual vehicle. In fact, no two vehicles manufactured with a 30-year period will have the same VIN. Each vehicle manufactured in one stage shall have a VIN assigned by the manufacturer. Each vehicle manufactured in more than one stage shall have a VIN assigned by the incomplete vehicle manufacturer.

 

The VIN for passenger cars, multi-purpose passenger vehicles, and trucks of 10,000 lbs. Or less GVWR shall be located inside the passenger compartment and must appear clearly and indelibly upon a label or plate, which is permanently affixed to the vehicle with rivets or sheet metal screws. It must be readable in daylight conditions, by an observer having 20/20 vision, through the window glazing without movement of any part of the vehicle. It must consist of Arabic numbers and capitalized Roman alphabet letters in a Sanserif typeface and have a minimum height of 4 mm. The letters I, O, and Q are not used. Most passenger cars and trucks were assembled with the VIN plant attached to the dash or instrument panel on the driver’s side starting in 1970. However, on Corvettes prior to 1984 and various imported models, the VIN plate was attached to the driver’s side windshield post. The VIN consists of the following for sections:

 

The first section consists of three characters that occupy positions one thru three (1-3) and is also known as the World Manufacturing Identifier (WMI). This section identifies the country or origin, manufacturer, make, and type of the vehicle if the manufacturer produces 500 or more of this vehicle type annually. If the manufacturer produces less than 500 of this vehicle type annually, these characters along with the third, forth, and fifth characters of the fourth section shall uniquely identify the manufacturer, make , and type.

 

The second section consists of five characters, which occupy positions four thru eight (4-8) and is also known as the Vehicle Descriptor. Depending on the type of vehicle, this section may identify information such as: line, series, chassis, cab or body type, engine, brake and restraint systems, and GVWR.

 

The third section consists of one character in position nine (9), and in the Check Digit. Its purpose is to provide a means of verifying the accuracy of a VIN transcription. After all other characters in a VIN have been determined by the manufacturer, the Check Digit is calculated by carrying out a mathematical computation obtained from the Society of Automotive Engineers.

 

The fourth section consists of eight characters, which occupy positions 10 through seventeen (10-17). The last five (5) characters are numeric for passenger cars and multi-purpose vehicles and trucks with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs. Or less, and the last four (4) characters are numeric for all other vehicles. The first character of the fourth section, position 10, represents the Model Year Designator. The second character of the fourth section, position 11, represents the Plant of Manufacture. The third though the eighth characters of the fourth section (which are positions 12-17) represent the number sequentially assigned by the manufacturer in the production process if the manufacturer produces 500 or more vehicles of its type annually. If the manufacturer produces less than 500 motor vehicles of its type annually, the sixth, seventh, and eighth characters of the fourth sections (positions 15, 16, and 17) shall represent the number sequentially assigned by the manufacturer in the production process.

 

 

DEFINITIONS:

 

Body type means the general configuration or shape of a vehicle distinguished by such characteristics as the number of doors or windows, cargo-carrying features, and the roofline (e.g., fastback, sedan, hatchback).

 

Check Digit means a single number or the letter X used to verify the accuracy of the transcription of the VIN.

 

Engine Type means a power source with defined characteristics such as fuel utilized, number of cylinders, displacement, and net brake horsepower.

 

Incomplete Vehicle means an assemblage consisting, as a minimum, of frame and chassis structure, power train, steering system, suspension system and braking system, which requires further manufacture. Vehicles in need of readily attachable components, such as mirrors or tire and rim assemblies, or minor finishing operations such as painting are not considered incomplete.

 

Line means a name that a manufacturer applies to a family of vehicles within a make, which have a degree of commonality in construction, such as body, chassis, or cab type.

 

Make means a name that a manufacturer applies to a group of vehicles or engines.

 

Manufacturer means a person (1) manufacturing or assembling vehicles or vehicle equipment; or (2) importing vehicles for resale.

 

Model means a name that a manufacturer applies to a family of vehicles of the same type, make, line, series and body type.

 

Model Year means the year used to designate a vehicle model, irrespective of the calendar year in which the vehicle was actually produced, so long as the actual period is less than two calendar years.

 

Plant of Manufacture means the plant where the manufacturer affixes the VIN.

 

Series means a name that a manufacturer applies to a subdivision of a “line” denoting price, size or weight identification and that is used by the manufacturer for marketing purposes.

 

Type means a class of vehicle distinguished by common traits, including design and purpose. Passenger cars, multi-purpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, and LSVs (Low Speed Vehicles) are separate types.

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Position One

For all motor vehicles (domestic and import), position one in the VIN will be a code representing the Country of Origin.

Code	Country of Origin

1	United States
2	Canada
3	Mexico
4	United States
5	United States
6	Australia
9	Brazil
J	Japan
K	Korea
L	Taiwan
M	Thailand
S	England-Great Britain
T	Hungary
V	France
V	Yugoslavia
V	Europe (Peugeot)
W	Germany
Y	Sweden
Y	Belgium
Z	Italy

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POSITION TEN

For all motor vehicle (domestic & import), position ten in the VIN will be a code representing the model year.

CODE  Model Year
B  1981
C  1982
D  1983
E  1984
F  1985
G  1986
H  1987
J  1988
K  1989
L  1990
M  1991
N  1992
P  1993  
R  1994
S  1995
T  1996
V  1997
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-H  2010-2017