VIN Number Decoded: What Each of the 17 Characters Means
Every car built for the US since 1981 has a 17-character VIN in a set federal format. Here is how to read it and spot a VIN that does not add up.
A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a 17-character code that follows a federal format: characters 1 to 3 identify the manufacturer and vehicle type, 4 to 8 describe the model, body and engine, 9 is a check digit, 10 is the model year, 11 is the assembly plant, and 12 to 17 are the serial number. You can decode any VIN for free with NHTSA’s vPIC decoder.
The letters I, O and Q are never used, so they cannot be confused with 1 and 0.
What does each VIN character mean?
The structure is set by federal regulation, 49 CFR 565.15, for vehicles built for the US market.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | World manufacturer identifier (WMI) | The manufacturer and vehicle type. The first character usually indicates the region or country where the manufacturer is based. |
| 4 to 8 | Vehicle descriptor | Model, body style, restraint system, engine and similar attributes, coded by the manufacturer. For cars and light trucks, position 7 is a letter for 2010 and later model years. |
| 9 | Check digit | A number 0 to 9 or the letter X, calculated from the other 16 characters to catch copying errors. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or digit for the model year, such as S for 2025 and T for 2026. |
| 11 | Plant code | The factory that built the vehicle, coded by the manufacturer. |
| 12 to 17 | Production sequence | The serial number. For cars and light trucks, the last five characters are always numbers. |
Small manufacturers that build fewer than 1,000 vehicles a year use a 9 in position 3, and positions 12 to 14 complete their identifier.
How do I read the model year in position 10?
The model year code is the 10th character. The letters cycle every 30 years and skip I, O, Q, U and Z, plus the digit 0. For cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the 2010 to 2039 cycle.
| Code | Model year | Code | Model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
| B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
| C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
| D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
| E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
| F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
| G | 2016 | T | 2026 |
| H | 2017 | V | 2027 |
| J | 2018 | W | 2028 |
| K | 2019 | X | 2029 |
The model year is not the build date. A 2027 model can be built in early 2026; the exact month is on the door-jamb sticker. Our guide to how car model years work explains the difference.
How does the check digit work?
The check digit in position 9 lets anyone verify that a VIN was not mistyped or made up. Each letter is converted to a number, each position is multiplied by a fixed weight, the products are added, and the total is divided by 11. The remainder is the check digit, with a remainder of 10 written as X.
The weights for positions 1 to 17 are 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 10, 0, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2. You do not need to do this by hand: decoders flag a VIN whose check digit does not match.
How do I decode a VIN for free?
NHTSA’s vPIC decoder reads the data manufacturers file with the agency and returns the make, model, year, body, engine, plant and safety equipment for a VIN.
- Find the VIN on the lower left of the dashboard, seen through the windshield, or on the driver’s door-jamb label. It is also on the title, registration and insurance card.
- Open the NHTSA VIN decoder and enter all 17 characters.
- Compare the decoded year, make, model and engine with the car and its paperwork.
- Run the same VIN through the recall search at nhtsa.gov/recalls; our guide to checking recalls by VIN walks through it.
The plant code in position 11 is defined by each manufacturer, so the decoder may name the factory directly or you may need the automaker’s list. Our article on where your car was built covers that.
What are the red flags of a fake or cloned VIN?
A cloned VIN is copied from a legally registered car and put on a stolen one, so it decodes correctly. You catch it by comparing VINs in several places and checking the history.
- The VIN on the dashboard, door jamb and title do not match exactly.
- The dash plate has scratches, loose rivets or rivets that look different from the factory ones.
- The door-jamb label is missing, replaced or painted over.
- The decoded model, engine or year does not match the car in front of you.
- The seller’s title is new, from another state, or not in their name.
Before buying, run the VIN through the NICB’s free VINCheck for theft and total loss records and through an NMVTIS provider listed at vehiclehistory.gov for title brands. Our guide to odometer rollback checks covers the mileage side.
Bottom line
A VIN tells you who built the car, what it is, which model year and which plant, and its check digit catches typos and crude fakes. Decode it free at NHTSA, confirm it matches in every location, and run the free recall and history checks before you buy.
FAQ
Can I find the owner’s name from a VIN?
No. Federal privacy law limits access to personal information in DMV records, so VIN decoders and history reports do not show owner names to the public.
Do older cars have 17-character VINs?
The 17-character standard applies to vehicles from the 1981 model year onward. Older cars have shorter VINs in each maker’s own format.
What does it mean if position 10 shows a number?
For a car or light truck, a digit in position 10 with a digit in position 7 points to the 2001 to 2009 model years. From 2031 the year codes use digits again, starting with 1.
Is a VIN the same as a chassis number?
In everyday use, yes. The VIN is the legal identifier for the vehicle and is stamped on the frame or body as well as shown on the dash plate.
