VIN - Vehicle Identification Number
History How To Read A VIN
Every vehicle has a unique VIN (Vehicle Identification Number). The VIN number is stamped onto a small metal plate and is attached to the drivers side of the dash where it meets the window. The VIN allows the Department of Motor Vehicles or the Department of Transportation to keep track of the vehicles registered owner.
Police also use this number to verify that a vehicle has not been stolen and is in the possession of the original owner. However, it takes professional thieves only seconds to replace this plate with one from a legally purchased junk car of the same make and model.
What is it?
A car’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is the automotive equivalent of human "DNA".
It sets the vehicle apart from the millions of other vehicles out there. In recent times it has been reflected in 17 digit characters. It displays a car’s uniqueness and heritage and provides a form of "factory to scrap yard" identification. It can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage. Each character or digit has a particular purpose.
History of the VIN
Detroit automobile manufacturers began stamping and casting identifying numbers on cars and their parts in the mid 1950's . The primary purpose of this vehicle identification number (VIN) was to give an accurate description of the vehicle when mass production numbers were starting to scale in very significant numbers. The early VINs came in a range of variations depending on the individual manufacturer at that time.
In the early 1980's the U.S. National highway Traffic Safety Administration (USDOT) required that all road vehicles must contain a 17 character VIN. This established the standard fixed VIN system which major vehicle manufacturers use currently. The result was a unique "DNA" style number for each individual vehicle rolled off the assembly line.
The Vehicle Identification Number was originally described in ISO Standard 3779 in February 1977 and last revised in 1983. The ISO-VIN was designed to identify motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles and mopeds and consists of several parts described below.
How to read a VIN
1st character-
Identifies the country in which the vehicle was
manufactured. For example: U.S.A.(1or 4), Canada(2),
Mexico(3), Japan(J), Korea(K), England(S), Germany(W),
Italy(Z)
2nd character-
Identifies the manufacturer. For example; Audi(A),
BMW(B), Buick(4), Cadillac(6), Chevrolet(1), Chrysler(C),
Dodge(B),Ford(F), GM Canada(7), General Motors(G),
Honda(H), Jaquar(A), Lincoln(L), Mercedes Benz(D),
Mercury(M), Nissan(N), Oldsmobile(3), Pontiac(2or5),
Plymouth(P), Saturn(8), Toyota(T), VW(V), Volvo(V).
3rd character-
Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division.
4th to
8th characters- VDS - Vehicle Descriptor
Section. These 5 characters occupy positions 4
through 8 of the VIN and may be used by the manufacturer
to identify attributes of the vehicle. Identifies
vehicle features such as body style, engine type,
model, series, etc.
9th Character
- The check digit "character or digit
9" in the sequence of a vehicle identification
number (VIN) built beginning with model year 1981
(when the 17 character digit format was established)
can best be described as identifying the VIN accuracy.
A check digit shall be part of each vin (since 1981) and shall appear in positionnine (9) of the VIN on the vehicle and on any transfer documents containing the vin prepared by the manufacturer to be given to the first owner for purposes other than resale. Thus, the vins of any two vehicles manufactured within a 30 year period shall not be identical. The check digit means a single number or letter "x" used to verify the accuracy of the transcription of the vehicle identification number.
After all other characters in the VIN have been determined by the manufacturer the check digit is calculated by carrying out a mathematical computation specified. This is based on vin position, sample vin, assigned value code,weight factor and multiply assigned value times weight factors. The values are added and the total is divided by 11. The remainder is the check digit number.The correct numeric remainder - zero through nine (0-9) will appear.However, if the remainder is 10 the letter "X" is used to designate the check digit value/number.
10th
character- Identifies the model year.
For example: 1988(J), 1989(K), 1990(L), 1991(M),
1992(N), 1993(P), 1994(R), 1995(S), 1996(T), 1997(V),
1998(W), 1999(X), 2000(Y)------2001(1), 2002(2),
2003(3)
11th
character- Identifies the assembly plant
for the vehicle.
12th
to 17th characters- VIS - Vehicle Identifier
Section. The last 8 characters of the VIN are
used for the identification a of specific vehicle.
The last four characters shall always be numeric.
Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production
as it rolled off the manufacturers assembly line.
Vehicle Identification
Numbers (VINs)
It is used to uniquely identify motor vehicles. Prior to 1980 there was not an accepted standard for these numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats. Modern day VINs consist of 17 characters that do not include the letters I, O or Q.
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