VIN DECODER

Vehicle Identification Number — 17-Character Reference Guide

Every vehicle sold in North America since 1981 carries a standardized 17-character VIN. Each position encodes specific information about the vehicle's origin, specifications, and production sequence. Understanding the VIN allows technicians to confirm vehicle identity, verify year and engine, and validate authenticity before diagnosis.

VIN Position Map — Hover to identify each section

Country

Maker

Type

VDS

Check

Year

Plant

Seq

Pos 1–3 · WMI · World Manufacturer Identifier

Pos 4–8 · VDS · Vehicle Descriptor Section

Pos 9 · Check Digit

Pos 10 · Model Year

Pos 11 · Assembly Plant

Pos 12–17 · Production Sequence

VIN Position Reference

WMI

Country of Origin

Identifies the country where the vehicle was manufactured. Letters and numbers are assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).

1, 4, 5 = USA 2 = Canada 3 = Mexico J = Japan K = South Korea L = China S = United Kingdom W = Germany Z = Italy

WMI

Manufacturer

Identifies the specific vehicle manufacturer. Combined with position 1, uniquely identifies the maker.

1G = GM (USA) 1F = Ford (USA) 1C = Chrysler (USA) JH = Honda (Japan) JT = Toyota (Japan) WBA = BMW (Germany) WVW = VW (Germany)

WMI

Vehicle Type / Division

Completes the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). Identifies the vehicle type or manufacturing division within the company.

1GC = GM Truck 1FA = Ford Car 2T1 = Toyota Canada

VDS

Commonly: Line / Series

Positions 4–8 (the VDS) are defined by each manufacturer — the jobs shown here for 4–8 are common uses, not a universal rule. Position 4 often identifies the product line or series. Always use an OEM or NHTSA decoder.

Manufacturer-specific Use OEM decoder

VDS

Commonly: Body Style

Often identifies the body configuration on many makes — the position and code meaning are manufacturer-defined.

2-door 4-door Convertible Wagon Regular cab Crew cab

VDS

Commonly: Restraint System

Many makes encode the restraint system (belts and airbags) in the VDS — on some it is this position, on others it is elsewhere. Useful for ordering airbag and seatbelt parts after collision repair; confirm with the OEM decode.

Active belts Passive belts Dual airbags Side airbags No airbags

VIN Position Reference — Continued

VDS

Commonly: Model / Trim

Often adds model or trim identification — manufacturer-specific.

Manufacturer-specific Trim level info

VDS

Commonly: Engine

On many domestic vehicles position 8 is the engine code, but not on every make or model — confirm with the OEM decode, and always verify the actual engine before ordering major components.

Displacement Cylinder count Fuel type Forced induction EV / hybrid Diesel

CHECK

Check Digit

A mathematically calculated value (0–9 or X) used to validate the entire VIN. Calculated using a weighted sum formula applied to all other 16 characters. A mismatched check digit indicates a cloned, altered, or counterfeit VIN.

0–9 or X Fraud indicator Always verify on used vehicles

YEAR

Model Year

Identifies the model year of the vehicle. Uses a rolling 30-character code (letters A–Y skipping I, O, Q, U, Z — then digits 1–9). The cycle repeats every 30 years — see year chart below.

S = 1995 / 2025 T = 1996 / 2026 A = 1980 / 2010 1 = 2001 See chart below

PLANT

Assembly Plant

Identifies the specific factory where the vehicle was assembled. Each manufacturer assigns their own codes — can be useful for identifying plant-specific TSBs or quality issues.

Manufacturer-specific Letter or number OEM reference required

12–17

SEQ

Production Sequence Number

A unique 6-digit serial number identifying the order in which this vehicle came off the assembly line. Combined with the WMI, this creates the vehicle's unique identity. No two vehicles share the same complete VIN.

000001 – 999999 Unique per vehicle Used for title / insurance

Position 10 — Model Year Decode Chart · Cycle repeats every 30 years — letters I, O, Q, U, Z not used

1980
2010

1981
2011

1982
2012

1983
2013

1984
2014

1985
2015

1986
2016

1987
2017

1988
2018

1989
2019

1990
2020

1991
2021

1992
2022

1993
2023

1994
2024

1995
2025

1996
2026

1997
2027

1998
2028

1999
2029

2000
2030

2001
2031

2002
2032

2003
2033

2004
2034

2005
2035

2006
2036

2007
2037

2008
2038

2009
2039

Position 1 — Country of Origin Quick Reference

1, 4, 5

United States

Most domestic makes

Canada

Canadian assembly plants

Mexico

Mexican assembly plants

Japan

Honda · Toyota · Nissan · Subaru

South Korea

Hyundai · Kia · Genesis

China

Increasingly common imports

United Kingdom

Land Rover · Jaguar · Bentley

Germany

BMW · Mercedes · VW · Audi · Porsche

France / Spain

Peugeot · Renault · SEAT

Italy

Ferrari · Lamborghini · Alfa Romeo

Sweden / Finland

Volvo · Saab

Argentina

Also other South American countries

Brazil

Also other South American countries

Professional Tips & Best Practices

Always decode before ordering parts

The engine code (position 8 on many domestic vehicles) is the most critical for parts ordering. Two vehicles with the same model and year can have different engines — always decode the full VIN before pulling parts, especially for internals, fuel system, and emissions components.

Check digit validates authenticity

Position 9 is mathematically calculated from the other 16 characters using a weighted sum algorithm. If a VIN's check digit doesn't match the calculation, the VIN has been altered or cloned — critical to verify on used vehicle purchases and insurance claims.

VIN locations on the vehicle

Primary: dashboard driver's side (visible through windshield). Secondary: door jamb sticker (driver's door). Additional stamps: firewall, engine block, frame rail, and door pillar. All locations should match — mismatches indicate a rebuilt, stolen, or cloned vehicle.

Position 10 repeats every 30 years

The model year code cycles — "A" was 1980 AND 2010. Always confirm the model year using multiple VIN positions and the vehicle's title, not position 10 alone. A 1980 and 2010 vehicle with the same code can easily be confused.

Positions 4–8 are manufacturer-specific

The Vehicle Descriptor Section (positions 4–8) has no universal standard — each manufacturer defines their own codes. Always use an OEM VIN decoder or NHTSA's free VIN lookup tool (vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov) to decode these positions accurately.

Use the VIN for TSB and recall lookup

The full 17-character VIN is required for NHTSA recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls) and OEM TSB databases. Many shop management systems accept VIN for automatic parts lookup — always enter the full VIN rather than manually selecting year/make/model to avoid misidentification.

Important Notes

VIN standardization (17 characters) was mandated in North America from 1981 — vehicles prior to 1981 used shorter, non-standardized VINs that vary by manufacturer

A VIN on the door jamb sticker that does not match the dashboard VIN is a serious red flag — document both and advise the customer before proceeding with any repair

VIN tampering is a federal offense — if you suspect a VIN has been altered, do not proceed with the repair and advise the customer to contact law enforcement

Where the VIN carries an engine code (often position 8), it reflects the factory-installed engine — always physically verify the engine before ordering internal components, as engines are frequently swapped

Some manufacturers use the same VIN position codes with different meanings across model lines — never assume a code means the same thing across different manufacturers

Electric and hybrid vehicles may show unfamiliar engine codes in position 8 — always use the manufacturer's EV-specific VIN decoder to identify battery pack and drivetrain configuration

Free reference sheet — get all 270 diagnostic sheets at kissdiagnostics.com