![]() ![]() Sometimes manufacturers attribute it to the model year. The 10th digit VIN doesn’t always refer to the year the car was produced. In 2009, the year code was "9" and in 2010, it restarted at "A", marking a 30-year circle since 1980. For instance, the year code for 2000 was "Y", and 2001 was "1". Once the years circle from A to Y, they also run from 1 to 9 before going back to A again. Additionally, the characters U, Z, and 0 (zero) are not utilized for year code identification. This is a deliberate decision as they can be confused for the numerals 0, 1, and 9. The 17-character VIN doesn’t utilize the letters I (i), O (o), and Q (q). General Motors and Chrysler adopted the new standard going with "A" instead of the traditional zero for their VINs. For instance, in 1980, Ford and AMC stuck with the status quo, using a zero to denote the year. Prior to this, manufacturers chose different formats. The model year is represented by the 10th digit - which has been standardized since 1981. Each character of the 17-character identifier tells you something about that specific car. In the upper right-hand section of the homepage, click on the yellow bar that says “Search for Recalls by VIN.” You’ll be led to a page where you insert the vehicle’s VIN and the information will appear.Deciphering the VIN for your vehicle is a great way to understand its origin. To check if your vehicle, or one you’re thinking of buying, is under a recall, go to NHTSA’s website. A good free decoder is available on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website. Some charge for more detailed information. There are several online VIN decoders available. The final six digits are assigned at the assembly plant as the vehicle is sequenced for production. Each automaker uses its own set of plant codes. The plant that built the vehicle is denoted by the eleventh character. Model years 2001 to 2009 use numbers one through nine, and in 2010 the system started over again with the letter A, which continues on until 2030 (the sequence still skips I, O, Q, U or Z). Model years 1980 to 2000 are denoted by letters A to Y, but the letters I, O, Q, U or Z are not used. The tenth character indicates the vehicle’s model year, but it’s not obvious. The final eight characters (10 through 17) make up the vehicle identifier section, or VIS. It’s based on a mathematical formula developed by the U.S. The ninth character, a number, is a security code to check against invalid VINs. 4: GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)/Brake system/Body style.In the Chevrolet example, GM uses character 4 through 8 to communicate the following: So, the first three digits on a Chevrolet Tahoe or Suburban would be 1GN.Ĭharacters four through eight provide a more detailed picture of your vehicle that includes brand, engine size and type. For example, the complete WMI code General Motors uses for its Chevrolet passenger car division is N. Combined with the first two characters gives the vehicle type or manufacturing division. The third character completes the picture. But “A” also can signify Jaguar or Mitsubishi. Sometimes it’s the first letter of the manufacturer’s name such as S for Subaru, G for General Motors or A for Audi. The second character stands for the automaker. Your VIN can tell you more about where your car comes from and details about its systems. Some Volvos, like this XC40 Recharge, are made in Belgium, while others are made in Sweden, China, or in the United States. ![]() Here are some examples:Įverybody knows Volvos are Swedish, but many manufacturers, Volvo included, operate factories in different countries. The first number or letter indicates the country where your vehicle was built. NHTSA itself established the 17-character identification standard in 1981. Engineering firm SAE International has been contracted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, to oversee distribution of WMI codes for the U.S. The first three numbers and letters comprise the Wold Manufacturer Identifier, or WMI. That string of 17 letters and characters can be broken down into several zones representing different types of information. ![]()
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