International Serial Number Decoder
Find VIN decoders for Dayco, Gates, Ford & more. Highway and Heavy Parts is your #1 online resource for heavy duty diesel engine parts. A VIN number decoder is an easy tool that can help in deciphering your distinctive 17-digit number. Most companies use the same numbering method, so a GM VIN decoder should not be different from any other company. CMV ID: A Web-based VIN Decoder for Trucks, Buses,.
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- VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN) DECODING Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) * See VIN Decoding Information on 9th Character (Check Digit). ENGINE CODE (Fourth Character). An international VIN code consisting of 17 characters (which cannot include the letter I, O or Q) unique to each vehicle.
A VIN decoder is used by vehicle owners to decipher the unique 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) that each car carries from the moment it is manufactured. These numbers are specifically generated for each car and no two vehicles in operation will ever have matching numbers. Your vehicle’s unique identification number is tied to numerous vehicle services and is frequently used to track its recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage. When you go to register or buy insurance for an automobile, you will likely be required to provide that vehicle’s VIN number.
A VIN number decoder is an easy tool that can help in deciphering your distinctive 17-digit number. Most companies use the same numbering method, so a GM VIN decoder should not be different from any other company. While it won’t offer you a report on previous owners of a vehicle, a decoder can still provide you with essential information.
What is a VIN number?
VIN numbers are a combination of letters and digits that provide highly specific information about a vehicle. That information that can be accessed through a VIN lookup. Buyers looking for used cars will commonly request a VIN number lookup to review a vehicle’s history. This vehicle report will include information such as how many owners the car has had, the date of its last inspection, if it ever received “lemon” classification or if it was in a major accident. Using this information, buyers can make more informed decisions about purchasing used vehicles.
When you go to register your vehicle with your local DMV, you will be asked for your vehicle’s specific vehicle identification number. Since a car’s registration must match the VIN number, thieves will find it far more difficult to resell a vehicle with a VIN that was reported stolen. The “stolen” classification will always appear on a VIN lookup, so it is essential to check a used vehicle’s report before buying.
Where do I find my vehicle’s VIN number?
Anyone looking to decode a VIN number will first have to locate it on their vehicle. VIN numbers are located on the driver’s side door of most vehicles or you can check on your insurance card, vehicle title or registration. Some automobiles also have their VIN numbers etched onto their windshields as an additional deterrent against vehicle theft because thieves have difficulty concealing them from the police.
How can I decode this VIN number?
Although the arrangement of numbers and letters may seem random, when you decode a VIN number you will find that each character has a unique meaning. A breakdown of each segment of a VIN number will be described below.
1st Character: Vehicle’s Origin
International Harvester Serial Number Decoder
The first character you come across when you decode a VIN number is used to show the country where a vehicle was manufactured. This character corresponds to a commonly used world manufacturer identifier index to pinpoint where in the world a vehicle was made. 1, 4 and 5 are usually used to describe vehicles made in the U.S. while J represents vehicles made in Japan.
2nd and 3rd Characters: Vehicle’s Make
Typically, these characters in a VIN number are used to describe the vehicle’s manufacturer. These characters reveal usually reveal the company by abbreviation. For example, AU would be the abbreviation for Audi and H would apply to Honda. A VIN number decoder might be necessary to figure out which of the numerous manufacturers each combination represents.
4th and 8th Characters: Vehicle Features
Usually, a VIN decoder is required to interpret this portion of a VIN. The next four characters denote the vehicle’s brand, engine size and type. Information such as a car’s safety features, transmission, body and engine type will be described in this section. Mechanics often use these four digits when they are servicing your automobile.
9th Character: Authorization of your VIN Number
The 9th digit is created by a complex equation utilizing the other characters in your VIN number. This single character verifies that your VIN number was legitimately authorized by the manufacturer. If this number doesn’t match, the vehicle might be stolen or something may have been altered.
10th Character: Model Year of a Vehicle
Starting from 1980, this 10th character represents the model year of a vehicle. “A” is used to represent a car manufactured in 1980, “B” for 1981, all the way to the letter “Y”. Many companies reset the lettering system after reaching the letter “Y”.
11th Character: The Manufacturing Plant of a Vehicle
Each company establishes their own method for assigning characters to each manufacturing plant. In order to find the manufacturing plant of your specific vehicle, you will need to search the manufacturer-specific character guide.
Last Six Characters: Vehicle’s Production Serial Number
The last few digits of your VIN number will detail exactly when your car came off of the assembly line. Serial numbers are issued in numerical order and each vehicle has a unique number. If you have a special-edition or limited release vehicle, you can use this number to verify whether or not your car came off of a special assembly line.
Benefits of Using a VIN Number Decoder
Using this guide, you can decode your own VIN number. In fact, many car enthusiasts around the world take pride in their ability to translate VIN numbers without any help. You can use an online VIN decoder to decipher your VIN and provide you with a detailed vehicle report. Once you understand what each character represents, it is much easier to see the benefits of a VIN decoder.
With this accurate detailing of your vehicle’s origins and features, you can make shopping for a new or used car so much easier. Knowing the specific details about a vehicle that you are interested in purchasing can help you make informed decisions. You can discover whether a car has effective safety features, which can benefit you financially with lower insurance rates.
Conversely, you can avoid vehicles with poor safety features or rebuilt or salvage titles in order to avoid the steep cost of insuring those automobiles. Using a VIN number decoder can be incredibly useful, whether you use it to learn where your car was manufactured or to discover the safety features for a potential vehicle purchase.
Sources
International Harvester Serial Number Decoder
- Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from nhtsa.gov
- VIN Decoder from nhtsa.gov
A vehicle identification number (VIN) is the 17-digit 'name,' made up of numbers and characters, that an automobile manufacturer assigns to an individual vehicle. Vehicle identification numbers can reveal many things about automobiles, including their airbag type, country of origin, engine size, model year, vehicle type, trim level, and plant name. The VIN (sometimes known, redundantly, as the 'VIN number') is the key to safety. Just enter a VIN in the free search tool from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to see whether a vehicle is subject to a recall.
Typically, the vehicle identification number is stamped into a plate that's mounted on the dashboard near the windshield or the driver-side doorjamb. It's also stamped on the engine's firewall.
What Goes Into a VIN?
VIN information is organized in groups, and a search of your vehicle identification number can tell you a lot about your car. There's even a bit of fraud detection in the VIN, in the form of the 'check digit,' described below.
The first group of three numbers and letters in a VIN make up the world manufacturer identifier (WMI).
- In this group, the first digit or letter identifies the country of origin. For example, cars made in the U.S. start with 1, 4 or 5. Canada is 2, and Mexico is 3. Japan is J, South Korea is K, England is S, Germany is W, and Sweden or Finland is Y.
- The second element in this group tells you about the manufacturer. In some cases, it's the letter that begins the manufacturer's name. For example, A is for Audi, B is for BMW, G is for General Motors, L is for Lincoln, and N is for Nissan. But that 'A' can also stand for Jaguar or Mitsubishi, and an 'R' can also mean Audi. It may sound confusing, but the next digit ties it all together.
- The third digit, when combined with the first two letters or numbers, indicates the vehicle's type or manufacturing division. This Wikipedia page has a list of WMI codes.
The next six digits to check (positions 4-9) are the vehicle descriptor section.
- Numbers 4 through 8 describe the car with such information as the model, body type, restraint system, transmission type and engine code.
- Number 9 is the check digit, which is used to detect invalid VINs. The number that appears varies and is based on a mathematical formula that the U.S. Department of Transportation developed.
The following group of eight elements (10-17) is the vehicle identifier section.
- In the 10th position, you'll see a letter indicating the model year. The letters from B to Y correspond to the model years 1981 to 2000. The VIN does not use I, O, Q, U or Z. From 2001 to 2009, the numbers 1 through 9 were used in place of letters. The alphabet started over from A in 2010 and will continue until 2030.
Yes, it's confusing. Here are the model years since 2000: Y=2000, 1='01, 2='02, 3='03, 4='04, 5='05, 6='06, 7='07, 8='08, 9='09, A='10, B='11, C='12, D='13, E='14, F='15, G='16, H='17, J='18, K='19, L='20.
- The letter or number in position 11 indicates the manufacturing plant where the vehicle was assembled. Each automaker has its own set of plant codes.
- The last six digits (positions 12 through 17) are the production sequence numbers, which each car receives on the assembly line.
VIN Decode FAQs
NOTE: Although 'VIN' technically includes the word 'number,' people frequently use the phrase 'VIN number' in their searches, which is why we're following that convention here.
We entered the VIN of a few vehicles that were once in the Edmunds long-term test fleet, and the search came up with some interesting information.
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The first car VIN was the 2013 Scion FR-S. There was one item that stood out: The VIN decoder shows the manufacturer is Subaru, not Scion (now reabsorbed back into Toyota), but that's not an error. The Scion FR-S (now called the Toyota 86) and its twin, the Subaru BRZ, were the products of a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota. Both are manufactured at Subaru's plant in Japan.
When we did a search for the VIN of another former test vehicle, a 2011 Chevrolet Volt, there was a hidden bit of trivia in the fuel type. It erroneously says that the Volt can run on E85 ethanol in addition to gasoline.
General Motors originally intended to launch the Volt with a flex-fuel variant, but the emissions package was not ready for the car's introduction, according to the automaker. The E85 compatibility apparently was incorporated into the VIN data before GM decided a flex-fuel version wouldn't be ready in time for 2011. No flex-fuel version of the Volt ever surfaced.
The 2012 Fiat 500 is a reminder of just how globalized automakers have become. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is an Italian-American multinational carmaker that manufactured the 500 at Chrysler's plant in Toluca, Mexico.
Notice that the 10th character in the VIN is 'C.' The letter represents the 2012 model year, but it could also mean 1982. Because the year is represented by one character (letter or number) and the VIN can only contain 17 characters, the code for a car's year has to be recycled every 30 years. So while one letter can represent more than one year, it should be pretty obvious whether you've got a 1982 or a 2012 — or 2042, for that matter.
Finally, here's a bit of vehicle history on a 2011 Ford Mustang GT. Notice that the manufacturer isn't listed as 'Ford Motor Co.' The AutoAlliance International Inc. was a joint venture between Ford and Mazda that produced the Mustang and the Mazda 6 for a while at a plant in Flat Rock, Michigan. Newer Mustangs list Ford as the automaker.
Learn moreIn 1981, VINs were standardized under the auspices of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration as a 17-digit string of letters and numbers. Under NHTSA requirements, many of those letters and numbers are assigned values with which each manufacturer must comply; other portions of the VIN are available for each manufacturer to code as it wishes. (Prior to 1981, manufacturers defined their own VIN in its entirety, so the length and formatting of VINs on vehicles made before 1981 varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.)
Typically, the VIN is stamped into a plate or printed on a sticker and affixed to the vehicle in several different places, including inside the engine bay and on the driver's side door jamb.
Learn moreModern, 17-digit VINs can be used to access many records relating to a vehicle, including ownership, accident and repair histories. Edmunds.com does not offer such reports, but you can read more about the available options in our article, Which Vehicle History Report Is Right for You?.
Please note that most vendors do not offer vehicle history reports for model years prior to 1981, when the 17-digit VIN became standard.
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Also, car owners and used-car shoppers can enter a VIN in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's VIN Look-up Tool to see if there are open recalls on a vehicle.
Learn moreOther VIN Decoder Uses
A simple VIN decode will help you learn an automotive pedigree and some key specifications, but those digits are also useful for less entertaining but more important reasons involving its title, registration and insurance. Make sure to check the VIN when purchasing replacement parts for your vehicle. Vehicle parts are often specific to certain VINs and may not fit your car if you only go by its year, make and model.