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How to read a VIN
A Vehicle Identification Number has 17 characters in fixed positions, defined by U.S. federal rule 49 CFR Part 565 and ISO 3779.
11H2G3C4M586276839310A11012013414315516217
| Position 1 – World region / country | 1, 4, 5 USA · 2 Canada · 3 Mexico · J Japan · K Korea · L China · S UK · W Germany · Y Sweden · Z Italy |
|---|---|
| Position 2–3 – Manufacturer | Together with position 1 forms the WMI, e.g. 1HG = Honda (USA), WBA = BMW, 5YJ = Tesla. |
| Position 4–8 – Vehicle descriptor (VDS) | Model, body, engine, restraint system – coded differently by each manufacturer. |
| Position 9 – Check digit | 0–9 or X, calculated from the other 16 characters (required in North America). |
| Position 10 – Model year | A letter or digit. See the year code table. |
| Position 11 – Assembly plant | Manufacturer-specific plant code. |
| Position 12–17 – Serial number | Production sequence number. |
More
- Model year codes (10th character)
- How the check digit works
- Where to find your VIN
- WMI manufacturer codes
Questions
How many characters are in a VIN?
Vehicles built since 1981 have a 17-character VIN. Older vehicles have shorter, non-standard numbers.
Which letters are never used in a VIN?
I, O and Q are never used, to avoid confusion with 1 and 0.
Is the VIN the same as the license plate?
No. The VIN is permanent and stamped on the vehicle; the plate is issued by the state and can change.