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VIN check digit

The 9th character lets software catch typos. Our decoder checks it automatically.

  1. Convert letters to numbers: A=1 B=2 C=3 D=4 E=5 F=6 G=7 H=8 · J=1 K=2 L=3 M=4 N=5 P=7 R=9 · S=2 T=3 U=4 V=5 W=6 X=7 Y=8 Z=9. Digits keep their value.
  2. Multiply each position by its weight: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 (position 9 has weight 0).
  3. Add the results and divide by 11. The remainder is the check digit; a remainder of 10 is written as X.

Example

For 1HGCM82633A004352 the weighted sum is 311; 311 ÷ 11 leaves remainder 3, which matches the 9th character "3", so the VIN is valid.

Required for vehicles sold in North America. Vehicles built only for other markets may not use a check digit.

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