Table of Contents
How do you decipher a VIN number?
How to decode a VIN? Digits 1 through 3 combined is the WMI, (World Manufacturer Identifier). Digits 4 through 8 represent the vehicle descriptor section. Digit 9 is a check digit. Digits 10 through 17 is the Vehicle Identifier Section. The 11th digit is the manufacturer’s plant code.
What each digit means in a VIN?
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. The third digit, when combined with the first two letters or numbers, indicates the vehicle’s type or manufacturing division.
What does the 8th digit in a VIN number mean?
Vehicle Description Section The fourth through eighth digits describe your vehicle’s model, body type, restraint system, transmission type, and engine code. The ninth digit is the check digit, which is used to detect fraudulent VINs.
How do you tell the year of a vehicle by the VIN number?
As noted, the vehicle’s year is identified by a letter or number in the 10th position from the left in the VIN. As shown above, the 10th character of the VIN indicates its model year.
Is there a free way to look up VIN numbers?
You can get a free VIN check at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), VehicleHistory.com or iSeeCars.com/VIN. Just pop in your car’s digits and these sites will do the VIN lookup and give you information on the vehicle.
How do you read a 13 digit VIN number?
How to Decode a 13 Digit VIN Number Examine the first digit of the VIN number to find the manufacturer country of origin. Find the second digit in the VIN number sequence to determine the manufacturer of the vehicle. Read the third character in the VIN number sequence to find out the vehicle type.
What does the 10th digit stand for?
What Does the 10th Digit in a VIN mean? The 10th character, which is found in the VIS, indicates the vehicle’s model year. This does not necessarily indicate the year it was manufactured.
What does the 10th character of the VIN represent?
The 10th character in the 17-character VIN represents the vehicle model-year. This standard applies to vehicles built in or after 1981. Before 1981, the VIN format was not standardized and varied by manufacturer.
What do the last 6 digits of a VIN mean?
The last six digits of a VIN reveal the vehicle’s regular production options (RPO) and is also commonly referred to as its serial number. These last six digits identify all of the factory fitted options, as provided by the manufacturer—imagine it as the vehicle’s ‘DNA.
How do I match engine number to VIN?
If you want to be sure that your engine is the original engine of your vehicle, then your VIN will tell you which engine the car came with. When you look at the VIN plate or stamp on your engine, the sequence of ending numbers on the Engine VIN stamp should match the Vehicle VIN stamp.
How do I match engine to VIN?
You can find the VIN in the lower corner of your windshield on the driver’s side. In the series of numbers and letters, the tenth from the left denotes the model year and the eighth is the engine code.
How do you read a GM VIN number?
GM’s format is as follows: 4th digit: Model platform code. 5th digit: Model series code. 6th digit: Body style. 7th digit: Restraint type (seatbelts and airbags) 8th digit: Engine type. 9th digit: Check digit. 10th digit: Model year. 11th digit: Factory ID.
What is a car model year?
The model year is the year the manufacturer puts on the car and most often refers to the year in which the car is intended to be launched, meaning to say that a car manufactured during the fall of one year can be given a model year for the following year.
How do you read a VIN plate weight?
The VIN plate will display either 3 or 4 sets of weights. – The top figure ‘A’ is the gross vehicle weight, the Maximum Allowable Mass (MAM) of the vehicle including occupants, fuel and payload. – The second figure ‘B’ is the gross train weight, this is the combined maximum allowable mass of the vehicle and trailer.
What is the best free VIN check site?
10 of the best VIN decoders to lookup VIN numbers for free AutoCheck. CarVertical. EpicVIN. Bumper. ClearVin. Cebia. VinFreeCheck. AutoDNA.
What is the best VIN check website?
Top 8 Best Vin Decoders (2021) CarVertical. Carfax. AutoDNA. VinDecoderz. EpicVIN. VINInspect. CarProof. VinFreeCheck.
Can a VIN have 13 numbers?
A vehicle’s identification number (VIN) is a unique identifier. The most common VIN format is the 17-digit VIN, which became standard for all vehicles manufactured since January 1981. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 may have as few as 5 digits to as many as 13 digits.
How do I check a VIN number before 1980?
Prior to 1981, motor vehicle manufacturers maintained separate, in-house records of vehicle identification numbers. Call, email or write motor companies to inquire about the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN for your vehicle.
