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The VIN serves as the car’s fingerprint, as no two vehicles in operation have the same VIN. A VIN is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the vehicle.
Is a VIN 16 or 17 digits?
A vehicle’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is like its birth certificate, a unique identifier that sets it apart from all others. Older vehicle models carry 16-digit VINs, while newer VINs are made up of 17 digits/characters. By 1983, ISO Standard 3779 introduced a standard VIN system for all manufacturers.
Are there 13 digit VIN 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.
Are all VIN numbers 17 digits?
Since 1981, VIN numbers are always composed of 17 digits consisting of numbers and letters. On vehicles manufactured before 1981, VIN numbers are between 11 and 17 characters in length, and they are also often found on the driver’s side of the dashboard.
Can a VIN be 8 digits?
Vehicle manufacturers could have used 8 digits, 10 digits, 25 digits, or really any number of digits they wanted. In 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required all car manufacturers to use 17 digits. Each number within that 17 digit VIN meant something specific about that car.
What do the 17 digits in a VIN mean?
A VIN is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the vehicle. A VIN displays the car’s unique features, specifications and manufacturer. The VIN can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage.
What does VIN stand for?
That’s your vehicle’s VIN or “vehicle identification number.” It’s essentially your car, truck or SUV’s unique code – a sort of specific serial number – that is used to identify where and when a vehicle was made as well as who made it. Actually, the vehicle’s specific serial number is located at the end of the VIN.
How do I find the 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.
Can a VIN number be 12 digits?
A 12-character VIN number In some cases, the VIN you will find in the car will only contain 12 characters. The number may be shorter because the previous one was damaged or unreadable and the owner decided to replace it in accordance with applicable regulations.
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.
How do I read 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 does my VIN number look like?
VIN is short for Vehicle Identification Number. Autozone.com explains that a VIN is normally printed on a single line and consists of 17 characters that are made up of both numbers and letters. If your vehicle was manufactured before 1981, your VIN number may have fewer than 17 characters.
How many numbers are in a 1970 VIN?
In 1970 a 10-digit VIN became standard.
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 many letter & number are in a VIN number?
But these characters are highly structured codes which have their own meaning. Vehicles from model year 1981 to present have a VIN made up of 17 characters (letters and numbers). The prior VIN length and format varied among vehicles.
What does the 11th digit in a VIN number mean?
The eleventh digit indicates which manufacturing plant your vehicle was assembled at. The twelfth through seventeenth digits are the unique production serial number your vehicle receives on the assembly line.
What is the 10th digit in a VIN?
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 is the best free VIN check website?
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. But you should use more than one of these sites to get the full picture.
What country is 5 on a VIN?
The first three digits are called the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). Toyota VINs starting with “1”, “4”, or “5” represent vehicles assembled in the United States, VINs beginning with “2” indicate vehicles assembled in Canada, and vehicles with VINs beginning with “3” were assembled in Mexico.
How do you read a Chevy VIN number?
How to Decode a Chevrolet VIN? 1G1 = Manufacturer (Chevrolet United States) J = Platform Code (Chevrolet Cavalier) C = Platform Series Code. 1 = Body Style (Two-Door Coupe) 2 = Restraint Type. 4 = Engine Type (LN2; 2.2L; Gas L4 SFI) 0 = Security Code. 1 = Model Year (2001).
