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The 10th character in the 17-character VIN represents the vehicle model-year. This standard applies to vehicles built in or after 1981.
How do you read the year on a VIN number?
VIN’s starting with 1, 4, and 5 are manufactured in the United States. The third number or letter is used by the vehicle manufacturer to identify what kind of vehicle it is: car, truck, bus, etc. The 10th character of the VIN indicates the model year.
What does the 8th digit of a VIN 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 can you tell what year a car is?
You can find your vehicles build date by looking at your VIN number located on the drivers side door frame in a month/year format or by standing outside the driver-side windshield and looking through the lower corner of the windshield on the dashboard. The 10th digit of your VIN will determine your vehicles year.
What is the 9th digit in a VIN?
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.
Does VIN number tell you production date?
Every car has a unique number called VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) that is used to identify in which month and year that particular model is manufactured. The VIN is an alphanumeric code and you cannot tell the manufacturing month and year simply by looking at it.
How many digits are in a VIN before 1981?
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.
What does the 5th digit in a VIN mean?
Each manufacturer uses this six-digit field in its way. At Toyota, the fifth digit of the VIN identifies the engine and the sixth digit represents the series. The seventh digit details the restraint system, including seat belts and airbags. The eighth digit identifies the model.
How do I find out what year my car is in South Africa?
If you have established the VIN number of your vehicle, the year model is represented by the tenth character in the VIN. Each of the characters represents a particular year.
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 find my VIN pre 1981?
Contact the vehicle manufacturer. 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 long were VIN numbers in the 70’s?
In the late 60s and early 70s, VIN numbers started to get a little longer (typically 13 characters) and more manufacturers started to encode engine type and body style.
How many numbers are in a 1970 VIN?
In 1970 a 10-digit VIN became standard.
What does your VIN number tell you?
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 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.
Are last 6 digits of VIN number always?
The last six numbers of a Vehicle Identification Number are always the vehicle’s serial number and also vehicle specific. The first ten characters may be the same. However, the last six digits will be different on every vehicle. The ninth digit or Check Digit may also be different on the vehicle.
How do I check a VIN number in South Africa?
www.vehiclecheck.co.za allows you to verify the VIN, year, make, model and variant of a vehicle. The report provided will also tell you if the vehicle has been listed as stolen by the SAPS.
How can I check a VIN number?
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 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.
How do you decode 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.
Do older cars have shorter VIN numbers?
2. Your VIN isn’t 17 digits long. As of the model year (MY) 1981, the NHTSA required all vehicles manufactured for road use to be assigned a 17-digit VIN number. So, any vehicles manufactured in 1981 or later with VINs shorter than 17 characters are invalid.
