QA

Question: How To Decode Vin Numbers

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.

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.

What does my VIN number mean?

VIN is short for Vehicle Identification Number. Every car receives a unique code when it’s manufactured, which serves as a car’s distinctive identifier or fingerprint. 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.

What is the best free VIN decoder?

10 of the best VIN decoders to lookup VIN numbers for free AutoCheck. CarVertical. EpicVIN. Bumper. ClearVin. Cebia. VinFreeCheck. AutoDNA.

What does the 8th digit in 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.

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 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 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.

Will my VIN number tell me what engine I have?

Your VIN number is your vehicle identification number and you can find your engine size by VIN number. In the series of numbers and letters, the tenth from the left denotes the model year and the eighth is the engine codes. Just tell the store clerk those two characters and you’re in business.

Does a VIN number tell you the trim level?

The VIN can reveal a number of things about a car, including its airbag type, country of origin, engine size, model year and trim level. The last 6 characters of the VIN is the most important part that contains the vehicle’s unique ID.

Is there an app to check VIN number?

Instantly uncover the vehicle’s past & specs via the free VIN decoder mobile app CAR HISTORY CHECK. Find the VIN on the car’s body or in its documents. Enter the discovered code on your mobile device, and the app will reveal the car’s technical details, historical facts, and original equipment list.

How do I tell what gear ratio my VIN is?

The gear ratio is usually listed in the VIN code located on driver’s door, the glove box, or the ID plate on the dashboard. Count the times a rear wheel goes around for one driveshaft turn: if its 3 1/2 it’s a 3.50:1. Divide the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion gear.

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 does the 6th digit in a VIN number 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.

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 you decode a 10 digit VIN?

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 read a VIN?

The first character of the VIN indicates the country in which the vehicle was manufactured. 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.

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.