How to read a VIN: what each character means
The 17 characters of a VIN aren’t random: they follow a structure defined by the federal rule 49 CFR Part 565. Knowing how to read it helps you spot typos, misleading ads or fake VINs.
Let’s use this example: 1HGCM82633A004352
The three parts of a VIN
| Position | Example | Section | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | 1HG | WMI | Country and manufacturer |
| 4–8 | CM826 | VDS | Vehicle attributes |
| 9 | 3 | Check digit | Math check |
| 10 | 3 | Model year | 2003 in this case |
| 11 | A | Plant | Where it was assembled |
| 12–17 | 004352 | Serial | Production number |
Positions 1–3: country and manufacturer (WMI)
The first character shows the region or country of manufacture. Some common ones:
| First character | Country |
|---|---|
| 1, 4, 5 | United States |
| 2 | Canada |
| 3 | Mexico |
| J | Japan |
| K | South Korea |
| W | Germany |
| S | United Kingdom |
| L | China |
Together, the first three identify the manufacturer. For example, 1HG is Honda built in the USA.
Positions 4–8: the vehicle (VDS)
Each manufacturer defines what each character means: model, line, body type, engine and restraint system (seat belts, air bags). That’s why there’s no universal table — you need a decoder like NHTSA’s (which our checker uses).
Position 9: the check digit
It’s calculated with a formula from the other 16 characters: each letter is assigned a number, each position has a weight, everything is added up and divided by 11. The remainder is the check digit (if it’s 10, the letter X is used).
Why it matters: if someone copied a character wrong, the check digit almost never matches. Some vehicles built outside North America don’t follow this rule, so our checker only warns you and lets you continue.
Position 10: model year
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1–9 | 2001–2009 | L | 2020 |
| A | 2010 | M | 2021 |
| B | 2011 | N | 2022 |
| C | 2012 | P | 2023 |
| D | 2013 | R | 2024 |
| E | 2014 | S | 2025 |
| F | 2015 | T | 2026 |
| G | 2016 | V | 2027 |
| H | 2017 | ||
| J | 2018 | ||
| K | 2019 |
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 aren’t used in this position. Codes repeat every 30 years (for example, A was also 1980).
Position 11: the plant
Shows which factory assembled the vehicle. The code depends on each manufacturer.
Positions 12–17: serial number
The production number of that unit. Together with the rest, it makes each VIN unique.
General rules
- Exactly 17 characters (for vehicles from model year 1981 on).
- Never the letters I, O or Q in any position.
Why this is useful
- If the ad says “2018” and the tenth character is an
H(2017), something’s off. - If the first character points to a different country than you were told, ask.
- If the check digit doesn’t match, make sure the VIN was copied correctly.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a year letter means 1990 or 2020?
Year codes repeat every 30 years. For cars and light trucks, if the seventh character is a letter the year is 2010 or later; if it is a number, it is earlier. The easiest way is to use a decoder.
Does the VIN show the car's color or options?
No. The VIN describes the model, body, engine and restraint systems as defined by each manufacturer, but not the color or optional equipment.