VIN decoder and validator
Enter a 17-character vehicle identification number to check its format and check digit, split it into its parts and read the model year and region. For make, model and trim, one click sends the VIN to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's free vPIC service.
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The formula, in plain terms.
- A VIN is 17 characters: letters A to Z and digits 0 to 9, with no I, O or Q.
- Characters 1–3 identify the manufacturer, 4–8 describe the vehicle, 9 is the check digit and 10–17 identify the individual vehicle.
- Check digit: convert each letter to a number (A–H = 1–8, J–N = 1–5, P = 7, R = 9, S–Z = 2–9), multiply each character by its position weight 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 10, 0, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and add the results.
- Divide the total by 11. The remainder is the check digit, and a remainder of 10 is written X.
- Model year: character 10 gives the year on a 30-year cycle. For cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means 2010–2039 and a digit means 1980–2009.
1HGCM82633A004352: the weighted sum of its characters is 311, and 311 ÷ 11 leaves a remainder of 3, which matches the 3 in position 9, so the VIN is consistent. Position 10 is 3, meaning 2003 (or 2033), and position 7 is the digit 2, which points to 1980–2009, so 2003. NHTSA's service decodes it as a 2003 Honda Accord.
Assumptions and limits
- A matching check digit shows the VIN is internally consistent. It does not prove that the vehicle exists or that the VIN belongs to it.
- The check digit is required on vehicles built for North America. Vehicles built for other markets may not use it, so a mismatch there is a warning rather than proof of a typo.
- Before 1981 manufacturers used VINs of other lengths and formats, which this tool does not decode.
- The model-year character can point to two years 30 years apart. Position 7 settles it for cars and light trucks. For other vehicles check the paperwork.
- The optional lookup sends the VIN from your browser to NHTSA. Coverage is best for vehicles sold in the United States, and the region shown is a broad hint taken from the first character.
Common questions
What does a VIN tell you?
It identifies one vehicle. The first three characters name the manufacturer, characters 4 to 8 describe the vehicle type, character 9 is a check digit, character 10 is the model year, character 11 the plant and the last six are the serial number.
Why does a VIN never contain the letters I, O or Q?
They are left out so they cannot be confused with the digits 1 and 0. A VIN with one of those letters is almost always a typing or reading mistake.
What is the VIN check digit?
The ninth character is calculated from the other sixteen, so most typing errors make it fail. It is required on vehicles for the North American market, and some other markets do not use it.
How do I find the year from a VIN?
Read character 10. It maps to a model year on a 30-year cycle, so it can mean two different years. For cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later cycle (2010 to 2039) and a digit means the earlier one.
Where is the VIN on a vehicle?
Usually on a plate at the base of the windscreen on the driver's side, on a sticker in the driver's door jamb, and on the title and registration documents.
Why do shippers ask for the VIN?
Carriers, terminals, insurers and customs identify the exact vehicle by VIN on the booking, the bill of lading and the delivery receipt, so a wrong character can hold up a shipment.
Capture VINs from a photo.
Intelicargo's car carrier module reads VINs from photos or spreadsheets, with make, model and year, and carries them through the load, the manifest and the inspection record.