VIN Decoding: All You Need to Know

The number of questions we receive regarding VINs might surprise you.  Often there is confusion about what VINs are, how they are used, and what kind of information they contain.  This article is intended to provide you with an excellent resource that you can use to gain a better understanding of Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and how they are decoded.  From very basic information about VINs to more specific information about their use in business and technical settings, the articles will progressively build in complexity and detail.  It is our sincere hope that you will find it useful.

Decoding a VIN – What is it?

A VIN is generally located on the dashboard, near the windshield, and on the door jam of the driver’s side of the vehicle. Your title, insurance policy, and registration will also have the VIN recorded. Vehicle Identification Number is the acronym for VIN. An identification number identifies and describes a vehicle by containing information about it.

Most people associate vehicle identification numbers with cars, but they are used for all types of vehicles and equipment in the US and abroad. Even snowmobiles, tractors, backhoes, and trailers are assigned VINs during the manufacturing process. You may not be surprised that motorcycles, heavy trucks, and buses have VINs. The evolution of Vehicle Identification Numbers and how they became what they are today will help us understand what a VIN is.

Pre-1981 VINs

American automobile manufacturers began assigning VINs to their vehicles in 1954, replacing serial numbers previously assigned to all vehicles. VINs capture some vehicle information. The use of VINs was unregulated, and the length and composition of VINs were not standardized. Vehicle identification numbers have become an industry standard over time. The same was true throughout the world as well as in the US.

The Modern VIN

International ISO published two documents to standardize VIN assignment in the late 1970s. At the beginning of the VIN, the World Manufacturer Identifier is a three-digit number that identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. In the European Union, manufacturers still follow these recommendations. 

A VIN standard was created by the NHTSA in 1978, based on the ISO standard. The VIN Standard FMVSS 115, CFR49 Part 565, is the standard the US and North America currently operate under.

Car vin decoder returns the following ten items.

1. Model Year

A VIN’s 10th digit (with the help of the 7th digit) is used to identify the model year.

2. Country of Origin

Vehicles are manufactured in various countries based on the first digit of their VIN (positions 1-3).

3. Manufacturer and Manufacturing Plant

The 2nd and 3rd digits of the VIN identify the manufacturer of the vehicle within the WMI. A plant’s 11th digit identifies where the finished vehicle was produced. The VIN must contain these two details by law (NHTSA and Transport Canada). In the event that quality or safety problems arise with the vehicle later on, this enhances traceability.

4. Brand or Make

Vehicles are sold under this badge. A Chrysler plant in Canada manufactured the Routan Minivan under the VW brand, but it is sold as a VW model. WMI used to identify brands and makes uniquely. For model years 2010 and later, the vehicle’s 4th digit (first vehicle descriptor digit) may be required to identify the make and model.

5. Vehicle Type

The VIN captures the vehicle type consistently. As of 2010, vehicle type is a requirement of the vehicle descriptor section (VDS) rather than the WMI.

6. Engine

Every engine from an OEM has a unique VIN pattern. It is always possible to exclude the number of valves, number of cylinders, and displacement of an engine from a VIN, while aspiration and fuel type are almost always captured by the VIN. It is also possible for engine specifications to differ by VIN, such as horsepower, torque, and other technical details.

7. Drive Type

A VIN usually records the different driven wheel variants available for each vehicle. Those who own the 4X2 or 4X4 drivetrain variants of the F-150 are able to identify them by their unique VIN patterns.

8. Body Style and Doors

There may be more than one body type, cab type, or door combination for a year/make/model combination, and each variant’s VIN pattern captures its unique features.

9. Restraint

Passive (seat belts) and active (airbags) restraint systems are usually not included in the VIN. Restraint systems installed on the vehicle are however identified at a general level.

10. GVW Range

It is important to note that the GVW rating and curb weight of the vehicle are not VIN-specific, but their range or “tonnage” category is. As a result, the classification or “tonnage” of the vehicle can be determined.