BUYER GUIDE
How to Decode a VIN: A Plain-English Guide
Seventeen characters tell you almost everything about a car. Here is how to read them.
What a VIN Is
A Vehicle Identification Number is a unique 17-character code every vehicle has carried since 1981. No two vehicles share one, and each position carries specific meaning.
Breaking Down the 17 Characters
- 1–3, World Manufacturer Identifier: country and manufacturer.
- 4–8, Vehicle Descriptor: model, body, engine, restraints.
- 9, Check digit: a math check that validates the VIN.
- 10, Model year.
- 11, Assembly plant.
- 12–17, Serial number.
Decode by Brand
Each manufacturer structures the middle of the VIN differently. See brand guides for Ford, Toyota, Chevrolet and Honda, or the main VIN decoder.
What You Can Do With a Decoded VIN
Pull the window sticker, build sheet, history and value, everything you need to judge a car.
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