What does the 2nd character in a VIN stand for?
There actually is a breakdown of what each number and letter in a VIN means, so going in order by characters: 1st tells where the car was built, 2nd and 3rd identify the manufacturer, From 4th to 8th tell the brand, engine size and type, 9th is a security code.
What position in the VIN is the year?
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.
Can a VIN number be 12 digits?
A 12-character VIN number In some cases, the VIN you will find in the car will only contain 12 characters. The number may be shorter because the previous one was damaged or unreadable and the owner decided to replace it in accordance with applicable regulations.
What do the 12th 17th characters in a VIN stand for?
production number
In the United States and China, the 12th to 17th digits are the vehicle’s serial or production number. This is unique to each vehicle, and every manufacturer uses its own sequence.
How do you read a 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 are VIN numbers assigned?
Manufacturers use all letters and numbers, with the exception of the letters I, O and Q. Each character in a VIN has a specific meaning, and the VIN is broken up into sections. The first section identifies the manufacturer of the vehicle, and uses the first three digits: The first digit identifies the nation of origin.
Why does my VIN only have 11 numbers?
Between 1968 and 1980, all manufacturers issued VINs for their vehicles, but there was no uniformity. Some manufacturers issued 13-digit VINs, while others issued 11-digit or even 9-digit VIN’s. Between 1955 and 1967, there was no such term as a “VIN”; the term was “serial number” and there was even less uniformity.
How can you tell where a car was manufactured?
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.
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.
How many places on a car is the VIN number?
Smart car buyers are recognizing that “VIN” Numbers or “vehicle identification numbers” can provide essential information to help them make better decisions about cars, old and new. VIN numbers are unique 17-digit serial numbers assigned to all cars manufactured after 1981.
Can 2 cars have the same VIN?
A VIN is a unique 17-character code of letters and numbers for a particular vehicle. Much like a fingerprint, a VIN is a unique identifier throughout the life of a vehicle: No two cars have the same VIN. However, vehicles manufactured before 1981 can have VINs that vary in length between 11 and 17 characters.
Can a VIN number be 11 digits?
Some manufacturers issued 13-digit VINs, while others issued 11-digit or even 9-digit VIN’s.
What VIN position is designated for the engine?
The fourth through eighth characters designate the brand, engine size, and type. The ninth character is a security code that lets us know that the VIN was authorized by the manufacturer. The tenth character designates the car’s model year. The 11th character indicates which plant manufactured the vehicle.
What does the 10th to 17th position mean on a VIN number?
The 10th to 17th positions are used as the vehicle identifier section or VIS. This is used by the manufacturer to identify the individual vehicle in question. This may include information on options installed or engine and transmission choices, but often is a simple sequential number. In North America, the last five digits must be numeric.
What year is the 11th character in a VIN number?
VIN characters 1–8 and 10 that were assigned from 1980 to 2009 can be repeated beginning with the 2010 model year. Compulsory in North America and China is the use of the 11th character to identify the assembly plant at which the vehicle was built. Each manufacturer has its own set of plant codes.
What is the numerical remainder in a VIN number?
The numerical remainder is the check digit which would appear in the 9th position in the VIN. If the remainder is 10, then the letter “X” is used for the check digit.
What does the 9th digit on a VIN number mean?
The ninth vehicle identification number digit is a VIN accuracy check digit, verifying the previous VIN numbers. This is how the check digit works/ Add the products from steps 1 and 2 and divide the total by 11.