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Decode the VIN

 

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What is a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)?

EACH REPORT HAS THE FOLLOWING INFO: Title Check Odometer Check Problem Check Vehicle Info AutoCheck Score Event Check Click here for a full sample AutoCheck report No VIN? No Problem! If you don't have the VIN or want to search the history of more than one car, order the AutoCheck Unlimited Vehicle History Reports >> option and access unlimited vehicle history reports for 30 days.

What the Characters Mean

If you're like most people, you probably think a vehicle identification number (VIN) is just a series of random characters. Actually, each of the characters in this highly structured code has its own meaning. In fact, deciphering these codes is a hobby for some car enthusiasts, including collectors who want to own one of the first or last cars to come off an assembly line.

When you buy a pre-owned vehicle, you might want to check its history. In that case, knowing how to read the VIN could help you make an informed decision before you buy.

A Sample VIN to Decode

Let's take a look at a sample VIN. Vehicles manufactured before 1981 might have fewer characters than today′s standard 17-character VIN.

2 H 2 G P 1 2 P X Y 2 2 0 3 2 4 1

2: The country in which the vehicle was manufactured

H: The manufacturer

2: The make

G-P-1-2-P: Identifies unique characteristics, such as the engine or
body style

X: The check digit, which helps to identify VIN fraud

Y: The model year

2: The assembly location

2-0-3-2-4-1: The production sequence number, indicating the exact point at which the vehicle came off the assembly line

To help you further break down the codes, we have provided a list of model-year codes, as well as a list of the country of origin codes.

Model-Year Codes

J: 1988

K: 1989

L: 1990

M: 1991

N: 1992

P: 1993

R: 1994

S: 1995

T: 1996

V: 1997
W: 1998
X: 1999
Y: 2000
1: 2001
2: 2002
3: 2003
4: 2004
5: 2005
6: 2006
7: 2007
8: 2008

Country of Origin Codes

1: United States
2: Canada
3: Mexico
4: United States
5: United States
6: Australia
9: Brazil
J: Japan
K: Korea
S: England
T: Germany
V: France, Germany
W: Germany
Y: Finland, Sweden
Z: Italy

If you are not sure where to look for your vehicle's VIN, visit our section on Locating a Vehicle Identification Number.