Decode the VIN

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.