What is a VIN?

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle when it's manufactured. Think of it as a vehicle's fingerprint - no two vehicles have the same VIN.

VIN Structure

Position	Characters	Description
1-3	WMI	World Manufacturer Identifier
4-8	VDS	Vehicle Descriptor Section
9	Check	Check digit for validation
10	Year	Model year
11	Plant	Assembly plant
12-17	VIS	Vehicle Identifier Section (serial number)

VIN Rules

• Exactly 17 characters (since 1981)
• Cannot contain I, O, or Q (to avoid confusion with 1 and 0)
• Uses a check digit algorithm for validation
• Combination of letters and numbers

Where to Find a VIN

• Dashboard: Visible through the windshield on the driver's side
• Door Frame: Driver's side door jamb
• Title/Registration: Vehicle documents
• Insurance Card: Often listed on policy documents

Model Year Codes

The 10th character indicates the model year:

A=2010	B=2011	C=2012	D=2013	E=2014
F=2015	G=2016	H=2017	J=2018	K=2019
L=2020	M=2021	N=2022	P=2023	R=2024