Do you want to learn about the engine, transmission, or any other vital info about your car? Would you like to find out when and where the car was produced? It's easy! You only need to use our free, handy, and intuitive VIN decoder.
The 9th digit in the 17 digit VIN is called the check digit. The check digit is used to validate the VIN number. The check digit is calculated based on the other 16 alphanumeric values in the vehicle VIN. The possible values for the check digit range from 1 through 9 and also include the letter X.
What is a VIN Decoder?
A VIN decoder is an online tool designed to assist the automobiles buyers and owners know all the data related to a particular car easily and quickly. To use the tool, you need to input the VIN of the transport you are interested in, in the VIN decoder search bar and then click the 'decode' button. Whether you want statistic about your car or you need the information about the auto you want to buy, you will get all the crucial details about it on the screen once you click the decode button.
VIN Decoder is absolutely free
- The VIN Decoder lookup is intended for use with vehicles manufactured since 1981. If your vehicle was made before 1981, the VIN will most likely contain 11 characters. How to Decode the Vehicle Identification Number.
- Decode the VIN. If you're like most people, you probably think a vehicle identification number (VIN) is just a series of random characters. Actually, each character in this highly structured code has its own meaning.
In most cases, when buyers go to a showroom to buy a car, they are uncertain about the features of a certain vehicle. Sometimes they are afraid they might end up buying a car with different features rather than the ones they expected. Sometimes they don't know the origin of the car, the model or even how old it is. If you find yourself in this confusing situation, VIN decoder is your savior. It will eradicate all those fears you have since it provides you with all the vital data about the car you are purchasing.
How VIN Decoder Works?
VIN decoder works straightforwardly. With immense data about all the vehicles, it can access and provide details about any carrier. The information about vehicles stored in VIN decoder includes features such the engine, the make of the car, model, transmission type, the year when it was produced, the place of manufacture, production number and much more. The data stored here is continuously updated and more data added. Therefore, you get the correct and up-to-date data about a particular car.
Hence, the VIN decoder identification can protect you from fraudulent vehicle deals especially when buying a car.
What Vehicles can VIN Decode?
Introduced in 1981 in the USA, VIN system doesn't cover all types of vehicles. Here we have compiled some of the vehicles where you can use the Vehicle Identification Number:
- Car;
- SUV;
- Pickup;
- Motorcycle;
- VAN;
- Commercial Truck;
- RV and Motorhome;
- Moped and Scooter;
- Buses;
- ATV.
What is a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)?
A vehicle identification number is a unique cryptogram for identifying a specific automobile. Basically, it is like a vehicle's fingerprint since no two vehicles can share the same vehicle identification number.
The VIN is a composition of 17 characters (capital letters and digits) that serves as a unique identifier for each vehicle. However, it doesn't include letters I, O and Q. The VIN shows the unique specifications, features, and manufacturer of each vehicle. They help track recalls, registrations, insurance coverage, warranty claims, and theft.
What does each digit mean in a VIN?
In the VIN number, the first digit shows the country where the vehicle was manufactured, the second and third digits shows the maker or the manufacturer, and the car type respectively. The fourth and the eighth characters represent the vehicle attributes such as brand and the size. The ninth digit represents the security code that classifies the VIN as approved by the maker. The tenth digit represents the model year of the vehicle, and the eleventh digit shows the authorized plant which assembled the vehicle (table below). The last six characters represent the serial number.
Here is a table simplifying the VIN:
| VIN Digit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1st digit | Country |
| 2nd digit | Region / Maker |
| 3rd digit | Vehicle Type |
| 4th digit | Vehicle Attributes |
| 5th digit | Vehicle Attributes |
| 6th digit | Vehicle Attributes |
| 7th digit | Vehicle Attributes |
| 8th digit | Vehicle Attributes |
| 9th digit | Check digit |
| VIN Digit | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10th digit | Year |
| 11th digit | Assembly Plant |
| 12th digit | Sequential Number |
| 13th digit | Sequential Number |
| 14th digit | Sequential Number |
| 15th digit | Sequential Number |
| 16th digit | Sequential Number |
| 17th digit | Sequential Number |
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
World Manufacturer Identifier briefly referred to as WMI code is part of the 17 digits of the VIN. It describes a specific vehicle in terms of the country where it was produced, the manufacturer and the type of the vehicle. It is usually the first three digits of VIN. If a manufacturer manufactures less than 1000 vehicles yearly, uses 9 as the third character and the 12th, 13th and 14th characters of the VIN for the next part of identification.
- Country — It is represented by the first character in the VIN, e.g., AA-AH represents South Africa.
- Manufacturer — Represented by the second character e.g.,1G represents General Motors in the US.
- Vehicle Type — It is represented by the third character, e.g., 1G1 represents Chevrolet passenger cars.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
The 4th to 8th characters are usually set aside to acquire the descriptive features of the vehicle. Almost all the essential data encoded in a VIN is captured here. However, some attributes of the specific vehicle captured are left to the maker to decide. And to make everything more intricate, each maker possesses a unique system of encoding vehicle data into the VIN.
Gm 13 Number Vin Decoder
- Vehicle Attributes — The main data captured here include the engine, restraint system and the body type.
- Check Digit — It is represented by the ninth digit. It is the security code that classifies the VIN as approved by the maker. It verifies the first eight digits based on mathematical calculations developed by the Transportation Department in the US.
Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)
13 Number Vin Decoder Lookup
This starts from the 10th character to 17th character.
- Year — The 10th character stands for the year the vehicle was built. The years are represented as follows:
Code Year A 1980 B 1981 C 1982 D 1983 E 1984 F 1985 G 1986 H 1987 J 1988 K 1989 L 1990 Code Year M 1991 N 1992 P 1993 R 1994 S 1995 T 1996 V 1997 W 1998 X 1999 Y 2000 1 2001 Code Year 2 2002 3 2003 4 2004 5 2005 6 2006 7 2007 8 2008 9 2009 A 2010 B 2011 C 2012 Code Year D 2013 E 2014 F 2015 G 2016 H 2017 J 2018 K 2019 L 2020 M 2021 N 2022 P 2023 - Assembly Plant — It is represented by the 11th character, and it shows the plant where the vehicle was built.
- Sequential Number — This is the serial characters of the vehicle represented by digits starting from 12th to 17th.
Where to find VIN?
The VIN can be found on either the vehicle and in the documents. Whether in the documents or on the vehicle, it should be the same. It is essential to make sure the VIN on the record matches that one on the vehicle especially if you are buying a second-hand car.
Depending on the firm which produced a vehicle, you can find VIN in different locations.
- On vehicle:
- The lower corner of the dashboard near the driver (you can also see it from outside). Some manuals call it windshield;
- Drivers or passenger’s door jamb. You can see it whenever you open the door;
- The front area of the block with the engine, below the hood of the car.
- In the documents. You can find it in these documents:
- Vehicle title;
- Insurance card;
- Manuals;
- Car registration card;
- Body repair records;
- Police reports.
Why does a VIN Matter?
There are circumstances in which you will need to check VIN of a vehicle because a lot of information registries utilize it to capture details about the vehicle.
If you are planning to purchase a second-hand vehicle, you can check VIN of the vehicle you want to buy to know more about it such as acquire information concerning its previous owners, repairs and if it had been involved in accidents. You will also be able to know if the maker of the car had at any time issued a recall of the car and whether the repairs in question were taken care of. Lastly, the VIN assist the law enforcement agencies in identifying stolen vehicles.
Is it Safe to Give Out a VIN Number?
Absolutely, Yes. Failure to do so will make anyone interested in buying your car unable to verify some features about the care which you claim your car has. That may make them suspicious of your claims about your car attributes.
VIN is not a sensitive element like a social security number, and there is no harm in giving it out to whoever is concerned. While the Vehicle Identification Number is unique for a specific car, it cannot put your safety at risk if you give it out. Sincerely speaking, some VIN is placed in open areas on the vehicle where anyone can access them easily such as on the dashboard. Besides, you are always driving around every day with your license plate suspended on your car. Also, any license plate can be effortlessly convert to a VIN on the same site.
Example of VIN Decoding
The vehicle identification number is used to identify your car. It consists of unique letters and numbers with special meaning and offers information about your car. There are various reasons you may want to decode it. Maybe you are replacing a part of your car, and you need to get the same replacement part, or perhaps you are buying a car, and you want to be sure about its features as claimed by the owner. Whatever the reason you want to decode it, you will get a lot of information about it.
Here is an example of VIN decoding:
| VIN | Year | Manufacturer | Model | Engine | Trim |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1FTFW1CT5DFC10312 | 2013 | Ford | F-150 | 3.5L V6 TURBO | FX2 SuperCrew 5.5-ft. Bed 2WD |
| 1GC5CZEG0F0017106 | 2015 | Chevrolet | Silverado | 6.0 Li | 3500 LT |
| 4T1BG28K81U790207 | 2001 | Toyota | Camry | 2.2L L4 DOHC 16V | CE |
| WBA5B3C50GG252337 | 2016 | BMW | 5-Series | 3.0L L6 DOHC 24V | 535i xDrive |
| JN1AZ4EH7DM430111 | 2013 | Nissan | Z | 3.7L V6 DOHC 24V | 370Z Coupe |
How to Lookup a VIN?
Start by inputting the VIN of the car in the VIN decoder search bar. You will get the history of the car you are looking for such as the general info about the car, if it was involved in an accident, crash and manufacturer recalls among other information. You will also know the appropriate equipment of the car which may include the kind of air conditioning, windows, and reupholster. Check VIN to see the odometer readings, and also see archival photos, if they exist for your car.
How can I Decode a VIN?
Now you understand the primary information concerning VIN; you are prepared to continue to the next step which is the epitome of the whole process. What should you do next? To decode your vehicle, you should follow these four steps, and you will get the information you need about your vehicle for free.
- Enter your VIN into VIN decoder search bar.
- Click on the “Decode” button.
- Receive free information about your vehicle in a matter of seconds.
- You can access the report using your laptop or your phone.
From what you have read here from the start up to here, the process is very straightforward and thanks to our free VIN decoder, you don't need to pay anything. So, don't risk the next time you want to buy a second-hand car.
13 Number Vin Check
Consider using our decoder today. It is absolutely free, reliable, fast and it will come in handy next time you are purchasing a car. Give it a try, and you will never regret your decision!