VIN Decoder Chart — What Each VIN Position Means
A VIN decoder chart maps each of the 17 characters in a modern VIN to what it encodes. Use the chart below to read any VIN by hand — manufacturer, vehicle attributes, check digit, model year and plant — or enter a VIN above to decode it automatically and validate the check digit. Free, no signup.
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VIN position chart (ISO 3779, 1981–present)
| VIN position | What it encodes |
|---|---|
| 1–3 (WMI) | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, maker, type |
| 4–8 (VDS) | Vehicle Descriptor — model, body, engine, restraints |
| 9 | Check digit — validates the whole VIN by formula |
| 10 | Model year (e.g. A=2010, B=2011 … 1=2031) |
| 11 | Assembly plant code |
| 12–17 (VIS) | Sequential production / serial number |
How to decode a VIN by hand
Read a 17-character VIN left to right in three blocks. The first three characters are the World Manufacturer Identifier: character 1 is the country of origin (1, 4 and 5 are the USA; 2 is Canada; 3 is Mexico; J is Japan; W is Germany; S is the UK), characters 2–3 narrow it to the manufacturer and vehicle type. Characters 4 through 8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section, which encodes the model, body style, engine and restraint system — the detail that separates trims of the same model.
Character 9 is the check digit, a single value (0–9 or X) calculated from all the other characters; if your math doesn't produce it, the VIN is mistyped or invalid. Character 10 is the model year, character 11 is the assembly plant, and characters 12–17 are the unique sequential build number.
Reading the model-year character
Position 10 carries the model year on a 30-year cycle: the letters A–Y (skipping I, O, Q, U and Z) cover 1980–2000, the digits 1–9 cover 2001–2009, then the letters begin again (A=2010, B=2011, and so on). Because the codes repeat every 30 years, the 7th character disambiguates: it's a digit on 1981–2009 vehicles and a letter on 2010-and-later vehicles.
That's why a VIN year decoder reads positions 10 and 7 together rather than position 10 alone — it's the only way to tell, say, a 1985 from a 2015 when both show the same year letter.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does each digit of a VIN mean?
Positions 1–3 are the World Manufacturer Identifier (country and maker), 4–8 the Vehicle Descriptor (model, body, engine), 9 the check digit, 10 the model year, 11 the assembly plant, and 12–17 the sequential serial number.
Which VIN digit is the year?
Position 10 encodes the model year on a 30-year cycle. It's read together with position 7 (a digit before 2010, a letter from 2010) to resolve which cycle the year belongs to.
How do I decode a VIN myself?
Read it in three blocks: characters 1–3 for the manufacturer and country, 4–8 for the model/body/engine, and 10–17 for the year, plant and serial. Character 9 is a check digit that validates the rest.
What is the check digit in a VIN?
Position 9 is a single character (0–9 or X) calculated from a weighted sum of the other 16 characters. It catches typos: if the math doesn't match, the VIN was entered wrong or is invalid.
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