- Country of Manufacture, first digit.
- Secondly and thirdly: Manufacturer.
- Vehicle Brand, Engine Size, and Type 4th8th digits.
- Security Code, the ninth digit.
- Model Year is the tenth digit.
- Plant of Assembly, the eleventh digit.
- Serial Number, 12th17th digits.
In This Article...
What each digit in a VIN means?
All road cars had to have standardized VINs by 1954, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) started enforcing them.
The majority of people think that a VIN is just a collection of random letters and numbers. However, these symbols are highly structured codes with distinct meanings. The VIN, which consists of 17 characters, is used on vehicles manufactured from 1981 to the present (letters and numbers). The length and format of the previous VIN differed between automobiles.
The lower-left corner of the dashboard, in front of the steering wheel, is frequently where the VIN can be found. Looking through the glass on the car’s driver’s side will allow you to read the number.
The VIN may also be visible in the following places:
- The engine block’s front. By opening the hood and inspecting the front of the engine, you should be able to see this with ease.
- The area in front of the car’s frame, close to the reservoir housing the windshield washer fluid.
- wheels towards the back. Attempt to stare directly above the tire, up.
- in the doorjamb on the driver’s side. Look underneath the door, where the side-view mirror would be if the door were closed.
- passenger-side doorpost. Look close to the location where the door latches and a little distance from the seatbelt return when you open the door.
- the spare tire’s base.
The country where the car was made is indicated by the first character of the VIN. VINs with the first three digits 1, 4, and 5 are produced in this country. The third number or letter is used by the car maker to specify the type of car, truck, bus, etc. that is being manufactured. The model year is indicated by the 10th character of the VIN.
What is a Toyota VIN?
The Toyota VIN is a distinct 17-digit alphanumeric identifier that serves as the global fingerprint for every Toyota car and motorcycle. The VIN can reveal crucial information about any car for both current and potential Toyota owners. The Toyota VIN is your best friend if you want to ensure that the specifications given in a car ad are accurate or want to be sure you’re not purchasing stolen goods.
What does the Toyota VIN contain?
Three components make up the Toyota VIN’s basic structure:
- Index of Global Manufacturers (digits 1-3). Any VIN’s first three characters will identify the vehicle’s country of manufacture, manufacturer, and vehicle class.
How can I figure out my VIN number?
figuring out your VIN
- You can find out where in the world the car was produced from the first character.
- The manufacturer is indicated by the second character.
- The division or type of vehicle is indicated by the third character.
- You can learn the vehicle brand, body style, engine size and type, model, and series from the fourth through the eighth characters.
How can I determine the manufacturing year of my Toyota chassis number?
If the fourth character on your VIN is G, it stands for the month of July. The year 2012 is represented by your fifth and sixth characters both being 12. Model Year 2013 is indicated by the 10th VIN character, which is D.
WMI
The nation of origin or ultimate processing facility is indicated by the first digit of the VIN number. For instance, the numerals 1, 4, and 5 denote the United States, whereas 2 denotes Canada and 3 denotes Mexico. WMI ratings are given to nations and companies by the Society of Automotive Engineers. The manufacturer’s identifying digit follows, such as “G” for General Motors, “C” for Chrysler, and “B” for BMW.
The type of vehicle, such as whether it is a truck, SUV, or automobile, may be determined by the third digit when coupled with the first two. A Chevrolet truck’s VIN, for instance, would begin with “1GC.” G for General Motors, C for Truck, and 1 for the US, the nation of origin
Vehicle Identification Section (VIS)
Model year is the tenth digit. Years can be quickly determined using the table below. Therefore, if the 10th digit is a “D,” the car is a 2013 model.
What does a VIN number’s eighth letter represent?
The World Manufacturer Identifier, or “WMI,” which stands for the first three digits of the VIN, is what gives this designation its name. This includes the nation of production, the company that made the vehicle, and the division it was designed for.
The first digit identifies the nation where the car was manufactured. The first digit in the example above, (1), stands for “United States”; if it were “J,” it would stand for Japan.
Second Digit: The second digit identifies the company that produced the car. Because businesses like General Motors have numerous divisions, this doesn’t always refer to the “make” of the car (such as GMC). They have numerous different brands, including Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC. The second VIN digit in the aforementioned scenario would denote “General Motors.”
3rd Digit: The division of the bigger manufacturer is the 3rd digit. Buick, Cadillac, and other more specialized brands would be the division in the case of General Motors. Therefore, in the aforementioned example, the “N” stands for “Chevy.”
The “Attributes” of the VIN are represented by the numbers “four” through “eight”. They contain details on things like vehicle series, body type, engine size, and safety.
The fourth number represents safety, braking, and suspension. This digit, for instance, will show that your vehicle has a specific suspension and braking package if you have a particular option, heavy-duty truck with eight-lug wheels, or a towing package. Additionally, it could allude to a particular set of safety features, such as the choice between two and eleven airbags in the case of a certain car.
5th Digit: The vehicle’s series is represented by the 5th digit, in this case the letter “S.” For instance, General Motors produced full-size C and K series trucks in the 1980s, in addition to R and V series. Compared to the R/V, the C/K had a distinct body type. The letters “C” and “R” stood for two-wheel drive. The letters “K” and “V” stood for four-wheel drive. On these trucks, these letters would appear as the fifth digit of the VIN. When ordering parts, it was/is crucial because a “1988 Chevy Truck” might indicate a number of different things depending on what that letter is. An S series truck, specifically an S-10 series truck, is shown in the image above. At the same time, there existed a T series.
The body style is indicated by the sixth and seventh digits. Therefore, these two numerals specify whether the car is a convertible, two-door, four-door, or wagon.
8th Digit: In this instance, the eighth digit is a “Z,” which is one of my particular favorites. Engine size is the issue! This figure is also quite useful if you were to visit a junkyard for vehicles that had two distinct engines during the same year. The ideal examples of this are an S10 Blazer or Truck. Both of these vehicles might have been equipped with a 4.3-liter Z or W series engine. Despite having identical 4.3-liter engines, each engine has unique pieces linked to it. This digit is what makes purchasing parts for these engines fascinating, and it always has been.
The ninth digit is referred to as a check digit. Because its function is to verify the validity of the rest of the VIN number, it is known as a check digit. This is accomplished by performing intricate math on the VIN numbers. Hopefully, the answer to the equation will be the number that occupies the ninth position. You can tell that the VIN number is fake if it appears to be anything else.
The year is represented by the tenth digit, which is useful if you’re at a junkyard or bragging to your buddies. The chart below makes it simple to determine which years correspond to particular letters and digits. Put it in your wallet after printing it out. One day you might thank us.
The tenth digit in the example of today is “M,” thus if you look at the chart, you’ll find that “M” is 1991. Because you can approach a VIN number and announce, “Hey, here is a VIN J, which means it’s a 1988,” this is fantastic for junkyards.
11th Digit: The manufacturing plant is represented by the 11th digit. As you would have guessed, that is where the car is built! In most cases, this isn’t a big deal unless you’re discussing certain automobiles that have huge fan bases. Corvettes are a good illustration. In Bowling Green, Kentucky, many, many Corvettes were produced. Even a museum can be found there! So Bowling Green always comes up when talking about Corvettes. The VIN number’s eleventh digit verifies the manufacturing facility where the car was made. It could be in Lansing, Detroit, or some other location in Illinois. There are factories for automakers all throughout the world.
The last six digits: The production line numbers are the last six digits. The number 100001 is typically used as a starting point by automakers. In most cases, this is not a particularly significant number when purchasing auto parts unless you have a vehicle whose production requirements altered midway through a production run. As a result, a car constructed in April 2004 might have had different mirrors than one built in August 2004. These last six digits become crucial if you own one of those automobiles because you need to know where it was on the assembly line.
What do the Toyota model codes indicate?
Every Toyota vehicle has a model code that identifies the base model (for example, Corolla), generation, and key features (engine type, gearbox type, body style, grade level). The model codes are divided into three time periods: 1937 through the late 1950s, the late 1970s, and the present. In order to phase in new models using the new codes and phase out old models using the old codes, there was some overlap. The VIN and the model code are not the same thing.
How can you determine a vehicle’s year from its VIN number?
The year of the car can be determined using the following details about the vehicle identification numbers (VIN) attached to the chassis. As mentioned, the year of the car is indicated by a letter or number in the VIN’s 10th position from the left.
Can I search up my car’s specifications using the VIN?
Using a VIN decoder tool to determine a vehicle’s specifications just requires a VIN number. Some VIN decoding services, usually those intended for commercial usage, let users provide both the complete 17-digit VIN and the VIN pattern (characters 18, 10, and 11). For companies who might not always have complete VINs on hand, this functionality is helpful.
Businesses that frequently engage with VINs will desire to license a VIN decoding solution that can be instantly included into their internal system or user-facing application (s). The easiest and most effective way to do this is by using a VIN decoder API. Smaller companies that handle a limited number of VINs each month might think about investing in or subscribing to a solution with built-in VIN decoding functionality.
What do a VIN’s final six numbers represent?
Regular production options (RPO) are identified by the vehicle’s last six numbers, which are also known as the serial number. There’s more to the story, despite the fact that many auto aficionados point out that these final six digits reflect the sequential manufacturing number. Many people are unaware that this number also indicates the factory options that were installed on the car during production.
Describe RPOs. Options like trim, traction control, blind spot sensors, rearview cameras, and parallel parking assistance are examples of these. But they are merely the first alternatives available. A 2016 BMW 328 xDrive Touring may be quickly built online with a choice of 2 engine types, 2 lines, 3 trims, 4 packages, and more than 50 external, interior, safety, and technology options. The RPO is crucial at this point. Imagine these last six digits as the “DNA” of the vehicle; they represent all of the factory-installed choices as offered by the manufacturer.
How can I determine the size of my engine?
The size of your car’s engine is listed on the window sticker. On top of the window sticker, it will be listed under the heading “Vehicle Description.”
How can I determine the precise model of my car?
Here’s how to determine a car’s make and model now that you know what they denote:
The manufacturer’s name and the model name should normally be written on the back of your car on opposite sides. On the front and back of the majority of cars, you can find the manufacturer’s logo.
The owner’s manual’s cover often lists the vehicle’s make and model. If not, it ought to be in the first few pages at the very least.
Checking the VIN, or vehicle identifying number, will also reveal the car’s make and model (also known as chassis number in Ireland).