The six main VIN sections
Since the 1981 model year, most road vehicles sold in North America use a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number. The VIN is not random. Each position has a job, and the characters are grouped into a World Manufacturer Identifier, a Vehicle Descriptor Section, a check digit, a model year code, a plant code and a serial sequence.
| Position | Section | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier section. Local logic identifies the section and country/region clue; NHTSA/vPIC may return public manufacturer fields separately. |
| 4-8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section. Manufacturers use this area differently. Local logic identifies the section; public NHTSA/vPIC data may decode manufacturer-reported specs when available. |
| 9 | Check digit | A mathematical validation character calculated from the other VIN positions. |
| 10 | Model year | A standardized year code covering 1980-2030 in this decoder. |
| 11 | Plant | The plant-code position assigned by the manufacturer. Local logic shows the character; NHTSA/vPIC may return plant fields when available. |
| 12-17 | Sequence | The production sequence number for that vehicle. |
Positions 1-3: WMI
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first section of the VIN. Position 1 gives a broad country or region clue. For example, many VINs beginning with 1, 4 or 5 point to the United States region; 2 often points to Canada; 3 often points to Mexico; J points to Japan; K points to South Korea; W points to Germany; and Z points to Italy.
Positions 2 and 3 complete the WMI section. A WMI alone does not identify exact trim, engine, options, ownership, title status, or vehicle history.
Positions 4-8: VDS
The Vehicle Descriptor Section is the most manufacturer-specific part of a VIN. Automakers may use these five characters for model line, body class, restraint system, drivetrain, engine family, or other internal descriptor details.
Because VDS meanings vary by manufacturer, model year, and market, VinDecoderOnline.com identifies the VDS section locally and may show manufacturer-reported NHTSA/vPIC public fields separately. Those public specs can be incomplete and should not be treated as guaranteed exact trim, engine, transmission, drivetrain, safety equipment, or body style verification.
Position 9: check digit
The ninth position is a checksum. The VIN check digit algorithm converts letters into numbers, multiplies every position by a fixed weight, adds the totals and divides by 11. If the remainder is 10, the expected check digit is X; otherwise it is the remainder number. A passing check digit means the VIN is structurally consistent. It does not prove the vehicle is clean, titled correctly or free from fraud.
Position 10: model year code
The tenth character identifies the model year. The code sequence excludes I, O, Q, U and Z, and the letter codes repeat on a 30-year cycle. That means a code such as A can mean 1980 or 2010. The app shows the newer cycle first and notes the older cycle when both are possible.
| Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | A | 1997 | V | 2014 | E |
| 1981 | B | 1998 | W | 2015 | F |
| 1982 | C | 1999 | X | 2016 | G |
| 1983 | D | 2000 | Y | 2017 | H |
| 1984 | E | 2001 | 1 | 2018 | J |
| 1985 | F | 2002 | 2 | 2019 | K |
| 1986 | G | 2003 | 3 | 2020 | L |
| 1987 | H | 2004 | 4 | 2021 | M |
| 1988 | J | 2005 | 5 | 2022 | N |
| 1989 | K | 2006 | 6 | 2023 | P |
| 1990 | L | 2007 | 7 | 2024 | R |
| 1991 | M | 2008 | 8 | 2025 | S |
| 1992 | N | 2009 | 9 | 2026 | T |
| 1993 | P | 2010 | A | 2027 | V |
| 1994 | R | 2011 | B | 2028 | W |
| 1995 | S | 2012 | C | 2029 | X |
| 1996 | T | 2013 | D | 2030 | Y |
Position 11 and positions 12-17
Position 11 is the plant-code position. Plant codes are assigned by each manufacturer, so the same character can mean different plants for different makes. Local VIN logic shows the character in the plant-code position. If NHTSA/vPIC returns plant city, state, country, or company fields, the decoder displays those as public manufacturer-reported specs. Positions 12-17 are the serial or production sequence section.
What this free VIN decoder can and cannot prove
This static VIN decoder can explain VIN structure, validate the check digit locally, identify broad country/region clues, decode the model year code, and load public manufacturer-reported NHTSA/vPIC vehicle specification fields when available. It cannot prove exact configuration for every vehicle, title status, accident history, odometer records, liens, open recalls, theft reports, owner identity, registration ownership, service records, insurance records, or a complete vehicle history report. Use this free VIN decoder as a starting point, then verify important details through official records, recall resources, the manufacturer, the seller, licensed professionals, or proper official channels.
Parts compatibility warning
VIN structure decoding is not a parts fitment tool. Always confirm exact part fitment with the manufacturer, dealer, mechanic, or parts supplier before ordering.