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Use the following information to learn how to decode or decipher a vehicle identification number, or VIN number.

Meaning of a VIN Number

All cars and light trucks built after 1981 have a unique 17-character VIN number that provides access to valuable information about that vehicle's history.  The letters I, O and Q never appear in a VIN.  The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) can be found on dashboards, driver's side door jamb stickers, and title documents.

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How to Decode a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

When decoded, the Vehicle Identification Number, VIN, indicates the country and year that the vehicle was manufactured, the make of the vehicle, make, model and serial number; the assembly plant where the vehicle was made, and in some cases it identifies equipment specifications.  The sequence for characters is first A to Z, then 1 to 9, and last 0. The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are typically omitted.

The vehicle identification number is divided into four parts:

World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI)

• First Character in the WMI (of three) - The first character in the World Manufacturer's Identification (WMI) sequence represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured.  Countries such as the United States (1 or 4), Canada (2) and Mexico (3) are represented by numbers while other countries such as Germany (W), Italy (Z) and Japan (J) are represented by letters.
   

• The second character in the WMI (of three) refers to the manufacturer. The characters can be either letters or numbers. For example: Jaguar (A), Dodge (B), Chrysler (C), Jeep (J), Buick (4), Cadillac (6) or Saturn (8).
   

• The third character represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division.

Vehicle Description Section (VDS) and Check Digit

• The vehicle description section consists of five characters (the 4th to 8th characters) which identify everything from the body style, engine type, and braking system to model, series, restraint system, etc

• The 9^th character is a VIN accuracy check digit which verifies the previous VIN numbers. It is determined by carrying out a mathematical computation developed by the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Vehicle Identification Section (VIS)

The vehicle identification section includes the last eight characters in the VIN number.

• The numbers identify the model year (10^th character)

• The assembly plant for the vehicle (11^th character). A number or letter may represent the model year. For example: 1998 (W), 2000 (Y), 2007 (7) or 2008 (8).

• The 12^th to 17^th characters are the actual serial number of the vehicle—these last 6 digits make the vehicle unique. It can also help to identify whether the vehicle was the first, the hundredth, or the last vehicle off the manufacturer’s assembly line

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