VIN Guide
A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character code — each position encodes specific information about the vehicle's manufacturer, model year, engine, and more. Here's how to read it.
Every VIN has exactly 17 characters. The letters I, O, and Q are never used (they look too similar to 1, 0, and 0). Here is what each position means, using the example VIN 1HGBH41JXMN109186:
World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
Identifies the country of origin and the vehicle manufacturer.
Example: 1HG = Honda, manufactured in USA
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Describes vehicle type, model, body style, engine type, and restraint systems. Meaning varies by manufacturer.
Example: BH41J = Civic EX Sedan with specific engine
Check Digit
A mathematically calculated value (0–9 or X) used to verify the VIN is genuine and not altered.
Example: X = check digit for this VIN
Model Year
Encodes the vehicle's model year using a specific letter or number code. See the year code chart below.
Example: M = 2021
Plant Code
Identifies the specific assembly plant where the vehicle was manufactured. Defined by each manufacturer.
Example: N = Alliston, Ontario plant (Honda)
Sequential Serial Number
A unique 6-digit production sequence number assigned by the manufacturer — makes every VIN globally unique.
Example: 109186 = the 109,186th vehicle from this plant
Position 10 encodes the model year using a specific letter or number. The sequence skips I, O, Q, U, and Z.
P2023R2024S2025T2026N2022M2021L2020K2019J2018H2017G2016F2015How do I read a VIN number?
Read left to right: positions 1–3 = manufacturer, 4–8 = vehicle description, 9 = check digit, 10 = model year, 11 = plant code, 12–17 = serial number. Use our free VIN decoder to decode any VIN instantly.
What letters are not used in a VIN?
The letters I, O, and Q are never used in a VIN number — they look too similar to the numbers 1 and 0. A valid VIN only uses A–H, J–N, P–Z, and 0–9.
How many characters is a VIN?
A VIN is always exactly 17 characters long. Any code shorter or longer than 17 characters is not a valid VIN.
Can I decode a VIN myself?
Yes — but the VDS section (positions 4–8) varies by manufacturer, making manual decoding complex. The fastest way is to use Vin Lookup Finder's free VIN decoder, which queries the official NHTSA database instantly.
Let our free VIN decoder do the work — instant results, no signup.
Free VIN Decoder