Free tool
Free VIN decoder
Decode any 17-character VIN for free: make, model, model year, body, engine, fuel, drive type and assembly plant, plus a check-digit test. No email, no sign-up.
VIN decoder by make
Make-specific guides with verified manufacturer codes (WMIs) from the NHTSA database.
How a VIN is built
All 17-character VINs for vehicles sold in the US follow the same structure.
Example: 5NPD74LF5LH611542
| Position | What it means | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Country / region | Where the manufacturer is registered: 1, 4, 5 and 7 = United States, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = South Korea, W = Germany. |
| 2–3 | Manufacturer | Positions 1–3 together form the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), assigned to one maker and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | Vehicle descriptor | Manufacturer-coded details such as model line, body style, restraint system, engine and gross weight rating. |
| 9 | Check digit | A 0–9 or X calculated from the other 16 characters. It catches typos and many fake VINs. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year. The codes repeat every 30 years (see the table below). |
| 11 | Assembly plant | The factory that built the vehicle. Plant codes are defined by each manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The production sequence number that makes the VIN unique. |
VIN model year chart (10th character)
Codes repeat every 30 years. On cars and light trucks, a letter in position 7 means the later year.
A
1980 · 2010
B
1981 · 2011
C
1982 · 2012
D
1983 · 2013
E
1984 · 2014
F
1985 · 2015
G
1986 · 2016
H
1987 · 2017
J
1988 · 2018
K
1989 · 2019
L
1990 · 2020
M
1991 · 2021
N
1992 · 2022
P
1993 · 2023
R
1994 · 2024
S
1995 · 2025
T
1996 · 2026
V
1997 · 2027
W
1998 · 2028
X
1999 · 2029
Y
2000 · 2030
1
2001 · 2031
2
2002 · 2032
3
2003 · 2033
4
2004 · 2034
5
2005 · 2035
6
2006 · 2036
7
2007 · 2037
8
2008 · 2038
9
2009 · 2039
The letters I, O, Q, U and Z and the number 0 are never used as year codes.
Where to find the VIN
- Lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, readable from outside the car
- Sticker or plate on the driver’s door jamb (open the door)
- Title, registration card and insurance card
- Engine bay, often on the firewall or the front of the frame on trucks
- Seller’s listing or the dealer’s window sticker
The VIN on the car, the title and the listing must all match. If they do not, do not buy.
What a VIN decoder can and cannot tell you
A VIN decoder reads the codes the manufacturer built into the VIN. It confirms the make, model, model year, body style, engine and where the vehicle was assembled, and the check digit catches most typing mistakes and many fake VINs.
Decoding does not show what happened after the vehicle left the factory. It cannot tell you whether the car was in a flood, rebuilt after a total loss, rolled back on the odometer or used as a rental. Those events are in title, insurance, auction, police and service records, which is what a VinCode report brings together.
Free checks worth running
- Open safety recalls: NHTSA recall lookup.
- Unrecovered theft and insurer total-loss records: NICB VINCheck.
- State title lookups, for example in Florida.
VinCode report · $5.99
Decoding shows how it was built. The report shows what happened to it.
Title brands, accidents, total-loss events, odometer readings, owners and service records for the VIN, scored with the VinCode Score.
- Title brand check
- Accidents & damage
- Odometer chart
- Owners & usage
- Service records
- VinCode Score
Is the VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding is free with no sign-up. If history records exist for the VIN, you can order the full VinCode report for $5.99.
What does the 9th character of a VIN mean?
It is the check digit, calculated from the other 16 characters. If it does not match, the VIN was mistyped, altered, or belongs to a vehicle not built for North America.
How do I find the model year from a VIN?
Read the 10th character and look it up in the model year chart. For example, L is 2020, N 2022, R 2024 and S 2025.
Can I decode a VIN from before 1981?
The 17-character standard started with the 1981 model year. Older vehicles used shorter, manufacturer-specific numbers that this tool cannot decode.