Ram VIN decoder
Ram VIN decoder
Ram became a separate brand from Dodge in 2010. The Ram 1500 is built in Sterling Heights, Michigan (1C6) and the heavy-duty 2500 and 3500 in Saltillo, Mexico (3C6 and 3C7). Older trucks decode as Dodge.
Ram WMI codes
The first three VIN characters. Verified against the NHTSA vPIC database.
| WMI | Manufacturer | Vehicle type | Region |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1C6 | FCA US LLC | Trucks | United States |
| 3C6 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Trucks | Mexico |
| 3C7 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Chassis cabs & incomplete | Mexico |
| 1B3 | FCA US LLC | Cars | United States |
| 1C3 | FCA US LLC | Cars | United States |
| 1D7 | FCA US LLC | Trucks | United States |
| 2B3 | FCA Canada Inc. | Cars | Canada |
| 2C3 | FCA Canada Inc. | Cars | Canada |
| 2D4 | FCA Canada Inc. | SUVs, vans & crossovers | Canada |
| 3D7 | Chrysler De Mexico Toluca | Trucks | Mexico |
What to know about Ram VINs
- A Ram VIN starting with 3C6 or 3C7 was built in Mexico; 1C6 in the United States.
- Heavy-duty diesel Rams often have high mileage and commercial use. Compare every odometer reading.
- Work trucks are frequently sold at auction; check for salvage and total-loss records.
Ram models you can decode
- Ram 1500
- Ram 1500 Classic
- Ram 2500
- Ram 3500
- ProMaster
- ProMaster City
- TRX
Any 17-character Ram VIN from the 1981 model year onwards can be decoded. Check open recalls for free on NHTSA.
How a Ram 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 on a Ram
- 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.
VinCode report · $5.99
Before you buy a used Ram, check its history
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
How do I tell if a Ram has the Cummins diesel from the VIN?
The engine is coded in the descriptor section. Decode the VIN above to see the engine recorded for it.
Why does an older Ram decode as Dodge?
Ram trucks were sold under the Dodge brand until Ram was split out, so older VINs use Dodge WMIs.
Is the Ram VIN decoder free?
Yes. Decoding a Ram VIN is free. A full VinCode report with title brands, accidents, odometer readings and owners costs $5.99.
Does a Ram VIN show accident history?
No. The VIN only encodes how the vehicle was built. Accident, damage and title history come from records reported for the VIN, which is what the VinCode report shows.