The vehicle identification section includes the last eight characters in the VIN number. Position 10 indicates the model year. The letters from B-X correspond to the model years starting with 1981, with X bringing up the rear with 2000; model years 2001 and up are indicated with numbers, starting with the number 1. There is no I, O, Q, U or Z. Confusing? Here's a list of the model years: B=81, C=82, D=83, E=84, F=85, G=86, H=87, J=88, K=89, L=90, M=91, N=92, P=93, R=94, S=95, T=96, V=97, W=98, X=99, Y=00, 1=01, 2=02, 3=03, 4=04, 5=05, 6=06, 7=07, 8=08, 9=09, A=2010.
The 11th character indicates the assembly plant for the vehicle. A number or letter may represent the model year. For example: 1998 (W), 2000 (Y), 2007 (7) or 2008 (8).
The 12th to 17th characters are the actual serial number of the vehicle—these last 6 digits make the vehicle unique (think of DNA). It can also help to identify whether the vehicle was the first, the hundredth, or the last vehicle off the manufacturer’s assembly line. This is valuable information for collectors.
For a free VIN check try MobiVin.com
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Vehicle Description Section (VDS) and Check Digit - MobiVin.com
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 9th 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).
For a free VIN check try MobiVin.com
For a free VIN check try MobiVin.com
Monday, June 8, 2009
Vehicle Description Section (VDS) and Check Digit - MobiVin.com
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 9th 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).
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
Sunday, June 7, 2009
How To Decode A World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI) - MobiVin.com
The world manufacturer's identification section is pretty much self-explanatory. The first character in the WMI sequence represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured. Countries like 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 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 the vehicle's type or manufacturing division. For example, 1G1 represents Chevrolet passenger cars; 1G2, Pontiac passenger cars; and 1GC, Chevrolet trucks.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
The second character 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 the vehicle's type or manufacturing division. For example, 1G1 represents Chevrolet passenger cars; 1G2, Pontiac passenger cars; and 1GC, Chevrolet trucks.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Classic Car VIN and a Lack of Set Standards - MobiVin.com
Because a true set standard for VIN numbers did not really exist before 1980, one set of instructions on how to decode a classic car VIN does not exist. It would be tough to gather complete data on the VIN numbers of all classic automobiles. However, with a fair amount of leg work and a little luck, collectors may be able to find the production number and information on how to decode the VIN on his/her specific classic car.
For example, if you take a look at all Buicks that were manufactured from 1954-1963, you’ll notice that the serial number only consisted of 6 digits including: year (1st digit), assembly plant (2nd digit), and sequential production number (last 4 digits).
For all Ford Mustangs manufactured between 1960 and 1969, the VIN number consisted of 11digits including: model year (1st digit), assembly plant (2nd digit), model and body (3rd & 4th digits), and engine (5th digit) with the last seven digits consisting of the sequential production number. Some classic cars in earlier days included a code for price class, while others did not. Chrysler, for example, used a 13-digit VIN number from 1966-1974, which included a code for price class (2nd digit). The last 8-13 digits represented the sequential production number.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
For example, if you take a look at all Buicks that were manufactured from 1954-1963, you’ll notice that the serial number only consisted of 6 digits including: year (1st digit), assembly plant (2nd digit), and sequential production number (last 4 digits).
For all Ford Mustangs manufactured between 1960 and 1969, the VIN number consisted of 11digits including: model year (1st digit), assembly plant (2nd digit), model and body (3rd & 4th digits), and engine (5th digit) with the last seven digits consisting of the sequential production number. Some classic cars in earlier days included a code for price class, while others did not. Chrysler, for example, used a 13-digit VIN number from 1966-1974, which included a code for price class (2nd digit). The last 8-13 digits represented the sequential production number.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
Friday, June 5, 2009
Quick How to Decode a Classic Car VIN and Manufacture Year - MobiVin.com
For the majority of collectors, the year a car was manufactured is probably the most important information about an antique or classic car. This should be easy to find as most early model cars included a code for the year in the serial number. But, for some, it may also be important to know if the car was the first of its kind off the assembly line, the hundredth, or even the last. This number is known as the “production number.” Generally speaking, a car is considered an antique if it is at least 25 years of age. However, according to the DMV, a “classic” car is a car manufactured between 1925-1948 and a “VINtage” car is a car manufactured between 1919-1930.
In the mid 1950s, American automobile manufacturers began stamping and casting identifying numbers on cars and their parts. The obvious purpose was to give an accurate description of the vehicle as mass production numbers were starting to climb to very significant numbers. Research has shown that early VINs came in all sorts of variations, depending on the car manufacturer. The Vehicle Identification Number was "officially" described in ISO Standard 3779 in February 1977 and last revised in 1983.
Since around 1980, the standard for VIN numbers has been a 17 digit alphanumeric code that represents a vehicle’s country or origin, manufacturer, manufacturing division, vehicle description, and accuracy of VIN, model year, assembly plant and serial number. But what were VIN numbers like before 1980? One of the major differences between then and now is that it was not mandatory for the VIN numbers of yesterday to include 17 characters. Most were simply serial numbers that represented the make, model, and year of the vehicle, while others went the extra mile to include characters to correspond with assembly plant and type of engine.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
In the mid 1950s, American automobile manufacturers began stamping and casting identifying numbers on cars and their parts. The obvious purpose was to give an accurate description of the vehicle as mass production numbers were starting to climb to very significant numbers. Research has shown that early VINs came in all sorts of variations, depending on the car manufacturer. The Vehicle Identification Number was "officially" described in ISO Standard 3779 in February 1977 and last revised in 1983.
Since around 1980, the standard for VIN numbers has been a 17 digit alphanumeric code that represents a vehicle’s country or origin, manufacturer, manufacturing division, vehicle description, and accuracy of VIN, model year, assembly plant and serial number. But what were VIN numbers like before 1980? One of the major differences between then and now is that it was not mandatory for the VIN numbers of yesterday to include 17 characters. Most were simply serial numbers that represented the make, model, and year of the vehicle, while others went the extra mile to include characters to correspond with assembly plant and type of engine.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Quick How to Decode a VIN - MobiVin.com
When decoded, the VIN tells the country and year of manufacture; make, model and serial number; assembly plant; and in some cases it even identifies equipment specifications.
The system goes something like this: sequence for characters is first A to Z, then 1 to 9, and last 0. The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are typically omitted from system.
The vehicle identification number is divided into four parts:
• World Manufacturer's Identification (WMI - three characters)
• Vehicle Description Section (VDS - five characters)
• The VIN Accuracy Check Digit
• Vehicle Identification Section (VIS - eight characters)
The world manufacturer's identification section is pretty much self-explanatory. The first character in this section denotes the vehicle's country of origin; the second and third characters identify the motor company and make.
The second section of the VIN, the vehicle description section, is slightly more complex because its contents change for differing vehicle types.
For passenger vehicles it describes the vehicle's body style, series and engine as well as restraint and safety mechanisms. For vehicles such as busses, trailers and motorcycles, additional information such as vehicle weight and horsepower are recorded.
The third section, which is known as a check digit, is used to check for mistakes in the VIN code. The check digit is the product of a complex formula issued by the Department of Transportation, and works to ensure the accuracy of sections one and two.
The fourth and final section of the VIN number gives each car its unique identity. The section's eight-digit length (characters 10-17) may make it seem overly complex, but it is actually relatively logical. The section begins by identifying the vehicle's model year (10th character) and the location of the plant where the vehicle was produced (11th character).
The last six digits are the vehicle's serial number - typically the sequential number in which the vehicles roll off the production line. These final six digits give each vehicle a unique identity, and can help manufacturers identify when a vehicle was produced in its model year. For manufacturers, this is valuable information for recall purposes.
Breaking a VIN number down into its four major sections makes decoding it a much easier task. While you might not understand every character in the code, the next time you reference your car's VIN you will have a good idea of what it all means.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
The system goes something like this: sequence for characters is first A to Z, then 1 to 9, and last 0. The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are typically omitted from system.
The vehicle identification number is divided into four parts:
• World Manufacturer's Identification (WMI - three characters)
• Vehicle Description Section (VDS - five characters)
• The VIN Accuracy Check Digit
• Vehicle Identification Section (VIS - eight characters)
The world manufacturer's identification section is pretty much self-explanatory. The first character in this section denotes the vehicle's country of origin; the second and third characters identify the motor company and make.
The second section of the VIN, the vehicle description section, is slightly more complex because its contents change for differing vehicle types.
For passenger vehicles it describes the vehicle's body style, series and engine as well as restraint and safety mechanisms. For vehicles such as busses, trailers and motorcycles, additional information such as vehicle weight and horsepower are recorded.
The third section, which is known as a check digit, is used to check for mistakes in the VIN code. The check digit is the product of a complex formula issued by the Department of Transportation, and works to ensure the accuracy of sections one and two.
The fourth and final section of the VIN number gives each car its unique identity. The section's eight-digit length (characters 10-17) may make it seem overly complex, but it is actually relatively logical. The section begins by identifying the vehicle's model year (10th character) and the location of the plant where the vehicle was produced (11th character).
The last six digits are the vehicle's serial number - typically the sequential number in which the vehicles roll off the production line. These final six digits give each vehicle a unique identity, and can help manufacturers identify when a vehicle was produced in its model year. For manufacturers, this is valuable information for recall purposes.
Breaking a VIN number down into its four major sections makes decoding it a much easier task. While you might not understand every character in the code, the next time you reference your car's VIN you will have a good idea of what it all means.
Check your VIN number for free at MobiVin.com
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