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There are 17 numbers and letters (17 positions) in a vehicle identification number  (VIN) and you can divide them into three groups: World Manufacturer Identifier, Vehicle Descriptor Section, and Vehicle Identifier Section.

Typically, the VIN is stamped into a plate that may be located in a few places, the dashboard near the windshield, driver-side door jamb or engine firewall.

VINs can reveal many things about an automobile, including airbag type, country of origin, engine size, model year, vehicle type, trim level and plant name.

The VIN is a key to safety. You can search for vehicle recalls through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration using your VIN, click here to search.

Below are the 17 positions to decode a VIN:

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI):

The first three letters and numbers of the VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier.

Position 1:

The very first letter or number of the VIN indicates the region of the world a vehicle was made. Match the letter or number below to the first number or letter of  the VIN to find out in which region of the world a vehicle was made.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H are made in Africa
J, K, L, M, N, P, and R are made Asia
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z are made in Europe
1, 2, 3, 4, 5 are made in North America
6 and 7 are made in Oceania
8 and 9 are made in South America

Position 2:

The second letter or number, in combination with the first letter or number in the VIN, indicates which country the car or truck was made. Cars and trucks are made in over 80 countries and there are over 600 VIN country codes. All codes and where a car or truck was made are listed at Where is my car or truck made.

Position 3:

The third number or letter is used by the vehicle manufacturer to identify type of vehicle. It could be a car, truck, bus and so on. Each vehicle maker uses different codes for this so go to the Automobile Manufacturer website to identify what the third position in a VIN means for a particular vehicle.

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS):

Letters and numbers in positions 4 through 9 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section. This information gives detailed information about the vehicle itself.

Position 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8:

Here you can find out the vehicle model, engine type, body style and additional information regarding make and model. Each vehicle maker uses different codes for this, so, go to Automobile Manufacturer website to identify positions 4 through 8.

Position 9:

This is the VIN Check Digit to verify if it is a correct VIN. It does not give specific information  about the vehicle itself.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS):

Letters and numbers 10 through 17 is the Vehicle Descriptor Section. This gives you information such as when it was produced, what options it comes with and so on.

Position 10:

The 10th letter or number of the VIN tells you the model year of the vehicle. Note that this may be different from when it was manufactured, as many automobile manufacturers start to produce next years model this year. Find the model year by matching the 10th digit of your VIN to the table below:

A = 1980 B = 1981 C = 1982 D = 1983 E = 1984 F = 1985 G = 1986 H = 1987 J = 1988 K = 1989 L = 1990 M = 1991 N = 1992 P = 1993 R = 1994 S = 1995 T = 1996 V = 1997 W = 1998 X = 1999 Y = 2000 1 = 2001 2 = 2002 3 = 2003 4 = 2004 5 = 2005 6 = 2006 7 = 2007 8 = 2008 9 = 2009

A = 2010 B = 2011 C = 2012 D = 2013 E = 2014 F = 2015 G = 2016 H = 2017 J = 2018 K = 2019 L = 2020 M = 2021 N = 2022 P = 2023 R = 2024 S = 2025 T = 2026 V = 2027 W = 2028 X = 2029 Y = 2030 1 = 2031 2 = 2032 3 = 2033 4 = 2034 5 = 2035 6 = 2036 7 = 2037 8 = 2038 9 = 2039

 

Each letter or number has been assigned to two different years. To find out which one applies to a VIN, look at the 7th letter or number in the VIN. If the 7th VIN position is a letter, then your vehicle is made in 2010 through 2039. If the 7th VIN is a number, then your vehicle is made prior to 2010.

Positions 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17:

This is where the auto manufacturers enter unique information about the particular vehicle the VIN belongs to. The name of the assembly plant, extra options added to the vehicle, Production Sequence Number and things of that nature. This is different from company to company. To find more details about this position of numbers, go to the Automobile Manufacturer website for your vehicle.

Source:  Research Maniacs