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VIN guide

How to read a
VIN number

Every car has a unique 17-character code. Here's exactly what each position means — and why it matters.

The 17 characters at a glance

11
H2
G3
C4
M5
86
27
68
39
310
A11
012
013
414
315
516
217
Who made it (1–3)
What it is (4–8)
Check digit (9)
This vehicle (10–17)

Position by position

1–3
World Manufacturer Identifier
Who built it and where. '1HG' = Honda, USA. 'WBA' = BMW, Germany.
4–8
Vehicle Descriptor Section
Body style, engine type, restraint systems, and series. The fingerprint of the model.
9
Check digit
A mathematically calculated value used to verify the VIN is genuine and not forged.
10
Model year
A letter or number encodes the year. A=2010, B=2011, and so on through the alphabet (skipping I, O, Q, U, Z).
11
Plant code
The specific factory where this vehicle was assembled.
12–17
Serial number
The production sequence number. Makes every VIN on earth unique.
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