If you've ever bought, sold, or insured a car, you've come across a VIN — a Vehicle Identification Number. But what exactly is it, and why does it matter?

What Is a VIN?

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle when it's manufactured. Think of it as a car's fingerprint — no two vehicles in the world share the same VIN.

VINs were standardized in 1981 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Before that, manufacturers used their own formats, making it difficult to track vehicles across brands.

How to Read a VIN

Every character in a VIN has a specific meaning. Here's how the 17 characters break down:

Characters 1–3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The first three characters identify where the vehicle was made and who made it:

Character 1 — Country of origin (1 = USA, 2 = Canada, J = Japan, W = Germany, etc.)
Character 2 — Manufacturer (A = Audi, B = BMW, G = General Motors, T = Toyota, etc.)
Character 3 — Vehicle type or manufacturing division

Characters 4–8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

These five characters describe the vehicle's specifications:

Body style
Engine type
Model
Series
Restraint system

Character 9: Check Digit

This is a calculated value used to verify the VIN is valid. It's determined by a mathematical formula applied to the other characters.

Character 10: Model Year

A single character represents the model year. For example:

M = 2021
N = 2022
P = 2023
R = 2024
S = 2025
T = 2026

Character 11: Assembly Plant

Identifies the specific factory where the vehicle was assembled.

Characters 12–17: Production Sequence Number

A unique serial number assigned to the vehicle during production.

Why Does Your VIN Matter?

Your VIN is useful in several situations:

Buying a used car — Run the VIN to check for accidents, title issues, and recall history
Insurance — Your insurer uses the VIN to identify your exact vehicle and its features
Recalls — Manufacturers issue recalls by VIN, so you can check if your car is affected
Registration — Every state uses the VIN to register and title vehicles
Window stickers — Dealerships can retrieve the original Monroney sticker using the VIN

How to Decode a VIN for Free

You can decode any VIN instantly using our free VIN decoder. Just enter the 17-character code and get detailed specs including:

Year, make, model, and trim
Engine and drivetrain information
Safety features and ADAS systems
Dimensions and weight
Manufacturing location

Our decoder uses the official NHTSA database, so the data is the same source used by government agencies and industry professionals.

Want to decode VINs on the go? Install our free Chrome extension — highlight any VIN on any website and get instant results.

Where to Find Your VIN

Not sure where your VIN is located? Check out our guide on where to find the VIN on a car for all the common locations.

What Is a VIN Number? A Complete Guide to Vehicle Identification Numbers