Every car or truck out there has its own unique vehicle identification number, also known as the VIN. This is a sequence of 17 letters and numbers – by decoding this number, you can find out about the manufacturer, vehicle type, and more. So let’s take a look at what VIN decoding is, how it can be used, and how to actually decode the VIN.
Key Takeaways
- Decoding a VIN code can give you information on the manufacturer, vehicle, and its characteristics.
- The first three digits give you information about the manufacturer.
- Digits 4-8 tell you about the description of the vehicle itself.
- Digit 9 is a check digit used to verify the VIN number.
- Digits 10-17 tell you about the production year and process.
- You can glean all this information and more using a VIN decoder.
How To Decode VIN?
VIN Decoding is a process through which you can use the VIN number to understand hidden information (or hard to access information) about a car or truck. To understand what the VIN means, here is a breakdown of various segments of this code.
World Manufacturer Identifier
The first three digits of the VIN indicate the world manufacturer identifier. This gives information about the manufacturer of the car or truck.
The first digit in this sequence tells you about the country that the car originated from. The second character represents the actual manufacturer. This is usually the first letter of the name of the manufacturer, however, this does not give a complete picture
This confusion goes away when you look at the third character in this sector. This helps to identify the type of vehicle, for example, the difference between a truck and a car.
Vehicle Descriptor
The next sequence of digits of the VIN gives you information about the vehicle itself.
- 4th Digit: this tells you about the safety systems of the car, along with the braking and suspension systems.
- 5th Digit: This number indicates the series of the vehicle by the manufacturer.
- 6th and 7th Digit: this will tell you about the type of body that the vehicle has, for example, a wagon, convertible, two-door, etc.
- 8th Digit: this character tells us about the size of the engine on the vehicle.
Check Digit
The 9th character in this sequence is very important. This is known as the Check Digit and acts as a security code for the entire sequence. This is created by the manufacturer, and it is what helps to confirm the authenticity of the number, protecting against invalid VIN numbers.
Vehicle Identification Section
The last eight characters of the VIN make up the Vehicle Identification System:
- Digit 10: this is an indication of the year that the car was manufactured.
- Digit 11: this signifies the production plant of the vehicle.
- Digits 12-17: these indicate a series of sequential numbers the vehicle gets as it passes through the production line at the plant.
Why Are VIN Decoders Helpful?
You can think of VIN Decoding as a complete history report of your car. There is a lot of information in this number that can be essential for processes such as buying, selling, insuring, and even maintaining your car.
With VIN decoding, there is no guesswork involved – all of the information can be accurately assessed and cross-referenced with databases to get a clear idea of the status of your car.
Are There VIN Decoders Available?
Luckily, you don’t have to decode VIN numbers all by yourself. There are plenty of decoders that can do this for you! Here is a list of the best VIN decoders available online – make sure to check them out to learn even more about your car or truck.
Final Thoughts
The VIN number is a very important piece of information for anyone who wishes to know more about their car or truck. So what are you waiting for? Learn more about your vehicle today by decoding the VIN number!
