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The third character represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division. For example Jaguar (A), Dodge (B), Chrysler (C), Jeep (J), Buick (4), Cadillac (6), or Saturn (8). The characters can be either letters or numbers. The second character in the WMI (of three) refers to the manufacturer. World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI). World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI)įirst Character in the WMI (of three) – The first character in the World Manufacturer’s Identification (WMI) sequence represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured. Countries such as 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 letters “I”, “O” and “Q” are typically omitted. The sequence for characters is first A to Z, then 1 to 9, and the last 0. In some cases, it identifies equipment specifications.The assembly plant where the vehicle was made.
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Decode vin number how to#
How to Decode a Vehicle Identification Number In addition, they are also included in the title documents. The 10 th character of the VIN indicates the model year.All cars and light trucks built after 1981 have a unique 17-character VIN number that provides access to valuable information about that vehicle’s history. The letters I, O, and Q never appear in a VIN. VIN numbers can be found on dashboards and driver’s side door jamb stickers. The third number or letter is used by the vehicle manufacturer to identify what kind of vehicle it is: car, truck, bus, etc. VIN’s starting with 1, 4, and 5 are manufactured in the United States. The first character of the VIN indicates the country in which the vehicle was manufactured. Open the door and look near the spot where the door latches, not too far from the seatbelt return. Open the door and look underneath where the side-view mirror would be located if the door was shut.
Decode vin number series#
Most people believe the VIN is just a series of random numbers and letters. In 1954, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began requiring standardized VIN’s for all road vehicles.
Decode vin number pdf#
WHAT IS A VIN AND HOW DO I READ THE NUMBER?ĭownload a PDF version of this section by clicking here Here is where you can find UAW made products, vehicles and how to read your VIN.
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How do we know where our vehicles are made?
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