Why are VINs exactly 17 characters?

The 17-character length was standardized in 1981 by ISO 3779. This length provides enough space to encode all necessary information while remaining manageable. All vehicles manufactured after 1981 must have a 17-character VIN.

Why can't VINs contain I, O, or Q?

The letters I, O, and Q are excluded from VINs to prevent confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. This reduces errors when VINs are read or transcribed manually.

How do you know which year a year code represents?

ISO / NHTSA year letters cycle every 30 years. 'A' is 1980 or 2010 — never the digit 0. 2010 is A. Plants outside North America often put 0, U, or Z at position 10; we then omit the model year. For ISO letters, modern vehicles (2010+) typically use the newer year in the cycle.

What is the purpose of the check digit?

On North American VINs (first character 1–5), position 9 is an ISO 3779 checksum. If any character changes, it no longer matches. Elsewhere, position 9 is often a plant or descriptor character, so a mismatch is a warning, not a rejection.

Why do manufacturers have multiple WMI codes?

Manufacturers often have multiple WMI codes because they manufacture vehicles in different countries or regions. For example, Toyota has different WMI codes for vehicles made in Japan, the US, Canada, and other countries. Some manufacturers also use different codes for different vehicle types or brands.

Where can I find my vehicle's VIN?

VINs are typically found in several locations: driver's side dashboard (visible through windshield), driver's side door jamb, vehicle registration documents, insurance card, vehicle title, and engine block (some vehicles).

Schéma anatomique du numéro d'identification de véhicule à 17 caractères

Guide de référence VIN complet

Guide du numéro d'identification du véhicule (VIN)

Tout sur les VIN : structure, décodage, WMI, constructeurs, codes année et la politique ISO 3779 réservée à l’Amérique du Nord. Pour développeurs, propriétaires et passionnés.

Décoder un VIN Générer des VIN

176

Constructeurs

653

Codes WMI

Pays

1980-2039

Plage d'années