Facts and Interesting
Information About VIN's (Vehicle Identification Numbers)
by
Kerry Wilson
Great insurance and good rates.
This information can be found at: http://www.kerrywilson.com/vin.htm
The VIN is a 17 character number made-up of
both alpha and numeric characters. No two VIN's are the
same.
All cars and light trucks built after 1981 have unique
17-character "vin numbers" that contains valuable
information about that vehicle's history. These numbers are
called vehicle identification numbers (VIN
#).
Smart car buyers are recognizing that "VIN"
Numbers or "vehicle identification numbers" can provide
essential information to help them make better decisions
about cars, old and new. VIN numbers are unique 17-digit
serial numbers assigned to all cars manufactured after 1981.
Just as fingerprints, a car's VIN or vehicle identification
number can provide information a car buyer can use to
confirm the true history of the car.
VIN numbers are used to record
everything that will ever happen to a car. When ever your
vehicle is sold, involved in an accident, or involved in an
insurance claim, or recalled, bureaus such as CarFax record
that information in data bases. VIN's display a car’s
uniqueness and manufacturer and provides a method to trace a
car from the factory to the junkyard. Your VIN number can be
used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims,
thefts and insurance coverage.
American automobile manufacturers have used VIN Numbers
(sometimes called chassis numbers) since 1954, but it was
with the introduction of the 1981 model year that the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration required that
all motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles and mopeds carry
VIN numbers in a fixed format. Actually, the earliest VIN
was on the 1953 Chevrolet Corvette. These were four digit
numbers beginning with 1000. Now days, once decoded, these
vin numbers can provide vehicle specifications such as year
and make, model, body style, and place of manufacture.
Look over the car and make sure that all the VIN numbers
you can find are the same within the car. The VIN number is
normally engraved or on a sticker in numerous places in the
car (inside the doors, the dash, the trunk, engine, and/or
quarter panels).
States use the VIN number to track a
car's status. Protect yourself by thoroughly checking the
VIN numbers on used cars you want to buy.
VIN databases on the web, available from such firms as
Experian and Consumers Reports (published annually in April
by Consumer Reports) can provide a VIN "background check" on
a car and alert a potential buyer to such problems as:
damage from flood or fire, manufacturer buybacks of lemons,
odometers that have malfunctioned or been rolled back, major
accidents and crashes, emission problems, gray market or
crash test vehicles, changes in title or ownership, salvaged
or rebuilt vehicles, car thefts, recalls, and high usage
vehicles previously used as taxis or rental cars.
Increasingly, consumers are also using free VIN check and
Car Fax on the Internet and to get a free check of the
current status of the VIN and to determine whether their
vehicle has recalled parts by checking their car
manufacturer's web site.
The locations of vehicle identification numbers (VIN)
vary but the following are the common places to find them:
Firewall of the vehicle
Radiator Support Bracket
Dash by windshield
Left hand inner wheel arch
Steering column
Guarantee & Maintenance Book
Machined Pad on front of engine
Drivers door or post on passenger side
Component parts as listed above -e.g.- engine, frame, etc.
Later model years most common locations of the VIN:
Left instrumentation panel
Dash plate by window
Drivers door or post
Firewall
The following VIN Character Decoding information
is only a partial guide.
1st Character - Country of Origin
1 = United States 9 = Brazil
V = France* * 2nd Character = F
may indicate that the
vehicle was manufactured in France, unless it is
a Ford. Example: The first 2 Characters of a
Peugeot or a Renault are both: VF
2 = Canada J = Japan
V = Yugoslavia
3 = Mexico K = Korea
W = Germany
4 & 5 = United States L = Taiwan
Y = Sweden
6 = Australia S = England
Z = Italy
2nd Character: Here is a partial list of common
manufacturers:
A = Audi, Mitsubishi, Range Rover, American Motors,
Sterling, Alfa Romeo, Maserati, and Jaguar
B = Dodge
C = Chrysler. Checker, Delorian, some Geo Metro's and
Trackers
D = Daihatsu and Mercedes E = Eagle
F = Ford, some Subaru's i.e. Forrester and Impreza, Fiat,
Peugeot, Renault and Ferrari. Note regarding Subaru, Fiat
Peugot, Renault and Ferrari, the 2nd Character = F, means
the vehicle was manufactured in France.
G = General Motors (Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Buick,
Cadillac, GMC, Saturn, and some Geo Metro's and Tracker's)
H = Honda and Acura J = Jeep L =
Lancia, Daewoo and Lincoln M = Hyundai
and Mini
N = Infinity, Nissan, Kia and Ford Aspires, possibly Ford
Festiva, and possibly some Toyotas.
P = Porshe and Plymouth
S = Isuzu, Saab, some Subaru's (i.e. Baja and Legacy) and
Suzuki
T = Toyota and Lexus U = Aro V
= Volkswagen and Volvo X = Yugo
Y = Mazda and Geo Prizm Z = Mercury
2 = Avanti 3 = American General (Hummer) 8 =
Chevrolet Luv and Geo Storm 9 = Acura
3rd through 8th Characters allocated to Manufacturer.
They use these digits to reflect body type, Car line,
restraint system, engine, braking system, etc. All Domestic
Manufacturers use 8th Character for the engine.
9th Character is a Check Digit.
It is determined by carrying out a mathematical
computation developed by the Department of Transportation
(DOT). *Einstein's Theory of the Check Digit - will be
discussed later in this article.
10th Character - Year of Manufacture
B = 1981 G = 1986 M =
1991 T = 1996 1 = 2001
6 = 2006
C = 1982 H = 1987 N =
1992 V = 1997 2 = 2002
7 = 2007
D = 1983 J = 1988 P =
1993 W = 1998 3 = 2003
8 = 2008
E = 1984 K = 1989 R =
1994 X = 1999 4 = 2004
9 = 2009
F = 1985 L = 1990 S =
1995 Y = 2000 5 = 2005
Note: There are no I's or O's in a VIN, only 1's and 0's.
There are no Q's in a VIN. Also, there are no U's in the
10th digit of the VIN - so as not to be confused with V's.
There are no A's in the 10th digit, because the A was
reserved to represent a 1980 year model, but the National
Highway Traffic Safety Administration did not actually
mandate the fixed format until 1981, with the B. The A is
used in other sequences of the VIN, it's just not used as a
10th digit. Also, there is no Z in the 10th digit, because
after the year 2000, the 10th digit sequence started over
from alpha to numeric, and the Z was not used. It is not
known at this time what sequence will be used beginning the
year 2010.
11th Character - Final Assembly Plant.
This Character represents the Manufacturer's final
assembly plant. I do not have a list of assembly plants, but
I can give you a recent example. A customer recently came
into our office to insure a 1998 Porsche 911 Carrera. The
11th Character was an "S". We submitted the information to
the insurance company, which declined to insure the vehicle,
because the final assembly plant was "Stuttgart" Germany,
which made the vehicle a "Grey Market Vehicle". The customer
was upset, of course, because he was not told nor was he
aware that he had been sold a "Grey Market Vehicle".
12th to the 17th Characters.
The last 6 Characters of the VIN are the actual serial
number of that particular vehicle, which makes that vehicle
unique. Note: The first 11 Characters of the vehicle are
common to other vehicles with the same: Country of origin,
manufacturer, body type - car line - restraint system -
engine - and braking system, year of manufacture, and final
assembly point, but the last 6 Characters will make that
vehicle unique. (Even in the case of 2 identical vehicles,
not only will the 12 to the 17th Characters be different,
but the 9th Character Check Digit will also be different).
When you purchase a vehicle, check the VIN yourself
against the bill of sale. Remember, the dealer's title clerk
has to type those 17 digits, and typo's can occur. Besides
the fact that there is never an alpha "O", "Q", or "I" in a
VIN. Remember that an "S" can look like a "5" when it is
written down and transposed. Your cooperation will help
eliminate errors reported to your state DOT. Most insurance
agency's have a reliable VIN check computer program, that
will alert the agent to an incorrect VIN, including the 9th
digit Check Digit. There are also several online services
such as CarFax and Free VIN Check available to check VIN's
and your vehicle's history. CarFax and Free VIN Check offer
a free VIN check, and the report will tell you if there are
potential problems with the VIN. You may then purchase the
report for aproximately $15.00.
* Einstein's Theory of the 9th Digit Check Digit: (Use
the chart below to compute and check the 9th digit for
accuracy).
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
17 Digit VIN:
Line A
Line B
**
Line C 8 7 6 5 4
3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4
3 2
Line D
0
Final Sum: ______________
Instructions:
1. On Line A, enter the 17 Digit VIN.
2. On Line B, enter the "Assigned Value" of each
character using the table below.
3. Multiply the numbers in line B by the numbers in line
C for each of the 17 digits in the VIN. Record the product
of each of these in Line C for each of the 17 digits in the
VIN. Record the product of each of these in Line D of the
same column.
4. Add together all the numbers recorded in Line D and
enter the final sum in the space provided.
5. Divide the final sum by the number "11". If the
remainder of this division is a single digit, the this
number must equal the 9th character in the VIN. If the
remainder is the number "10" then the check digit (9th
character of the VIN) must b the letter "X".
ASSIGNED VALUE TABLE:
A=1 J=2 T=3 1=1 6=6
B=2 K=2 U=4 2=2 7=7
C=3 L=3 V=5 3=3 8=8
D=4 M=4 W=6 4=4 9=9
E=5 N=5 X=7 5=5 0=0
F=6 P=7 Y=8
G=7 R=9 Z=9
H=8 S=2
How's that for a real computation? Believe it or not, it
works!
By checking the 9th Character Check Digit of the VIN for
accuracy, you may avoid purchasing a stolen vehicle, or you
may avoid an incorrect VIN being reported to the State.
Here is an example of a VIN broken down into sequences:
Here is another example of how to check the 9th digit
for accuracy:
Vin Numbers and Car Thieves
A chain letter circulating claims that you should
cover the VIN number of your car so that car thieves
can't use it to duplicate your keys and steal your car.
Is it possible that a thief could use the VIN
number to get duplicate keys for your car?
Yes, it is possible. However, unless they find a
car dealer who is willing to order them without a title
or registration plus ID, then the VIN number alone will
do them very little good. Now, granted some car
dealerships may replace keys without proper ID, but not
many. It is also true that there have been some car
theft rings that were very sophisticated and could forge
a new title that would look legit. Since making a new
title that doesn't look suspicious, then showing up
in-person at a reputable dealership to trick them into
duplicating keys is a bold and risky move, it seems
unlikely a thief would want to put himself in such a
vulnerable position. If you look into it there are very
few examples of car theft rings operating in this way.
The latest example, in Atlanta, was targeting high end
vehicles at dealerships rather than those in private
ownership (presumably because the target vehicle is more
likely to be in the same spot for a longer period of
time).
Key Point: The vast majority of cars are not
stolen this way.
The two most common tools for stealing your car
are your own keys, or a screwdriver. I've seen several
sites that claim that at least 70 percent of the car
thefts are by non-professionals. Your car's VIN number
is your best protection for getting the vehicle back.
It should probably be written or scratched into your
car in more places, not less.
I visited many law enforcement sites about car
theft and they say nothing about covering your VIN
number to discourage thieves, but instead these sites
encourage you to write your VIN number all over the car,
including on your most valuable car parts and etching it
onto all the windows of the vehicle. After a car is
stolen, if the thief wants to resell the car, then the
first thing a car thief wants to do is get rid of the
old VIN number and replace it with a new one. They will
create a title to go with it and then resell (fence) the
vehicle. Many law enforcement officials believe that
thieves will not steal any vehicle that has the VIN
number etched on all the windows because they will have
to replace these windows before they can get rid of your
car. This will cost them a great deal of money and
significantly slow the turn around on processing your
car and fencing it. If you etch the number on the car
parts it will make chopping it more time consuming.
You can make up your own mind. Although,
covering the VIN number might give you peace of mind it
is unlikely to protect you from most thieves.
This information was found at http://www.kerrywilson.com/vin.htm
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