All vehicles contain a unique VIN number. Here is some information and helpful hints for you. The Vehicle Identification Number, sometimes referred to as VIN, the Chassis Number Format, or the Vehicle Serial Number, is comparable to that of a DNA system.
In the mid 1950s, American automobile producers began casting and stamping identification numbers on vehicles and their parts for purposes of accurately describing vehicles when large quantities of production were beginning to rise. Study shows that earlier VIN numbers relied on the manufacturer and they varied significantly. Vehicles prior to 1980 have 10 digit numbers and the 1980 vehicles contain 10 digits and an A. Because of the differentiation, in the early 1980s the U.S. Department of Transportation decided that all vehicles on the road contain a 17 character VIN, which is the system now used in most major vehicle manufacturers. A vehicle is like the DNA system when it rolls off the production line, it has its own identification number!
In addition to the VIN differing by manufacturer, the form and location may vary. The form could be in:
- Plate (Aluminum)
Common locations for a VIN are:
- Left Hand Inner Wheel Arch
- Machined Pad on the Front of the Engine
Let's examine a vehicle with the following VIN -1ZWFT61L8X5617536. It is broken down as follows:
|
| 1 2 3 | 4 5 6 | 7 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 15 16 17
| | 1 Z W | F T 6
| 1 L
| 8 | X | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 5 3 6 |
- 1: The first character identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured (i.e., U.S.A. (1 or 4), Canada (2), Mexico (3), Japan (J), Korea (K), England (S), Germany (W), Italy (Z). This car was manufactured in the U.S.A.
- Z: The second character identifies the manufacturer (i.e., Audi (A), BMW (B), Buick (4), Cadillac (6), Chevrolet (1), Chrysler (C), Dodge (B), Ford (F), GM Canada (7), General Motors (G), Honda (H), Jaguar (A), Lincoln (L), Mercedes Benz (D), Mercury (M or Z), Nissan (N), Oldsmobile (3), Pontiac (2 or 5), Plymouth (P), Saturn (8), Toyota (T), VW (V), Volvo (V). The manufacturer of this car is Mercury.
- W: The third character identifies the vehicle type or manufacturing division. The type of this car is Cougar.
- FT61L: The fourth through eighth characters identifies the features as in the body style, engine, type, model, series, etc. This car is a 2D Coupe, Mid-size car with 2.5L V6 SMPI DOHC 24V.
- 8: The ninth character identifies the VIN accuracy as check digit.
- X: The tenth character identifies the model year (i.e., 1988 (J), 1989 (K), 1990 (L), 1991 (M), 1992 (N), 1993 (P), 1994 (R), 1995 (S), 1996 (T), 1997 (V), 1998 (W), 1999 (X), 2000 (Y), 2001 (1), 2002 (2), 2003 (3). The model of this year is 1999.
- 5: The eleventh character identifies the production plant.
- 617536: The twelfth to seventeenth characters identifies the sequence of the vehicle as it rolled off the manufacturer assembly line.
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