A Vehicle Identification Number looks like a random string, but every one of its 17 characters is deliberate. Learn the pattern once and you can glance at any VIN and know where the vehicle was built, what model year it is, and whether the number is even valid. A VIN never uses the letters I, O, or Q — they’re excluded so they’re never confused with 1 and 0 — and it splits into three sections, each carrying different information.
WMI · positions 1–3
World Manufacturer Identifier — Country & manufacturer
VDS · positions 4–9
Vehicle Descriptor Section — Model, body, engine, check digit
VIS · positions 10–17
Vehicle Identifier Section — Model year, plant, serial number
WMI · 1–3
The World Manufacturer Identifier: the region the vehicle was built in and the manufacturer.
VDS · 4–9
The Vehicle Descriptor Section: model, body style, restraint system, engine, and a check digit in position 9.
VIS · 10–17
The Vehicle Identifier Section: model year, assembly plant, and the unique serial number.
Section 1 — the World Manufacturer Identifier (1–3)
The first character is the region of manufacture: 1, 4, and 5 are the United States, 2 is Canada, 3 is Mexico, J is Japan, K is South Korea, L is China, and W is Germany, among others. The next two characters narrow it to the specific manufacturer. So a VIN beginning with 2 was assembled in Canada — though that tells you nothing about where it’s since been driven or registered.
Section 2 — the Vehicle Descriptor Section (4–9)
These six characters describe the vehicle: model line, body type, restraint system, and engine. The codes are manufacturer-specific, which is why a full decode relies on a database to translate them into plain language. The ninth character is the check digit, covered below.
Section 3 — the Vehicle Identifier Section (10–17)
The final eight characters make the VIN unique. Character 10 is the model year, character 11 is the assembly plant, and the last six are the production serial number that distinguishes this vehicle from every other of the same make, model, and year.
The check digit — spotting a fake or mistyped VIN
Character 9 is calculated from the other 16 using a fixed formula. Re-run that formula and, if the result doesn’t match, the VIN is invalid — a typo, or a fabricated number. The check digit won’t catch a cloned VIN (a real number copied from another vehicle), so still confirm the VIN matches physically across the vehicle and paperwork. Our stolen vehicle check guide covers cloning in more detail.
Reading the model-year character
Position 10 encodes the model year on a repeating cycle that skips I, O, Q, U, and Z. For vehicles you’re likely shopping today: H = 2017, J = 2018, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026.
Where to find the VIN
Look through the base of the windshield on the driver’s side, on a sticker inside the driver’s door jamb, and on the registration and insurance. Confirm they all match — a mismatch is a serious red flag. Ready to decode one? Use the free VIN decoder.
Last reviewed: January 2026