originally posted by Jeffw in another thread.
Tips to understanding your vehicles serial (VIN) number
They are as follows:
1st character- Identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured.
For example: U.S.A.(1or4), Canada(2), Mexico(3), Japan(J), Korea(K), England(S), Germany(W), Italy(Z)
2nd character- Identifies the manufacturer. For example; Audi(A),
BMW(B), Buick(4), Cadillac(6), Chevrolet(1), Chrysler(C), Dodge(B),
Ford(F), GM Canada(7), General Motors(G), Honda(H), Jaquar(A), Lincoln(L), Mercedes Benz(D), Mercury(M), Nissan(N), Oldsmobile(3), Pontiac(2or5), Plymouth(P), Saturn(8), Toyota(T), VW(V), Volvo(V), Suzuki(S).
3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division.
4th to 8th characters- Identifies vehicle features such as body style, engine type, model, series, etc.
9th character- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit.
10th character- Identifies the model year. For example: 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)
11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle.
12th to 17th characters- Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production
as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line.
-------------------------------------------
Year Codes:
A - 1980
B - 1981
C - 1982
D - 1983
E - 1984
F - 1985
G - 1986
H - 1987
J - 1988
K - 1989
L - 1990
M - 1991
N - 1992
P - 1993
R - 1994
S - 1995
T - 1996
V - 1997
W - 1998
X - 1999
Y - 2000
1 - 2001
2 - 2002
-------------------------------------------
The check digit is a math formula to identify fake vin numbers (not everyone will have the same number/letter).
THE VIN CHECK DIGIT FORMULA
The check digit of a Vin appears in the 9th position and provides a way to verify the validity of all of the other characters in positions 1 to 8 and 10 to 17. The check digit is calculated by carrying out the following rather complicated mathematical computation:
(1) Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value and assign to each letter the value specified in following Table:
Table 1 - Number Values for Vin Letters
A - 1 G - 7 N - 5 V - 5
B - 2 H - 8 P - 7 W - 6
C - 3 J - 1 R - 9 X - 7
D - 4 K - 2 S - 2 Y - 8
E - 5 L - 3 T - 3 Z - 9
F - 6 M - 4 U - 4
(2) Multiply the assigned value for each VIN character in the Vin by the Position weight factor specified in the following Table:
Table 2 - Vin Position and Weight Factors
Vin Position Weight Factor Vin Position Weight Factor
1st ...................... 8 10th ...................9
2nd ..................... 7 11th ...................8
3rd ...................... 6 12th ...................7
4th ...................... 5 13th ...................6
5th ...................... 4 14th ...................5
6th ...................... 3 15th ...................4
7th ...................... 2 16th ...................3
8th ...................... 10 17th ...................2
9th ..(check digit to be calculated )
(3) Add the resulting products and divide this total by 11.
(4) The numerical remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is 10 the letter 'X' shall be used to designate the check digit. The correct numeric remainder, zero through nine (0-9) or the letter 'X' shall appear in the VIN position nine.
(5) A sample check digit calculation is as follows for the following Vin:
Position: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Vin Character: 1 H W A 3 1 A A 5 A E 0 0 6 0 8 6
Assigned Values: 1 8 6 1 3 1 1 1 _ 1 5 0 0 6 0 8 6
Weight Factors: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 _ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Products: 8 56 36 5 12 3 2 10 _ 9 40 0 0 30 0 24 12
Add Products: 8+56+36+5+12 +3+ 2 +10 + 9 +40 +0 +0 +30 +0 +24 +12 = 247
Divide the Sum of Products by 11: 247/11 = 22 and 5/11 .
The remainder is 5, therefore the check digit designation is "5" .
[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Hunter ]</p>
Tips to understanding your vehicles serial (VIN) number
They are as follows:
1st character- Identifies the country in which the vehicle was manufactured.
For example: U.S.A.(1or4), Canada(2), Mexico(3), Japan(J), Korea(K), England(S), Germany(W), Italy(Z)
2nd character- Identifies the manufacturer. For example; Audi(A),
BMW(B), Buick(4), Cadillac(6), Chevrolet(1), Chrysler(C), Dodge(B),
Ford(F), GM Canada(7), General Motors(G), Honda(H), Jaquar(A), Lincoln(L), Mercedes Benz(D), Mercury(M), Nissan(N), Oldsmobile(3), Pontiac(2or5), Plymouth(P), Saturn(8), Toyota(T), VW(V), Volvo(V), Suzuki(S).
3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division.
4th to 8th characters- Identifies vehicle features such as body style, engine type, model, series, etc.
9th character- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit.
10th character- Identifies the model year. For example: 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)
11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle.
12th to 17th characters- Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production
as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line.
-------------------------------------------
Year Codes:
A - 1980
B - 1981
C - 1982
D - 1983
E - 1984
F - 1985
G - 1986
H - 1987
J - 1988
K - 1989
L - 1990
M - 1991
N - 1992
P - 1993
R - 1994
S - 1995
T - 1996
V - 1997
W - 1998
X - 1999
Y - 2000
1 - 2001
2 - 2002
-------------------------------------------
The check digit is a math formula to identify fake vin numbers (not everyone will have the same number/letter).
THE VIN CHECK DIGIT FORMULA
The check digit of a Vin appears in the 9th position and provides a way to verify the validity of all of the other characters in positions 1 to 8 and 10 to 17. The check digit is calculated by carrying out the following rather complicated mathematical computation:
(1) Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value and assign to each letter the value specified in following Table:
Table 1 - Number Values for Vin Letters
A - 1 G - 7 N - 5 V - 5
B - 2 H - 8 P - 7 W - 6
C - 3 J - 1 R - 9 X - 7
D - 4 K - 2 S - 2 Y - 8
E - 5 L - 3 T - 3 Z - 9
F - 6 M - 4 U - 4
(2) Multiply the assigned value for each VIN character in the Vin by the Position weight factor specified in the following Table:
Table 2 - Vin Position and Weight Factors
Vin Position Weight Factor Vin Position Weight Factor
1st ...................... 8 10th ...................9
2nd ..................... 7 11th ...................8
3rd ...................... 6 12th ...................7
4th ...................... 5 13th ...................6
5th ...................... 4 14th ...................5
6th ...................... 3 15th ...................4
7th ...................... 2 16th ...................3
8th ...................... 10 17th ...................2
9th ..(check digit to be calculated )
(3) Add the resulting products and divide this total by 11.
(4) The numerical remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is 10 the letter 'X' shall be used to designate the check digit. The correct numeric remainder, zero through nine (0-9) or the letter 'X' shall appear in the VIN position nine.
(5) A sample check digit calculation is as follows for the following Vin:
Position: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Vin Character: 1 H W A 3 1 A A 5 A E 0 0 6 0 8 6
Assigned Values: 1 8 6 1 3 1 1 1 _ 1 5 0 0 6 0 8 6
Weight Factors: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 _ 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Products: 8 56 36 5 12 3 2 10 _ 9 40 0 0 30 0 24 12
Add Products: 8+56+36+5+12 +3+ 2 +10 + 9 +40 +0 +0 +30 +0 +24 +12 = 247
Divide the Sum of Products by 11: 247/11 = 22 and 5/11 .
The remainder is 5, therefore the check digit designation is "5" .
[ 11-17-2001: Message edited by: Hunter ]</p>
