VIN - Vehicle Identification Number

The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), known in Germany as “vehicle frame/chassis number”, is a unique worldwide serial number identifying a vehicle. Is must be visible from the vehicle's exterior, through a small porthole in the lower part of the windscreen.

It provides information about the vehicle's manufacturer, model and serial number unique to its manufacturer, including details of vehicle's configuration at initial delivery. Using special VIN decoder, these values can be translate to human readable form.

Also, there are several stolen vehicle's VINs databases.

The following modules will be programmed with the vehicle's VIN number. When installing a module in a vehicle, it shall be programmed accordingly.

ABS (760-01-01 through 760-01-04)
BCM (726-09-01 through 726-11-01)
CCM (764-02-01 through 764-02-04)
FCIM (7A7-02-01 through 7A7-02-04)
RCM (737-01-01 through 737-01-04)
SODL (7C4-07-01 through 7C4-07-04)
SODR (7C6-07-01 through 7C6-07-04)

The values between parenthesis indicate the address in which the VIN is stored in the module's memory. First number provides the OBD-ID of the corresponding module, the second indicates the memory block within the given module and the third ones indicates the line within that memory block.

Structure and contents of a VIN number

Die VIN (oder auf deutsch “FIN”) hat 17 Stellen. Jeder Stelle ist eine Bedeutung zugewiesen.

1st position: country of manufacture

The first position provides information about the vehicle's country of manufacture (examples below):

1.Digit Country 1.Digit Country 1.Digit Country 1.Digit Country 1.Digit Country 1 = USA 2 = Canada 3 = Mexico 4 = USA J = Japan K = Korea S = England W = Germany Z = Italy

2nd position: manufacturer and brand

The second position provides information about the vehicle's manufacturer and/or brand (examples below):

2.Digit Brand 2.Digit Brand 2.Digit Brand 2.Digit Brand 2.Digit Brand 2.Digit Brand 1 = Chevrolet 2 = Pontiac 3 = Oldsmobile 4 = Buick 5 = Pontiac 6 = Cadillac 7 = GM Canada 8 = Saturn A = Audi A = Jaguar B = BMW B = Dodge C = Chrysler D = Mercedes Benz F = Ford G = General Motors H = Honda L = Lincoln M = Mercury N = Nissan O = Opel P = Plymouth T = Toyota V = Volvo

3rd position: vehicle's type

The third position provides information about the vehicle's type and is manufacturer specific.

4th to 8th positions: vehicle's equipment

Positions 4th to 8th provide information about the vehicle's equipment, like body type, engine type, model, trim levels, etc.

9th position: control digit

The 9th position is a checksum or control digit to allow verification of the correctness of the remaining digits.

10th position: year of manufacture

The 10th position provides information about the vehicle's year of manufacture:

10.Digit Year 10.Digit Year 10.Digit Year 10.Digit Year 1 = 1971 B = 1981 M = 1991 1 = 2001 2 = 1972 C = 1982 N = 1992 2 = 2002 3 = 1973 D = 1983 P = 1993 3 = 2003 4 = 1974 E = 1984 R = 1994 4 = 2004 5 = 1975 F = 1985 S = 1995 5 = 2005 6 = 1976 G = 1986 T = 1996 6 = 2006 7 = 1977 H = 1987 V = 1997 7 = 2007 8 = 1978 J = 1988 W = 1998 8 = 2008 9 = 1979 K = 1989 X = 1999 9 = 2009 A = 1980 L = 1990 Y = 2000 A = 2010

11th position: manufacturing plant

The 11th position provides information about the vehicle's manufacturing plant.

12th to 17th positions: vehicle's serial number

Position 12th to 17th of the VIN number provide the vehicle's production serial number.

The 4th and 10th positions contain body code and, contrary to the VIN standard, the 11th digit provides the year of manufacture.

G for state wagon
F for hatchback
D for sedan