VIN Validator
Verify the check digit of a 17-character VIN and read the country, manufacturer and model year encoded in it.
How this tool works
A VIN is a 17 character vehicle identification number, and the structure was standardised in the North American market and then adopted more widely. The characters are not random: each position carries a specific kind of information, so a VIN can be read the way a date or a serial number can be read, without contacting anyone.
Validation runs in stages. The length must be exactly 17 and the character set must exclude I, O and Q, which are excluded because they can be mistaken for 1 and 0. The ninth character is a check digit computed by weighting the other sixteen positions and taking the remainder modulo 11, with X representing a remainder of ten. The first three characters identify the manufacturer and the world region, and the eighth character identifies the model year on vehicles built under the North American standard.
What each position carries
| Position | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 to 3 | World region, manufacturer and country |
| 4 to 8 | Vehicle attributes: type, engine, model, body, restraint system |
| 9 | Check digit, computed modulo 11, X for a remainder of 10 |
| 10 | Model year, on vehicles built under the North American standard |
| 11 | Plant of manufacture |
| 12 to 17 | Production sequence number, or the serial number on European vehicles |
The ninth position is a checksum over the other sixteen, which is what makes a mistyped VIN detectable.
When to use it
- Check a VIN for a typing error before a parts or insurance query
- Read the manufacture year and plant from a VIN
- Validate a VIN entered in a form against the checksum
- Identify the manufacturer and region from the first three characters
Frequently asked questions
What is a VIN?
Vehicle Identification Number: a 17 character identifier for a vehicle, standardised in North America and used more widely. Each position carries a defined piece of information and the ninth is a check digit.
How do I check whether a VIN is valid?
Check the length is 17, that the characters exclude I, O and Q, and that the ninth character matches the modulo 11 checksum over the other sixteen positions.
Why are the letters I, O and Q not used?
Because they are easily confused with the digits 1 and 0, and a vehicle record that cannot be misread is worth more than the small number of additional combinations the exclusion removes.
Can I find the manufacture year from a VIN?
On vehicles built under the North American standard, position 10 is the model year. On European vehicles the year is not in that position and the structure differs, so the rule does not apply universally.
Does a valid check digit mean the vehicle exists?
No. It means the VIN is internally consistent and was not mistyped in the digits the checksum covers. It says nothing about the vehicle's registration, history or existence.
What does the check digit X mean?
A remainder of ten when the weighted sum is divided by eleven. It is the only letter used in that position.