How to Check the Year of a Vehicle Identification Number?
4 Answers
Methods to check the year from a vehicle identification number: In most standard VINs, the 10th digit represents the year. You can typically find the VIN on the vehicle's registration certificate, the engine's nameplate, or the driver's side door. The VIN is a 17-character code, commonly referred to as the '17-digit code,' which contains information about the vehicle's manufacturer, year, model, body type, engine code, and assembly location. Correctly interpreting the VIN is crucial for accurately identifying the vehicle model and performing proper diagnostics and maintenance. There are two main VIN formats: the first follows the ISO 3779 standard used by the European Union, and the second is primarily used in North America.
I ran into the issue of checking the model year via VIN when I refurbished my old Jeep last time. The VIN is usually engraved at the lower left corner of the windshield or near the passenger side door sill. After locating that 17-digit alphanumeric combination, pay special attention to the 10th character. For the past two decades, it's easy to remember: 2001 to 2009 used digits 1-9, 2010 cycled back to letter A, followed by B for 2011, C for 2012, and so on. Currently in 2024, the latest models use R. But be careful to check if the characters are worn - once when helping a friend inspect a used car, I found the VIN engravings were too shallow. If you're really uncertain, the easiest way is to input the full VIN into a professional VIN decoder website - it can even show the exact production month.
Having repaired cars for fifteen years, I check VINs multiple times daily. The 10th character of that 17-digit code indicates the model year. For 80s-90s vehicles, it starts with letters ABC. Post-2000, the system changed several times: years 01-09 used digits 1-9, 2010 reverted to letter A, then followed alphabetical order. For example, last year's vehicles used R. The tricky part is letters I, O, and Q are never used in VINs - so 2018 should've been I but actually skipped to J. I recommend checking door hinges or firewall locations for clearest visibility - the windshield spot often causes misreads due to glare. If the year character is worn, try using tracing paper to imprint the entire VIN for careful examination.
It's actually super simple to figure out in just three steps. First, locate the 17-digit VIN etched on the lower left corner of your windshield or the side of the passenger door. Second, remember that the 10th character is the most important. Third, refer to the new coding system: L corresponds to 2020, M to 2021, N to 2022, P to 2023, and vehicles manufactured this year are marked with R. Note that cars from the 1990s use a different coding system. Last week, while helping my cousin check his used car, we found the VIN on the firewall in the engine bay was much clearer than the one on the door frame. Take a photo of the VIN with your phone and scan it using apps like Auto Repair Bao, which instantly displays the production year and factory information.
