What do the different parts of a vehicle identification number represent?
2 Answers
Vehicle identification numbers represent the following: 1. The first 3 characters indicate the country of production, manufacturer, and vehicle type; 2. Characters 4 to 8 represent vehicle characteristics such as model, body type, engine type, and gross vehicle weight rating; 3. The 9th character is a check digit used to verify the accuracy of the VIN; 4. The 11th character indicates the assembly plant; 5. Characters 12 to 17 represent the production sequence number. The purposes of vehicle identification numbers are: 1. Identifying vehicles; 2. Traffic violation inquiries; 3. Vehicle batch inquiries; 4. Precise parts lookup.
Let me tell you, the codes on cars are quite meaningful. The most common one people encounter is the 17-digit VIN code under the windshield, which is like the car's ID number: the first three digits represent the manufacturer code, for example, those starting with L are made in China; the next six digits describe the vehicle characteristics, showing whether it's an SUV or sedan and what engine it uses; the ninth digit is an anti-counterfeit code; the tenth letter represents the year, for example, T stands for 1996, U for 1997, and recently S for 2023; the last seven digits are the serial number. There's also a four-digit date code on the tire sidewall, for example, 1523 means the tire was produced in the 15th week of 2023. The nameplate on the door frame contains the vehicle model and production date, which is especially useful during annual inspections. Remembering these codes can help you avoid detours in maintenance and feel more secure when buying used cars.
