What year does the letter H represent in a VIN?
2 Answers
If the 10th digit of a VIN is H, it indicates the vehicle was manufactured in 2017. The meanings represented by each of the 17 digits in a VIN are as follows: 1. Digits 1-3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) code, indicating the manufacturer of the vehicle. The first character represents a geographic region, the second character represents a specific country within that region, and the third character identifies a particular manufacturing plant. 2. Digits 4-8: Vehicle descriptor section, defined by each manufacturer (consult the owner's manual for specifics). The 4th digit indicates the vehicle type, the 5th digit represents the model series code (manufacturer-specific), the 6th digit denotes the body type (vehicle exterior) code, the 7th digit specifies the engine type code, and the 8th digit indicates the transmission type installed. 3. Digit 9: Check digit, which can be represented by a letter or number as determined by the manufacturer. 4. Digit 10: Model year code, represented by a letter or number according to international standards. 5. Digit 11: Assembly plant and location code, represented by a letter as determined by the manufacturer. 6. Digits 12-17: Production sequence number, assigned by the manufacturer.
That thing called the VIN code has a total of 17 characters, with each part representing different information, like the vehicle's birth certificate. The 10th digit is particularly important as it specifically indicates the manufacturing year. When the letter H appears in the 10th position, it represents two possible years: either 1987 or 2017. Why the repetition? Because the VIN system started using A to represent 1980, then added one letter each subsequent year, so H corresponds to 1987. Later, the system cycled back, with A representing 2010, and by 2017, it was H again. Therefore, just seeing H isn't enough to determine the exact year—you need to consider the entire VIN and the vehicle model. For example, when buying a car, if it's an older model, H likely points to 1987; for a newer car, it might be 2017. Don’t forget to check the vehicle registration certificate or related records to confirm, avoiding misjudging the year and affecting maintenance or resale value. Remember, H won’t represent any other years—don’t overcomplicate it.
