Which digit in the VIN represents the year?
2 Answers
VIN code digit 10 represents the year. The VIN code consists of 17 characters, also known as the seventeen-digit code. Digits 1 to 3 (WMI): Manufacturer, brand, and type; Digit 2: Automobile manufacturer code; Digit 3: Vehicle type code; Digits 4 to 8 (VDS): Vehicle characteristics; Digit 9: Check digit; Digit 10: Model year; Digit 11: Assembly plant; Digits 12 to 17: Serial number. The VIN is a unique set of numbers used on automobiles to identify the manufacturer, engine, chassis number, and other specifications. To avoid confusion with the numbers 1, 0, and 9, the letters 'I', 'O', and 'Q' are not used.
When I first bought a car, I didn’t know much about VIN details either. Later, I learned that the year is indicated by the 10th character. A VIN is a 17-digit alphanumeric combination, and that 10th character is specifically for the model year. For example, checking my old car’s VIN, that position was a ‘G,’ which stands for 2016. The year codes have been standardized since 1980, starting with ‘A’ up to ‘Y’ for 2000, then ‘1’ for 2001. Understanding this is super important for beginners, especially when buying a used car—it helps spot fake year claims at a glance. I recommend using a free VIN decoder website to check and avoid being scammed. The VIN is like a car’s ID card; other positions reveal the manufacturer and production location, but the year is key—it always affects insurance costs and resale value.
