Which digit in the VIN represents the year?

[OCatherine]

10th digit: Model year. More relevant information is as follows: The chassis number is the VIN code, where VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. The vehicle identification code is essentially the car's ID number. The VIN code consists of 17 characters, hence it is commonly referred to as the 17-digit code. Digits 1-3 (WMI): Manufacturer, brand, and type. 2nd digit: Automobile manufacturer code. 3rd digit: Vehicle type code. Digits 4-8 (VDS): Vehicle features. 9th digit: Check digit. 10th digit: Model year. 11th digit: Assembly plant. Digits 12-17: Serial number. Note: Only the following Arabic numerals and uppercase Roman letters can be used in the vehicle identification code: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z (letters I, O, and Q cannot be used).

[DiAriana]

I remember this vividly - got burned last time helping a friend inspect a used car. The 17-digit VIN has its 10th character dedicated to model year coding. For instance, an 'M' indicates 2021 production. This position follows specific rules: pre-1980 models used numbers (e.g., 9 meant 1979), while post-1980 switched to letters. Never rely solely on registration dates - once encountered a car registered as 2020 model with 'L' in the 10th position, meaning it was actually manufactured in 2019 as next year's model. Always cross-check with mobile VIN decoders during inspection, especially for used vehicles where production year discrepancies significantly impact resale value.

[OAubrey]

I learned this while working part-time at a repair shop: the 10th digit of the VIN is the year identifier. This code is quite interesting—it cycles every 30 years. For example, 2020 was L, 2021 was M, and this year, 2026, corresponds to S. The VIN hides other information too, like the first digit being the country code—vehicles starting with L are domestically produced in China. I remember helping a relative check a car last time—the nameplate said it was manufactured in 2023, but the 10th digit of the VIN was P, indicating it was actually produced in the second half of 2022 as a 2023 model. When buying a new car, pay attention to this detail, especially during year-end promotions when some might be leftover inventory. I recommend checking VIN websites for verification—don’t just trust the dealer’s word.

[Tracey]

During auto repair class, the teacher emphasized that the 10th digit of the VIN is absolutely crucial. The coding rule is actually simple: A represents 2010, B is 2011, and the number 0 stands for 2000. Once, a car owner reported the wrong part model when replacing it themselves simply because they didn't verify the year code. Parts for different model years may not be interchangeable; for example, the headlights of the 2018 and 2019 Volkswagen Golf are incompatible. Odometer-tampered cars fear this the most. Last year, there was a Mercedes showing 50,000 kilometers on the odometer, but the VIN indicated it was a 2015 model, with actual wear resembling a decade-old car. Nowadays, VIN-checking software is very convenient; entering the full code can directly display the year and configuration.