Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

ISO 3779 (1983)



VIN positions = 1 2 3 - 4 5 6 7 8 - 9 - 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 (example: TRU-ZZZ8N-6-41001015)
    Section one: positions 1 2 3 = WMI = World Manufacturer Index 

    Section two: positions 4 5 6 7 8 = VDS = Vehicle Description Section

    Section 3: position 9 = Check Digit

    Section 4: positions 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 = VIS = Vehicle Identifier Section
NOTES:
  • Letters I, O and Q are never used in the VIN.


    •
  • Letter Z is used to fill in positions that are not used by the manufacturer.

    • Section 1. WMI: positions 1, 2 and 3


    Position 1 = Region
      1, 2, 3, 4, 5 = North America
      6, 7 = Oceania
      8, 9, 0 = South America
      A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H = Africa
      J, K, L, M, N, P, R = Asia
      S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z =Europe

    Position 1+2 = Country
      Example: WA, WB, WC etcetera = Germany
      Example: TR, TS, TT, TU, TV = Hungary
      Example: 1A, 1B, 1C etcetera = USA

       For all other country codes click here

    Position 1+2+3 = Manufacturer
      Example: WAU = Audi Germany
      Example: TRU = Audi Hungary
      Example: WVW = Volkswagen  Germany
       Example: SAJ = Jaguar Great Britain

    Section 2. VDS: positions 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8

    Position 4, 5, 6 = Vehicle specifications, often not used and filled with Z

    Position 7 + 8 = Car Model
      Example: 8A = Audi 80 (B3)
      Example: 8G = Audi cabriolet
      Example: 8D = Audi A4 (B5)
      Example: 8N = Audi TT  (1st generation)
      Exaample: 8J - Audi TT (2nd generation)

    Section 3. Check Digit: position 9

    Regulations both in the USA and Canada require that on the 9th position of the Vehicle Identification Number  a Check Digit  is used.
    In North America, the Check Digit is considered to be the third section of the VIN. Its purpose is to provide a means for verifying the accuracy of the VIN transcription. It is calculated using the other 16 characters of the VIN as they have been determined by the manufacturer. In other countries the Check Digit is not always used (filled with a Z).

    Section 4. VIS: positions 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17

    Position 10 = Year Code
    The European Union Directives do not require that a year code is used. In North America however, a year code is compulsory.
    Note that the Year Code may be the calendar year in which a vehicle is built, or a model year allocated by the manufacturer. Model years start 1st of May. For example model year 2016 started 1st of May 2015..

    A B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S T V W X Y
    1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 A B C D E F G H J K L
    2001 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020



    Position 11 = Assembly Plant Identication

    Volkswagen and Audi plants
    Gyor, Hungary 1
    Ingolstad, Germany A
    Brussels, Belgium B
    Emden, Germany E
    Gratz, Germany G
    Hannover, Germany H
    Osnabrück, Germany K
    Mexico M
    Neckarsulm, Germany N
    Brasil P
    Stuttgart, Germany S
    Westmoreland, Pennsylvania, USA V
    Wolfburg, Germany W
    Pamplona, Spain Y


    Positions 12 to 17 = Sequential Production Number