Vehicle Identification Number Intro to Automotives

What is a VIN? A car’s VIN is the automotive equivalent of "DNA".

What is a VIN? It is a 17 digit number It displays a car’s individuality and heritage It can be used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage.

Ware is the VIN? Vehicles Dash Drivers Side Door Vehicle Safety Certification Label

Pictures of VIN’s Dashboard… Drivers Door…

1st digit represents the country the vehicle was made in… Reading a VIN… 1st digit represents the country the vehicle was made in… U.S. = 1 or 4 Canada = 2 Mexico = 3 Japan = J Korea = K Germany = W England = S Italy = Z

2nd character represents the manufacturer… Reading a VIN… 2nd character represents the manufacturer… Audi(A) BMW(B) Buick(4) Cadillac(6) Chevrolet(1) Chrysler(C) Dodge(B) Ford(F) GM(G) Honda(H) Saturn(8) Toyota(T)

3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division Reading a VIN… 3rd character- Identifies vehicle type or manufacturing division Chevrolet is a division of GM, so the first three digits for a Chevrolet are 1GC.

Reading a VIN… 4 - 8 describe the vehicle. The specific use of these digits differs between manufacturers 4 -Might contain a code that represents the vehicle's weight, horsepower or both. 5 -Often identifies the platform of the vehicle, such as van, or pickup 6 -Might identify the specific model of the vehicle 7 -Can be used to identify body type 8- Information about the engine, such as number of cylinders and engine displacement.

9th digit- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit. Reading a VIN… 9th digit- Identifies VIN accuracy as check digit.

10th character- Identifies the model year. Reading a VIN… 10th character- Identifies the model year. 1997(V) 1998(W) 1999(X) 2000(Y) 2001(1) 2002(2) 2003(3) 2004(4)

11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle. Reading a VIN… 11th character- Identifies the assembly plant for the vehicle. 12th to 17th characters- Identifies the sequence of the vehicle for production as it rolled of the manufacturers assembly line

VIN’s… The letters I (i), O and Q never appear in a VIN. The European Union has a similar regulation for VINs, but it is less stringent than the North American rule. European VINs are not required to include year, factory or vehicle attribute data.

Questions ? ? ?