How to read a VIN, digit by digit

A VIN is not random — it is a strict ISO 3779 code. Learning the structure lets you spot fakes at a glance and understand what a decoder is telling you.

The three blocks of a VIN

• Positions 1–3: WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier). Country and manufacturer. For example, WBA is BMW Germany, SJN is Nissan UK (Sunderland), 1FA is Ford USA.
• Positions 4–9: VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section). Model, body style, engine and restraint system. Position 9 is a check digit calculated from every other character — this is how fraud detection works.
• Positions 10–17: VIS (Vehicle Identifier Section). Position 10 is the model year (A=1980, B=1981 … Y=2000, then 1–9=2001–2009, then A=2010 again). Position 11 is the assembly plant. Positions 12–17 are the sequential serial.

Forbidden characters

A VIN never contains I, O or Q — they look too similar to 1 and 0. If you see any of those letters, the number you have is not a real VIN.