If you're like most people, you probably think a vehicle identification number (VIN) is just a series of random characters.  Actually, each of the characters in this highly structured code has its own meaning.  In fact, deciphering these codes is a hobby for some car enthusiasts, including collectors who want to own one of the first or last cars to come off an assembly line.

When you buy a pre-owned vehicle, you might want to check its history.  In that case, knowing how to read the VIN could help you make an informed decision before you buy.

A Sample VIN to Decode

Let's take a look at a sample VIN.  Vehicles manufactured before 1981 might have fewer characters than today′s standard 17-character VIN.

2  H  2  G  P  1  2  P  X  Y  2  2  0  3  2  4  1

2:  The country in which the vehicle was manufactured
H:  The manufacturer
2:  The make
G-P-1-2-P:  Identifies unique characteristics, such as the engine or body style
X:  The check digit, which helps to identify VIN fraud
Y:  The model year
2:  The assembly location
2-0-3-2-4-1:  The production sequence number, indicating the exact point at which the vehicle came off the assembly line.

To help you further break down the codes, we have provided a list of model-year codes, as well as a list of the country of origin codes.

Model-Year Codes:

J: 1988     K: 1989     L: 1990     M: 1991     N: 1992     P: 1993
R: 1994     S: 1995     T: 1996     V: 1997     W: 1998     X: 1999
Y: 2000     1: 2001     2: 2002     3: 2003     4: 2004     5: 2005
6: 2006     7: 2007     8: 2008     9: 2009     A: 2010     B: 2011 

Country of Origin Codes

1: United States
2: Canada
3: Mexico
4: United States
5: United States
6: Australia
9: Brazil
J:  Japan
K: Korea
S: England
T: Germany
V: France, Germany
W: Germany
Y: Finland, Sweden