Most people know that VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. Most people also know that every car has a unique one. Think of it as your car's fingerprint. Many people do not how to decipher one, however.
VINs have existed since 1954, when automakers started using sequences to track the cars they made. The first VINs were not systematic, and varied by manufacturer. This changed in 1969, when a law required that cars have visible VIN numbers.
Starting in 1981, all cars had to contain the 17-character VIN. VINs could not be repeated for a 30-year period. It was believed this would ensure that each VIN was unique. The objective of the VIN was to decrease auto thefts, improve auto recalls and track insurance and vehicle history.
Each character in the VIN must be either a letter or a number from 0 through 9. They cannot contain the letters I, O or Q to help cut down on mistaken characters. VINs appear on the left side of the dash and must be visible through the windshield. The VIN is also stamped on the frame and other locations in case of a fire.
There are four parts to the VIN: World Manufacturer's Identification comprises 1-3 positions. The first character represents the country of the vehicle's manufacturer. Some country characters are letters, and some are numbers. The United States is numbers 1 or 4. For the second character, a letter or number is assigned to represent the automobile's manufacturer. The third character represents the vehicle type or the manufacturing section.
Vehicle Description Section (VDS) is the next five characters in positions 4 through 8. These characters identify components in the car, such as brake system and body style.
VIN accuracy check digit takes place 9. This single character is based on a mathematical formula that checks the other characters for accuracy. Basically, it is a guard against typographical errors.
Vehicle Identification Section takes up the rest of the VIN and occupies places 10-17. Model year is position 10 and the assembly plant is position 11. Characters 12-17 are a sequence. They number vehicles in a specific grouping within the production facility. This also helps the manufacturer keep tally on the number of vehicles sold.
A little trivia for you, The Federal Parts Marking Program, issued through the NHTSA, requires that manufacturers mark 12 to 14 parts of the most commonly stolen vehicles with the VIN number. These parts include the bumpers, the hood, the engine, doors, fenders and quarter panels.
Jerry Reynolds is an auto industry expert and the host of nationally syndicated Car Pro Show, heard Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. on News Radio KTRH 740 AM. For more information, visit www.carprousa.com.