Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

A vehicle identification number (VIN), can also be regarded to as a chassis number, is unique code, includes a serial number, usually used by an automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles like, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds.

The use of VINs was first introduced in 1954. From 1954 to 1981,almost all vehicles builder imbibe this innovation since there was no standard regulations for these numbers, different manufacturers has the liberty of using different formats.

In 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States see the need of standardizing the format. This improvement now required all on-road vehicles sold to contain a 17-character VIN, which must not include the letters I (i), O (o), and Q (q) ( in order to avoid confusion with numerals 1 and 0).

The VINS Components

The Modern VINs are based on two related standards, originally issued by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1979 and 1980: ISO 3779 and ISO 3780, respectively. Compatible but different implementations of these ISO standards have been adopted by the European Union and the United States, respectively.

Wоrld Mаnufасturеr Identifier (WMI)

Thе firѕt three сhаrасtеrѕ аrе used tо identify thе manufacturer оf thе vеhiсlе bу uѕing the wоrld manufacturer identifier or WMI соdе.аnу mаnufасturеr who buildѕ mоrе thаn 2000 vеhiсlеѕ per уеаr must use a 9 аѕ the third digit, аnd the 12th, 13th аnd 14th position оf thе VIN fоr a second part оf thе idеntifiсаtiоn. Some mаnufасturеrѕ uѕе thе third сhаrасtеr аѕ a code for a vеhiсlе category (e.g., buѕ or truck),some divisions within a mаnufасturеr, оr bоth. Eg , within 1G (аѕѕignеd tо General Motors in thе Unitеd Stаtеѕ), 1G1 rерrеѕеntѕ Chеvrоlеt passenger cars; 1G2, Pоntiас раѕѕеngеr саrѕ; аnd 1GC, Chеvrоlеt trucks.

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The fourth to eighth positions in the VIN are the vehicle descriptor section or VDS. This must be used, according to local regulations, to identify the vehicle type, it may include information on the automobile platform used, the model, and the body style. Each manufacturer has a unique system for using this field. Virtually all manufacturers since 1980s have used these eighth digit to identify the engine type whenever there is more than one engine choice for the vehicle. Example: for the 2007 Chevrolet Corvette, U is for a 6.0-liter V8 engine, and E is for a 7.0 L V8.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The 10th to 17th positions are used as the 'vehicle identifier section' (VIS). This is normaly used by the manufacturer to identify the individual vehicle in question. This may also include information on options installed or engine and transmission choices, in mostly cases, it is a simple sequential number. In North America, the last five digits must be numeric.