Your vehicle identification number, or VIN, is a 17-character code that tells you who built your car, where, and for which model year. It is also the most reliable way to find the right manual, because cars that look the same can differ in engine, year or build.
Where to find your VIN
- on the dashboard, visible through the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side
- on the label in the driver’s door jamb
- on your registration, title and insurance documents
How the 17 characters break down
Every car and light truck built for the US since the 1981 model year uses the same 17-character format. The letters I, O and Q are never used, so they cannot be confused with the numbers 1 and 0.
| Positions | What they tell you |
|---|---|
1-3 | The world manufacturer identifier: the maker and the country or region of manufacture |
4-8 | The vehicle descriptor: model, body style, restraint system and often the engine, coded differently by each maker |
9 | A check digit, used to confirm the VIN is valid |
10 | The model year |
11 | The assembly plant |
12-17 | The production sequence number |
Where it was built: the first character
The first character shows the country or region of manufacture. A few common ones: 1, 4 and 5 for the United States, 2 for Canada, 3 for Mexico, J for Japan, K for South Korea and W for Germany.
The model year: the 10th character
The 10th character is the model year, which is not always the year the car was registered. The code repeats every 30 years, so A means 1980 or 2010 depending on the car’s age.
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
A | 2010 | J | 2018 |
B | 2011 | K | 2019 |
C | 2012 | L | 2020 |
D | 2013 | M | 2021 |
E | 2014 | N | 2022 |
F | 2015 | P | 2023 |
G | 2016 | R | 2024 |
H | 2017 | S | 2025 |
Model years 2001 to 2009 use the numbers 1 to 9, and 2026 is T.
Decode it for free
The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration runs a free VIN decoder that shows the information the manufacturer reported for your VIN, including the build plant. You can also check your VIN for open safety recalls on NHTSA’s recalls page.
Why it matters for manuals
Specifications can change between model years and even partway through one. Matching the manual to your VIN’s model year and engine means the fuse layout, fluid capacity or procedure you follow is the one for your car. Once you know them, find your owner’s manual or check our answer pages.