What does each character in a VIN mean?

Characters 1-3 = Manufacturer (WMI), 4-9 = Vehicle attributes (VDS), 10 = Model year, 11 = Plant code, 12-17 = Serial number.

How do I check if a VIN is valid?

A valid VIN is exactly 17 characters, doesn't contain I, O, or Q, and passes the check digit verification at position 9.

Can I check for open recalls with a VIN?

Yes, our decoder checks US NHTSA recall data. Canadian buyers should also check Transport Canada.

What information can I get from a VIN?

Manufacturer, make, model year, country of origin, engine type, body style, plant code, and recall history.

Is VIN decoding free?

Yes, our VIN decoder is completely free. No sign-up, no limits, no hidden fees.

Can I decode a 16-character VIN?

No, vehicles manufactured after 1981 use 17-character VINs. Older vehicles may have shorter VINs.

Vehicle lookup

VIN Year Lookup

Name: VIN Decoder
Author: usecos.app Research & Engineering

Use the 10th character of a 17-character VIN to identify the model-year code, then verify the decoded year with the full VIN decoder and NHTSA vPIC attributes.

Verified: 2026-07-30 · Author: usecos.app Research & Engineering

Look up VIN year View methodology

Direct answer

The model-year code is position 10 of a standard 17-character VIN. The code repeats on a 30-year cycle, so a single character should be read with vehicle age, listing context and NHTSA decode results.

Calculator

Enter a 17-character VIN here, then use the examples and notes below to understand what the result can and cannot prove.

Worked Canadian examples

Scenario	Result	Interpretation
1HGCM82633A004352	2003 Honda Accord	The 10th character is 3, matching the tested Honda example.
2T1BURHE4JC034340	2018 Toyota Corolla	The 10th character is J, matching the tested Toyota example.
5YJ3E1EA2KF317000	2019 Tesla Model 3	The 10th character is K, matching the tested Tesla example.

Quick scenario checks

Position to check

10th character

Count from the left side of the VIN.

Need full context

30-year cycle

Model-year codes repeat, so use the full decoder for context.

Buyer check

Match documents

The decoded year should make sense beside title, registration and listing details.

VIN model-year position

model year code = VIN character 10

The 10th character encodes model year for modern 17-character VINs. Because codes repeat, the decoder uses the full VIN and context rather than treating one character as absolute proof.

Metric comparison

Metric	Formula	Use when
10th character	VIN[9]	Find the model-year code quickly.
Full VIN decode	NHTSA vPIC DecodeVinValues	Confirm make, model and year together.
Registration check	seller documents	Confirm the decoded year matches title and registration.
Recall check	year + make + model + VIN	Check campaigns that apply to a specific model year.

How to use this page

Enter the full 17-character VIN in the decoder above.
Use the examples above to confirm which VIN section or lookup type you need.
Compare the decoded make, model year, plant and recall caveats with the seller's listing and documents.
Use the source links below to verify official VIN, vPIC and recall limitations.

Methodology notes

The page uses the shared usecos VIN decoder, which validates 17-character VIN format, excludes I/O/Q characters and checks the position-9 check digit where possible.
NHTSA vPIC manufacturer and model data comes from manufacturer-submitted 565 records and may be incomplete for unusual, imported, pre-1981 or specialty vehicles.
Recall data can differ between US and Canadian campaigns, so Canadian buyers should check Transport Canada and the manufacturer in addition to NHTSA.

Common mistakes

Treating a valid VIN as proof that the vehicle has a clean title, no lien, no accident history or accurate odometer reading.
Using only a US recall result for a Canadian vehicle without checking Transport Canada and the manufacturer.
Mistyping letters that are not valid in VINs: I, O and Q are excluded from standard 17-character VINs.

Limitations

A VIN decoder is not a vehicle-history report, lien search, inspection report, ownership record or insurance-claims search.
Model, trim, engine and plant details can be incomplete when manufacturer-submitted vPIC fields are blank or ambiguous.
Vehicles built before the modern 17-character VIN standard, grey-market imports, incomplete vehicles and some specialty manufacturers may need manual checks.

Related calculators and guides

Free VIN decoderDecode any 17-character VIN with check-digit validation and recall caveats.VIN model lookupUse NHTSA vPIC data to identify model and vehicle attributes.Canada VIN recall lookupPair NHTSA recall data with Transport Canada and manufacturer checks.Used-car VIN checklistKnow what a VIN can prove before buying a used vehicle.Used-car cost calculatorEstimate payment, fuel, insurance, maintenance, depreciation and cost per kilometre.Auto loan calculator CanadaEstimate car payment, amount financed, total interest and remaining balance.Lease vs finance calculator CanadaCompare lease return, lease buyout and finance net cost.VIN validation reportReview tested VIN examples and methodology limits.VIN decoder guideRead the full source-backed guide to VIN sections and recall checks.Used-car buying guideCombine VIN decoding with recall, lien and inspection checks.Ford VIN decoderDecode Ford car, truck and SUV VIN prefixes.Toyota VIN decoderDecode Toyota VINs from Canada, the US and Japan.Honda VIN decoderDecode Honda and common North American Honda VIN prefixes.BMW VIN decoderDecode BMW VIN prefixes for Germany, the US and related makes.Chevrolet VIN decoderDecode Chevrolet and GM VIN prefixes.Mercedes VIN decoderDecode Mercedes-Benz VIN prefixes and origin hints.Tesla VIN decoderDecode Tesla VINs from US, German and China production context.Hyundai VIN decoderDecode Hyundai VIN prefixes for US and Korean production.Kia VIN decoderDecode Kia VIN prefixes and recall caveats.Nissan VIN decoderDecode Nissan and Infiniti VIN prefix context.Subaru VIN decoderDecode Subaru VIN prefixes and model-year context.Mazda VIN decoderDecode Mazda VIN prefixes for Japan, US and Mexico.Volkswagen VIN decoderDecode VW VIN prefixes for US, Mexico and Germany.Jeep VIN decoderDecode Jeep VIN prefixes and used-SUV caveats.

Questions

Can I identify a vehicle year from one VIN character?

Usually the 10th character is the model-year code, but it repeats on a 30-year cycle and should be checked with the full VIN.

Is model year the same as production year?

Not always. A vehicle can be built before its model year, so use manufacturer and registration records when timing matters.

Sources and verification

This page uses the shared usecos VIN decoder, visible methodology, and the source links below. Verified on 2026-07-30.