Vehicle identification number
The vehicle identification number ( VIN ) ( English vehicle identification number , VIN ) corresponds to the international adjustments taking into account the former VIN and is also commonly known as before and widely referred to that way. The VIN is the internationally standardized, 17-digit serial number with which a motor vehicle can be clearly identified. It consists of a manufacturer identifier (World Manufacturer Identifier), for example W0L for Opel and Vauxhall , WDB for Daimler AG , WVW for Volkswagen , WF0 for Ford (Germany) or VF7 for Citroën , a manufacturer-specific key and one that is mostly dependent on the year of manufacture. consecutive number. Some manufacturers are assigned several manufacturer IDs. The internationally standardized VIN was brought into being by EU regulation 76/114 / EEC in 1981 and replaced the manufacturer-specific chassis number that had been used until then to uniquely identify a car. This former name was partly obsolete as cars often no separate since the 1930s chassis , but self-supporting bodies had while commercial vehicles and motorcycles continue to have more than one chassis. Among other things, the VIN is still stamped into the chassis, if present, otherwise into the body.
Example of a VIN for an Opel or Vauxhall : W0L000051T2123456.
Attachment
The number can be found in the vehicle registration document and several times on the vehicle itself, usually in the engine compartment or on the right-hand side of the vehicle. For US vehicles or vehicles intended for this market, it is attached to the lower left of the windshield and is visible from the outside. For reasons of security against manipulation, it is present several times and is hammered in or deep-drawn . Until the first registration on October 1, 1969, the VIN can be engraved or attached to a separate riveted metal plate.
Structure of the VIN
There are two different standards for the VIN. Manufacturers in the countries of the European Union use the ISO standard 3779, while North American manufacturers use a stricter system that is compliant with the ISO standard.
Only the following Arabic numerals and Latin capital letters may be used in a VIN:
1234567890 ABCDEFGH JKLMN P RSTUVWXYZ
The letters I, O and Q are blocked due to the high risk of confusion with the digits 0 and 1.
Job | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4th | 5 | 6th | 7th | 8th | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14th | 15th | 16 | 17th | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
example | S. | B. | 1 | 6th | 4th | A. | B. | N | 1 | P | E. | 0 | 8th | 2 | 9 | 8th | 6th | ||
ISO 3779 | World Manufacturer Code (World manufacturer identification WMI) |
vehicle descriptive part (Vehicle descriptor section VDS) |
consecutive number (Vehicle indicator section VIS) |
||||||||||||||||
North America | World manufacturer code | Series, engine type and equipment | Check digit | Model year | Manufacturing plant | consecutive number |
species
European FIN from 1981
The vehicle identification number was assigned in Europe according to Directive 76/114 / EEC. However, this directive was repealed with effect from November 1, 2014 in accordance with Regulation (EC) No. 661/2009. It has been replaced by EU regulation 19/2011, which does not differ from 76/114 / EEC with regard to the description of the structure of the VIN.
Before 1981 there were no generally binding standards for this number, so that vehicle manufacturers then used individually assigned chassis numbers.
In Germany, the manufacturer's obligation to attach the VIN is regulated in Section 59 (1) no. 4 StVZO and the storage of the VIN in the Central Vehicle Register in Section 33 (1) no. 1 StVG .
Job | meaning |
---|---|
1-3 | World Manufacturer Code (WMI) |
4-9 | Series: Can be specified by the manufacturer. Characters that are not used must be filled with letters or numbers (at the discretion of the manufacturer). At VW / Audi z. For example, the normally unused positions 4–6 are filled with ZZZ, at Opel / Vauxhall positions 4–7 are filled with 0000. |
10 | Model year code: The year of manufacture is determined by ISO standard 3779-1983. The characters 123456789 ABCDEFGH JKLMN P RST VWXY each encode 30 years, beginning 1971. A 3 means 1973 or 2003. The characters I, O, Q, U and Z are not used due to the risk of confusion. The model year code does not necessarily match the year of manufacture: The model year begins e.g. E.g. at VW or Opel usually with the factory holidays of the previous year, a vehicle produced in October 2005 is given the model year number 6. |
11 | Manufacturer: At VW z. B. W = Wolfsburg, E = Emden, M = Puebla (Mexico), at Opel z. B. 1 = Rüsselsheim, 2 = Bochum |
12-14 | second part of the WMI, for WMIs its 3rd digit 9 , otherwise part of the consecutive numbering |
12-17 | consecutive ascending number |
Positions 4–9 are adapted to the guidelines there for vehicles exported to the USA.
Example at Mercedes-Benz:
WDD 169 007-1J-236589
The WDD contains the code for Germany (W) and for the manufacturer Mercedes-Benz (DD, for other models also WDC / WDB). The following three digits stand for the model series 169 (A-Class). 007 is the code for body shape, engine and, for example, all-wheel drive etc. 1 for left-hand drive vehicles, J denotes the production facility (here Rastatt, for other models also F, B etc.). This is followed by the six consecutive digits.
Example at Volkswagen:
WVWZZZ1JZ3W386752
- WVW - means German manufacturer Volkswagen
- ZZZ - remains unused
- 1J - denotes model (here Golf IV or Bora )
- 3 - 2003 model year
- W - Wolfsburg
- 386752 - is the number of the Golf IV / Bora manufactured in model year 2003.
Honda VIN (1979 to 1995)
The Vehicle Identify Number ( VIN ) was a Honda internal vehicle identification number that was used on motorcycles from 1979 to 1995 . It consisted of an 11-digit sequence of letters and numbers.
American VIN from 2003
The US-VIN is used in the USA, Canada, Brazil, South Korea, Mexico, Saudi Arabia and Jordan; in Israel a hybrid form of US and European standards is used.
Job | meaning |
---|---|
1-3 | World manufacturer code |
4th | Series: A = 450 (city-coupé), B = 452 (roadster / roadster-coupé) |
5 | Body shape: J = 3 (Coupé), K = 4 (Cabrio / Roadster) |
6 + 7 | Engine: 00 = 30 kW diesel engine, 30 = 37 kW gasoline engine, 32 = 45 kW gasoline engine, 33 = 35 kW gasoline engine, 34 = 60 kW gasoline engine, 35 = 40 kW gasoline engine |
8th | Restraint systems: E = without side airbag, F = with side airbag |
9 | Check digit |
10 | Model year code: The year of manufacture is determined by ISO standard 3779-1983. The characters 123456789ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRSTVWXY each encode 30 years, starting in 1971. A 3 means 1973 or 2003. The characters I, O, Q, U and Z have been skipped due to the risk of confusion. |
11 | Manufacturing plant |
12-17 | consecutive ascending number |
World Manufacturer Code (WMI)
The first three digits of the VIN identify the vehicle manufacturer according to the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). It should be noted that the manufacturer refers to the sales brand here. When rebadging there are deviations, for example, is Opel Movano from SoVAB produced, however, carries the manufacturer's code of Opel .
Manufacturers with a production rate of less than 500 vehicles per year use the number 9 in the third position and the 12th to 14th positions of the VIN as the second part of the identification number. Some manufacturers use the third digit of the VIN to code the vehicle type (e.g. bus or truck), a part of the company, or a combination of both. Example: the manufacturer General Motors, manufacturer code 1G, uses code 1G1 for the brand Chevrolet (passenger car), 1G2 for the brand Pontiac (passenger car) and 1GC again for Chevrolet, but this code is only given to trucks.
WMI regions
The first letter of the world manufacturer code indicates the region of the manufacturer. In practice, each one is assigned to the country of manufacture. Manufacturers who jointly produce across borders are marked.
WMI | region | Remarks |
---|---|---|
AH | Africa | AA – AH = South Africa |
J – R | Asia | J = Japan KL – KR = South Korea L = PR China MA – ME = India MF – MK = Indonesia ML – MR = Thailand PA – PE = Philippines PL – PR = Malaysia NL – NM = Turkey |
S-Z | Europe | SA – SM = United Kingdom SN – ST = Germany SU – SZ = Poland TA – TH = Switzerland TJ – TP = Czech Republic TR – TV = Hungary UA – UM = Denmark UN – UT = Ireland UU – UZ = Romania U1 – U7 = Slovakia VA – VE = Austria VF – VR = France VS – VW = Spain VX – V2 = Yugoslavia W = Germany XL – XP = Netherlands XS – XW = USSR X3 – X0 = Russia YA – YE = Belgium YF – YK = Finland YS – YW = Sweden ZA – ZR = Italy |
1-5 | North America | 1, 4, 5 = USA 2 = Canada 3 = Mexico |
6-7 | Australia / Oceania | 6A-6W = Australia 7A-7E = New Zealand |
8-0 | South America | 8A – 8E = Argentina 8X – 82 = Venezuela 9A – 9E = Brazil 9F – 9J = Colombia 93–99 = Brazil |
List of common WMI
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) awards the WMI to countries and brands. The following list shows a small selection of shared world manufacturer codes.
WMI | Manufacturer brand |
---|---|
CL9 | Wallyscar |
YES | Isuzu |
JF | Fuji Heavy Industries ( Subaru ) |
JH | Honda |
JMB | Mitsubishi |
JMZ | Mazda |
JN | Nissan |
JS | Suzuki |
JT | Toyota Japan |
KL | Daewoo |
KMH | Hyundai (Korea) |
KN | Kia |
KNE | Kia (assembly not Korea) |
KPT | Ssangyong |
LFV | FAW-Volkswagen Automotive Co. |
SAJ | jaguar |
SAL | Land Rover |
SAR | rover |
SCC | Lotus Cars |
SUU | Solaris Bus & Coach |
TMA | Hyundai (Czech Republic) |
TMB | Škoda |
TRU | Audi (Hungary) |
UU | Dacia |
U5Y | Kia (Slovakia, car) |
U6Z | Kia (Slovakia, SUV) |
VA0 | ÖAF Gräf & Stift AG (Austria) |
VFA | Alpine , now Renault |
VF1 | Renault |
VF3 | Peugeot |
VF7 | Citroën |
VNK | Toyota France |
VSK | Nissan Spain |
VSS | Seat |
WAG | Neoplan |
WAU | Audi |
WAP | ALPINA |
WBA | BMW |
WBS | BMW M GmbH |
WBY | BMW i (electric) |
WDB, W1K, W1N, WMX | Mercedes-Benz AG |
WDC, WDD, WDF, WMX | DaimlerChrysler / Daimler AG (replaced by Mercedes-Benz AG in 2020) |
WEB | EvoBus |
WF0 | Ford Germany |
WGF | GFB GmbH |
WJR | Irmscher |
WKA | Kaeser compressors |
WKK | Kässbohrer vehicle works |
WLA | Langendorf GmbH |
WMA | MAN |
WME | Smart |
WMW | MINI |
WP0 | Porsche |
WP1 | Porsche Cayenne , Porsche Macan |
WSM | Schmitz Cargobull |
WUA | Audi Sport GmbH |
WVG | Volkswagen |
WVM | VW-MAN |
WVW | Volkswagen |
WV1 | Volkswagen commercial vehicles |
WV2 | Volkswagen commercial vehicles |
W0L, W0V | Opel , Vauxhall |
W0SV | Opel Special Vehicles |
W08 | Saturn Astra |
W09 | German manufacturers <500 vehicles |
YK1 | Saab |
YS3 | Saab |
YV1 | Volvo Cars |
ZAR | Alfa Romeo |
ZCF | Iveco |
ZDF | Ferrari Dino |
ZFA | Fiat |
ZFF | Ferrari |
ZHW | Lamborghini |
ZLA | Lancia |
ZAM | Maserati |
1C | Chrysler |
1F | Ford Motor Company |
1G | General Motors |
1G3 | Oldsmobile |
1GC | Chevrolet |
1GM | Pontiac |
1H | Honda USA |
1y | jeep |
1L | Lincoln |
1M | Mercury |
1N | Nissan USA |
1VW | Volkswagen USA |
1YV | Mazda USA |
2F | Ford Motor Company Canada |
2G | General Motors Canada |
2G1 | Chevrolet Canada |
2G1 | Pontiac Canada |
2HM | Hyundai Canada |
2M | Mercury |
3F | Ford Motor Company Mexico |
3G | General Motors Mexico |
3H | Honda Mexico |
3VW | Volkswagen Mexico |
4F | Mazda USA |
4M | Mercury |
4S | Subaru of Indiana Automotive |
4US | BMW USA |
5L | Lincoln |
5YJ | Tesla USA |
6F | Ford Motor Company Australia |
6H | General Motors-Holden |
6MM | Mitsubishi Motors Corporation Australia |
6T1 | Toyota Australia |
9BW | Volkswagen Brazil |
A 9 is given for the third digit if it is a small manufacturer. In Germany the manufacturer code is then W09. The manufacturer is coded in digits 12-14.
Web links
- Universal VIN decoder
- FIN-Check - online check digit calculation with detailed manufacturer and vehicle decryption
- Colliseum - List of manufacturers, links to many FIN decoders
- WMI Codes - NHTSA list of WMI codes
- Publication of the reference table of the world manufacturer key of the Federal Motor Transport Authority
Individual evidence
- ↑ TÜV Rheinland Handbook Oldtimer: Registration - Purchase - Trends - Value Retention. Kirschbaum Verlag, Bonn 2016, ISBN 978-3-7812-1943-4 , p. 65.
- ↑ a b Council Directive 76/114 / EEC of December 18, 1975 on the approximation of the laws of the Member States on signs, mandatory information, their location and method of attachment to motor vehicles and motor vehicle trailers
- ↑ Regulation (EU) No. 19/2011 of the Commission of January 11, 2011 on the type approval of the legally required factory plate and the vehicle identification number for motor vehicles and trailers for the implementation of Regulation (EC) No. 661/2009 of the European Parliament and the Council on the type approval of motor vehicles, motor vehicle trailers and of systems, components and separate technical units for these vehicles with regard to their general safety Text of relevance to the EEA
- ↑ Central Vehicle Register ( Memento from July 18, 2013 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ coyotetrips.com (accessed September 24, 2016)
- ↑ https://www.sae.org/standardsdev/groundvehicle/vin.htm
- ↑ https://blog.mercedes-benz-passion.com/2019/12/mercedes-benz-ag-nutzt-neue-weltstellercodes/