Find the number first
On a modern passenger vehicle the VIN is 17 characters. Check the dashboard where it meets the windshield on the driver side, the certification label on the driver door jamb, and the title or insurance card. If those copies do not match, stop and ask why before you pay.
Letters I, O, and Q are left out so they are not confused with 1 and 0. If a seller’s “VIN” contains one of those letters, it is mistyped or not a standard VIN.
What each section means
| Positions | Name | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World manufacturer identifier: who built the vehicle and, often, in which country. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle descriptor: model, body, engine, and restraint details. The meaning is specific to the manufacturer. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated character used to catch typing errors. It can be 0–9 or X. |
| 10 | Year | Model year code. The same letter repeats every 30 years, so the rest of the VIN matters. |
| 11 | Plant | Assembly plant code assigned by the manufacturer. |
| 12–17 | Serial | The unique production number for that vehicle. |
That decode describes the car as built. It does not list later crashes, owners, or odometer readings. Those come from a vehicle history lookup, and only when an insurer, state, auction, or shop reported them.
Model year codes you will see often
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
| B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
| C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
| D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
| E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
| F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
| G | 2016 | T | 2026 |
| H | 2017 | V | 2027 |
| J | 2018 | W | 2028 |
| K | 2019 | X | 2029 |
Position 10 uses the same sequence in earlier cycles (for example, A was also 1980). Confirm the year against the title instead of trusting one character.
What a history lookup adds
Shoppers who type “free Carfax report” usually want events after the car left the factory: a salvage or flood brand, an airbag deployment, an odometer jump, or a stack of service visits. CARFAX is a separate company. This site does not provide CARFAX reports.
VinRizz offers a free VIN check and says results can include accident history, service records, and title information. Open the check, enter the VIN there, and read the result as one source among several. A missing record is common, especially for private repairs paid in cash.
A practical checklist
- Match the VIN on the car, the title, and the listing.
- Decode the build so the engine and body match what the seller described.
- Run the history lookup on VinRizz.
- Pay for an inspection if you are still interested. A report cannot see a fresh dent or a hidden leak.