read VIN numbers
The VIN number, or Vehicle Identification Number is a 17-character alphanumeric identifier that acts a serial number for your car. The VIN number contains four relevant parts and helps to identify:
1) "World Manufacturer" of the vehicle,
2) "Vehicle Description",
3) "VIN accuracy check digit",
4) "Vehicle Identification".
Here is how you read it
Instructions
1. The first part of your VIN number is called the World Manufacturer's Identification. It is the first three characters out of the 17 total characters of your VIN number. The first character in the WMI sequence represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured and can be either a letter or a number. The second character refers to the manufacturer, and can also be a letter or number. The third character represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division.
2. The second part of your VIN number is called the Vehicle Description Section. The vehicle description section consists of five characters and they represent the 4th to 8th characters of the total 17 character VIN. These numbers identify everything from the body style, engine type, braking system, model, series, restraint system, etc. These numbers are key for identifying what type of vehicle you have.
3. The 9th character in the overall 17 character VIN is called the VIN accuracy check digit. This number verifies the previous VIN numbers, and is determined by the National Department of Transportation.
4. The last eight digits of the 17 character VIN number are known as the Vehicle Identification Section of the VIN number. The vehicle identification section character identifies the model year (10th character) and the assembly plant for the vehicle (11th character). A number or letter may represent the model year. The 12th to 17th characters are the actual serial number of the vehicle-these last 6 digits make the vehicle unique, and help to identify if the vehicle was the first, the hundredth, or the last vehicle off the manufacturer's assembly line.
