VIN Structure

A Vehicle Identification Number is exactly 17 characters, defined by ISO 3779 and, in the United States, 49 CFR Part 565. It splits into three sections.

5UXFA13564LU32275

1–3 · World Manufacturer Identifier

Who built it, and where.

4–9 · Vehicle Descriptor Section

What it is — body, engine, restraints — plus the check digit at 9.

10–17 · Vehicle Identifier Section

Which one: year, plant, and serial number.

Position by position

What each VIN position means
Position	Section	Meaning
1	WMI	Country or region where the vehicle was built
2	WMI	Manufacturer, with position 1
3	WMI	Vehicle type or manufacturing division
4	VDS	Vehicle attributes — assigned by the manufacturer
5	VDS	Vehicle attributes — model or platform
6	VDS	Vehicle attributes — body style or series
7	VDS	Vehicle attributes — restraint system or engine
8	VDS	Vehicle attributes — engine type
9	VDS	Check digit — computed from the other sixteen
10	VIS	Model year
11	VIS	Assembly plant
12	VIS	Serial number
13	VIS	Serial number
14	VIS	Serial number
15	VIS	Serial number
16	VIS	Serial number
17	VIS	Serial number

The alphabet

A VIN uses 33 characters. I, O and Q are never legal anywhere in a VIN — they are too easily confused with 1 and 0 on a stamped plate.

ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRSTUVWXYZ0123456789

Two positions have rules of their own: the check digit at position 9 and the model year at position 10.

Source: ISO 3779; 49 CFR Part 565.