VIN Model Year Codes Explained 📅
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) contains valuable information about a vehicle, including its model year. In North America, the 10th character of the VIN encodes the model year. However, certain letters and numbers are not used to avoid confusion.
🔑 Key Rules
- The letters I, O, Q are never used in VINs.
- The letters U, Z and the digit 0 are not used for model years.
- 1980 was encoded differently by manufacturers: GM and Chrysler used A, while Ford and AMC used 0.
- Years advance sequentially through allowed letters: A = 1980, Y = 2000.
- 2001–2009 use digits 1–9, then letters resume from A = 2010.
📅 VIN 10th Digit Year Codes
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 |
| B | 1981 | M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 |
| C | 1982 | N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 |
| D | 1983 | P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 |
| E | 1984 | R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 |
| G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 |
| H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 |
| J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 |
| K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 |
| L | 2020 | M | 2021 | N | 2022 | P | 2023 |
| R | 2024 | S | 2025 | T | 2026 | V | 2027 |
| W | 2028 | X | 2029 | Y | 2030 | 1 | 2031 |
📖 Regulatory Updates
On April 30, 2008, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) updated VIN rules to extend the system for at least another 30 years. Key changes include:
- Make Identification: Must be determined using positions 1–3 plus another manufacturer-defined position.
- Year Identification: Position 7, in combination with position 10, determines whether the model year falls within 1980–2009 or 2010–2039.
- Heavy Vehicles: For vehicles above 10,000 lbs GVWR, buses, motorcycles, trailers, and others, the 30-year year cycle no longer applies.
Summary: The VIN's 10th digit provides the model year, with specific codes assigned to each year.
Knowing these codes helps buyers, inspectors, and regulators confirm a vehicle’s age and authenticity.
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