RONALD E. MOORE
University of Extrication Editor
In most countries every road vehicle (bus, van, truck, car, motorcycle, moped and trailer) is required to have a Vehicle Identification Number, or VIN, which consists of 17 characters, as originally defined by the International Organization for Standardization, Standard 3779. VINs have been required in the U.S. by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 115 since Sept. 1, 1980, covering model year 1981 and newer vehicles.
Photo By Ron Moore
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is stamped into the thin metal strip riveted to the dashboard.
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Fortunately for emergency responders, each VIN contains a secret code that indicates the model year in which the vehicle was manufactured. Although emergency responders know about VINs, few responders are aware of the model year coding. All we have to do is count to 10 and read the basic chart.
Knowing the model year in which the vehicle was built can be beneficial to fire officers or fire investigators compiling reports about a vehicle fire or extrication. Of special interest to rescue and extrication personnel, the dashboard VIN plates on some vehicles may also contain additional wording or line-art drawings informing of the presence of frontal or side-impact airbag systems.
The Vehicle Identification Number is a 17-character sequence of letters and numbers assigned by the manufacturer when the vehicle is built. In the VIN-code, capital letters I, O and Q are not used for obvious reasons. No signs or spaces are allowed in the VIN.
Photo By Ron Moore
The 17-character VIN contains a code that identifies the model year of the vehicle.
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In North America, the 17-character VIN is divided into four sections:
The first three characters uniquely identify the manufacturer, make and type of vehicle (with the exception of manufacturers that produce fewer than 500 vehicles per year).
The second section consists of five characters (VIN positions four to eight) and identify the attributes of the vehicle. For each type of vehicle (passenger cars, MPVs, trucks, buses, trailers, motorcycles or incomplete vehicles other than trailers), different information is reported.
The third section of the VIN consists of one character which is the "check" digit, a security feature of this numbering system. This character can be numeric or the letter X.
The fourth section consists of eight characters, positions 10-17 of the VIN. The first character, position number 10, represents the vehicle model year. Position 11 represents the plant of manufacture. Positions 12 through 17 form a sequential production number.
VIN Year Code
Photo By Ron Moore
Some VIN plates also contain front or side airbag logos indicating the presence of a supplemental restraint system (SRS).
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The year code in the Vehicle Identification Number is the 10th position. The recommended key for this 10th digit is given in the chart below. Note that starting with model year 2001 vehicles, the 10th position “year code” will be a number instead of a letter. The year code can be the calendar year in which a vehicle is built, or a model or type year allocated by the manufacturer.
The VIN is stamped or etched into a small metal strip that is riveted to the upper left corner of the instrument panel on all domestic passenger vehicles. At a crash scene, however, this VIN plate may be obstructed. Broken windshield glass or a crumpled hood may temporarily block your clear view of the VIN. A crash or fire may also damage the dash and instrument panel.
On newer model vehicles, the VIN may also be found in an alternate location. Check the latch edge of the driver’s door for a large white sticker. This bar-coded Vehicle Identification Number label contains the VIN plus other valuable information about the specific vehicle. If the white label is not on the end of the drivers door, look along the B-pillar, as you may find it in the vicinity of the B-pillar door latch mechanism.
Photo By Ron Moore
A second location for VINs is the white label attached to the driver’s door or B-pillar near the latch mechanism.
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One new potential location for VINs is on all the glass of the vehicle. Having the VIN etched into automobile glass is a new deterrent against auto theft.
Validating Model Year
To validate the model year for a vehicle check the letter in the 10th position of the VIN. The example below shows the letter and the corresponding year for the one specific vehicle, a 1990 Audi sedan. Note that the letter in the 10th position of the VIN is an L-indicating the 1990 model year automobile.
WAUHE5438LN600074
The VIN for a large 1987 Chevrolet Cavalier shown below contains the letter H in the 10th position, indicating a 1987 model year automobile.
1G1JE1119HJ162212
Task: Using the VIN "Model Year" Code Chart, determine the correct model year for the vehicles with the following VINs:
Vehicle Identification Number "Model Year" Code 10th Position Chart
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1980=A
1981=B
1982=C
1983=D
1984=E
1985=F
1986=G
1987=H
1988=K
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1989=K
1990=L
1991=M
1992=N
1993=P
1994=R
1995=S
1996=T
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1997=V
1998=W
1999=X
2000=Y
2001=1
2002=2
2003=3
2004=4
2005=5
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2006=6
2007=7
2008=8
2009=9
2010=A
2011=B
2012=C
2013=D
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1HGCD5623SA034651
2G2FV22GXW2221778
1HMCD5537RC024047
1FABP53U2KAI54647
1HGCB7275PA028120
YV1FA8942L2420034
1G4AG55M4S6405489
1FMDU34X7TZA04833
WDBDA28D8MF800337
