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Vehicle Identification Numbers
Last updated July 21st, 2010

Commencing in September 1980, Motor Vehicle Safety Standard regulation FMVSS-115 required a 17-digit VIN (vehicle identification number) on all new vehicles sold in the United States. (In Canada, the applicable regulation is Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations Standard 115 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act.) In June of 1983 the American requirements of the regulation moved to Part 565.

The vehicle identification number is divided into four parts: the World Manufacturer's Identification (WMI - three characters); the Vehicle Description Section (VDS - five characters); the check digit; and the Vehicle Identification Section (VIS - eight characters). When decoded, the VIN tells the country and year of manufacture; make, model and serial number; assembly plant and even some equipment specifications.

Note that the sort sequence for characters in the VIN is A to Z, then 1 to 9, and finally 0, with the letters “I”, “O” and “Q” not normally used.

The following is not an exhaustive list, but I have managed to compile a listing for the manufacturers of most types of buses and service vehicles operated by many transit companies, as well as specific codes for several major manufacturers.

One of the better free online VIN decoders that I’ve found is at pronto-net.com. Some rather extensive lists can be found at vehicleidentificationnumber.com. Please with any additions or corrections, which would be greatly appreciated.

PositionSectionInformation
1-2WMIcountry code
2-3manufacturer

4-8VDSequipment codes

9check digit

10VISmodel year
11manufacturing plant
12-17serial number
or
10VISmodel year
11manufacturing plant
12-14WMI suffix
15-17serial number

The text of the article which provided the original information for these pages is at www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/VIN/goodbyebrownrect.html.

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