Free tool
VIN decoder
Paste any 17-character VIN to validate it and break it down position by position — model year, country, manufacturer and check digit — plus full vehicle specs from the official NHTSA database.
Valid VIN — check digit matches
| Section | Pos. | Your VIN | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| World maker (WMI) | 1–3 | 1FT | Ford, built in United States |
| Vehicle specs (VDS) | 4–8 | FW1ET | Model, body, engine & restraints — coded per manufacturer |
| Check digit | 9 | 9 | Validates the VIN — matches ✓ |
| Model year | 10 | D | 2013 |
| Assembly plant | 11 | F | Factory the vehicle was built at — coded per manufacturer |
| Serial number | 12–17 | C10312 | Unique production sequence for this vehicle |
Full vehicle details
Source: NHTSA vPICFull specs load here from the official NHTSA database when JavaScript is on.
- Make
- —
- Model
- —
- Model year
- —
- Trim / series
- —
- Body class
- —
- Vehicle type
- —
- Drive type
- —
- Engine
- —
- Fuel
- —
- Transmission
- —
- Built at
- —
- GVWR
- —
- Doors
- —
Decoded in your browser and looked up against the free public NHTSA database — your VIN isn't stored.
Decodes what the vehicle is, not its history. A VIN can't tell you mileage, ownership or accidents — use an official title record or a paid history report for that.
Anatomy of a VIN
Seventeen characters, six jobs. Here's what each section carries.
World maker (WMI)
Country of build and the manufacturer — the first character alone tells you the region.
Vehicle specs (VDS)
Model, body style, engine and safety equipment, in a code unique to each maker.
Check digit
A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN, so a single typo is caught.
Model year
A single letter or number for the year — read together with position 7 for the decade.
Plant
The assembly plant that built the vehicle, coded by the manufacturer.
Serial
The unique production sequence number — this vehicle's fingerprint on the line.
VIN decoding — frequently asked
What is a VIN and where do I find it?
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is the unique 17-character code every road vehicle built since 1981 carries. You'll find it on the driver-side dashboard where it meets the windshield, on the driver-door jamb sticker, and on your title, registration and insurance card.
What does each part of the VIN mean?
Positions 1–3 are the World Manufacturer Identifier (country and maker). Positions 4–8 describe the vehicle — model, body style, engine and restraints — in a code specific to each manufacturer. Position 9 is a check digit that validates the whole number. Position 10 is the model year, position 11 is the assembly plant, and 12–17 are the unique production serial number.
What is the check digit and why does mine fail?
The 9th character is a check digit calculated from all the others using a fixed weighting formula, so a single typo almost always breaks it. A failed check digit usually means a mistyped VIN — but it's also normal for many vehicles built outside North America, where the check digit isn't mandatory.
Can a VIN tell me the mileage, owner or accident history?
No. A VIN decodes what the vehicle is — make, model, year, engine, plant and specs — not what has happened to it. For odometer readings, ownership, title brands or accident history you need a paid history report (such as Carfax or AutoCheck) or the official title and registration records.
Why doesn't my VIN show full vehicle details?
The detailed specs come from the US government's NHTSA vPIC database, which covers vehicles sold in the United States. Pre-1981 vehicles (which don't use the modern 17-character format), grey-market imports and some vehicles built for other markets may return little or nothing — even though the structural breakdown here still works.
Is it safe to enter my VIN here?
Yes. The structural breakdown is computed in your browser, and the full specs are looked up directly against the free public NHTSA database. We don't store your VIN or tie it to you. A VIN alone isn't sensitive the way a plate or title number is, but we keep it private regardless.
