How to: Decode VIN (All Models 1980+)

Chassis Number (1973-1980)
====================

1st and 2nd Characters: Car Line & Engine - Chassis Code

3rd Character: Body Type & Transmission
A = 2 Door, 4 Speed Manual
B = 2 Door, 2 Speed Automatic
C = 3 Door, 4 Speed Manual
D = 3 Door, 2 Speed Automatic
E = 3 Door, 5 Speed Manual
F = 2 Door, 5 Speed Manual
G = 3 Door LX, 2 Speed Automatic
H = 3 Door LX, 5 Speed Manual
J = 4 Door, 5 Speed Manual
K = 4 Door, 2 Speed Automatic

4th Character: Generation Year of Model
1 = First
2 = Second
3 = Third
4 = Fourth
5 = Fifth
6 = Sixth
7 = Seventh

5th through 10th Characters: Serial Number
000001+


Vehicle Identification Number (VIN, 1981+)
====================

The first three characters uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle using the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) code. There are 2 methods for determining the WMI.

WMI Method 1:

1st Character: Country of Origin
A = South Africa, Ivory Coast
B = Angola, Kenya, Tanzania
C = Benin, Madagascar, Tunisia
D = Egypt, Morocco, Zambia
E = Ethiopia, Mozambique
F = Ghana, Nigeria
J = Japan
K = Sri Lanka, Israel, South Korea
L = China
M = India, Indonesia, Thailand
N = Pakistan, Turkey
P = Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia
R = United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Vietnam
S = Great Britain, Germany, Poland
T = Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Portugal
U = Denmark, Ireland, Romania, Slovakia
V = Austria, France, Spain, Yugoslavia, Croatia, Estonia
W = Germany
X = Bulgaria, Greece, Netherlands, Russia, Luxembourg
Y = Belgium, Finland, Malta, Sweden, Norway, Belarus, Ukraine
Z = Italy, Slovenia, Lithuania
1 = USA
2 = Canada
3 = Mexico, Costa Rica, Cayman Islands
4 = USA
5 = USA
6 = Australia
7 = New Zealand
8 = Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
9 = Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Trinidad & Tobago

2nd Character: Make/Manufacturer
A = Audi, Jaguar
B = BMW, Dodge
C = Chrysler
D = Mercedes
G = General Motors
H = Honda
L = Lincoln
M = Mercury
N = Nissan
P = Plymouth
T = Toyota
V = Volvo, VW
1 = Chevrolet
2 = Pontiac
3 = Oldsmobile
4 = Buick
5 = Pontiac
6 = Cadillac
7 = General Motors (Canada)
8 = Saturn

Some manufacturers use the third character as a code for a vehicle category (e.g., bus or truck), a division within a manufacturer, or both.

3rd Character: Vehicle Type
F = Honda Motorcycle, Built in USA
G = Honda Passenger Vehicle, Built in USA/Canada/Mexico/China
H = Acura Passenger Vehicle, Built in Canada
H = Honda Passenger Vehicle, Built in UK
J = Honda Light Duty Truck, Built in Canada
K = Honda Multi-purpose passenger vehicle, Built in Canada
L = Honda Multi-purpose passenger vehicle, Built in Japan
M = Honda Passenger Vehicle, Built in Japan
N = Honda Multi-purpose passenger vehicle, Built in USA
N = Acura Multi-purpose passenger vehicle, Built in Canada
P = Honda Light Duty Truck, Built in USA
R = Honda Passenger Vehicle, Built in Indonesia
S = Honda Passenger Vehicle, Built in UK
1 = Honda Motorcycle, Built in Mexico
2 = Honda Motorcycle, Built in Japan
3 = Honda ATV, Built in Japan
4 = Acura Passenger Vehicle, Built in Japan

WMI Method 2: The first character still represents the country of origin. The second character no longer represents the Make/Manufacturer, and the third character no longer represents the vehicle type. Instead, the second and third characters are combined with the first character to make a generic code.

1st through 3rd Characters:
LUC = Honda Automobile (China)
MRH = Honda Automobile (Thailand)
RKT = Honda Automobile (Taiwan)
VTM = Honda Motorcycle (Spain)
YC1 = Honda Motorcycle (Belgium)
ZDC = Honda Motorcycle (Italy)
19U = Acura CL & TL (1999+)
478 = Honda ATV (USA)
4S6 = Honda Passport (All)
5FN = Honda Odyssey (2002+) & Pilot (2005+)
5FP = Honda Ridgeline (2009+)
5J6 = Honda Element (All) and Honda CR-V
5J8 = Acura RDX (All)
93H = Honda Automobile (Brazil)
9C2 = Honda Motorcycle (Brazil)


The 4th through 9th characters in the VIN are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). This is used, according to local regulations, to identify the vehicle type and may include information on the platform used, the model, and the body style. Each manufacturer has a unique system for using this field. Most manufacturers since the 1980s have used the 8th digit to identify the engine type whenever there is more than one engine choice for the vehicle.


4th and 5th Characters: Car Line & Engine - Chassis Code (1981-1986)

6th Character: Transmission Type (1981-1986)
2 = Semi-Hondamatic
3 = 3 Speed Automatic
4 = 4 Speed Manual
5 = 5 Speed Manual
6 = 6 Speed Manual (5 Speed Manual w/ Super Low Gear)
7 = 4 Speed Automatic

4th through 6th Characters: Car Line & Engine - Chassis Code (1987+)

7th Character: Body Type (1981-1986)
2 = 2-door Coupe
3 = 3-door Hatchback
4 = 4-door Sedan
5 = 5-door Wagon

7th Character: Body Type & Transmission (1987-2009)
1 = 2 Door Convertible, Manual
1 = 2 Door Coupe, Manual
2 = 2 Door Coupe, Automatic or CVT
3 = 3 Door Hatchback, Manual
4 = 3 Door Hatchback, Automatic or CVT
5 = 4 Door Sedan, Manual
6 = 4 Door Sedan, Automatic or CVT
6 = 4 Door Truck, Automatic or CVT
7 = 5 Door Wagon, Manual
7 = 5 Door SUV, Manual
8 = 5 Door Wagon, Automatic or CVT
8 = 5 Door Minivan, Automatic or CVT
8 = 5 Door SUV, Automatic or CVT

7th Character: Body Type & Transmission (2010+)
A = 2 Door Convertible, Manual
A = 2 Door Coupe, Manual
B = 2 Door Coupe, Automatic or CVT
C = 3 Door Hatchback, Manual
D = 3 Door Hatchback, Automatic or CVT
E = 4 Door Sedan, Manual
F = 4 Door Sedan, Automatic or CVT
F = 4 Door Truck, Automatic or CVT
G = 5 Door Wagon, Manual
G = 5 Door SUV, Manual
H = 5 Door Wagon, Automatic or CVT
H = 5 Door Minivan, Automatic or CVT
H = 5 Door SUV, Automatic or CVT

8th Character: Grade - Trim Level

9th Character: Check Digit

The 10th through 17th characters are used as the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). This is used by the manufacturer to identify the individual vehicle in question. This may include information on options installed or engine and transmission choices, but often is a simple sequential number.

10th Character: Model Year
A = 1980
B = 1981
C = 1982
D = 1983
E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
P = 1993
R = 1994
S = 1995
T = 1996
V = 1997
W = 1998
X = 1999
Y = 2000
1 = 2001
2 = 2002
3 = 2003
4 = 2004
5 = 2005
6 = 2006
7 = 2007
8 = 2008
9 = 2009
A = 2010
(I, O, Q, U, Z, and 0 are not used)

11th Character: Assembly Plant
A = Marysville, Ohio, USA
B = Lincoln, Alabama, USA
B = Aalst, Belgium
C = Alliston, Ontario, Canada
C = Saitama or Sayama, Japan
D = Guadalajara, Mexico
E = Greensburg, Indiana, USA
E = Montesa, Spain
F = Atessa, Italy
F = Ping Tung Factory, Taiwan
H = Alliston, Ontario, Canada
J = Karawang Factory, Indonesia
K = Kumamoto, Japan
L = East Liberty, Ohio, USA
M = Hamamatsu, Japan
P = Ayutthaya Factory, Thailand
R = Manaus, Brazil
S = Suzuka, Japan
T = Tochigi, Japan
U = Swindon, England
X = El Salto, Mexico
Z = Sao Paulo, Brazil
1 = Manaus, Brazil
2 = Guangzhou Factory, China
3 = Huangpu Guangzhou Factory, China
4 = Timmonsville, South Carolina, USA

The 12th through 17th characters represent the Production Sequence Number. It starts at 000001 and goes up with each vehicle produced.

12th Character: Market Specification Number
While still part of the Production Sequence Number, this digit can vary based on market. For example, the Production Sequence Number for CDM Preludes from 1997-2001 starts with an 8.