VIN.
Basic provisions and VIN structure, are formulated according to the ISO 3779-1983 standard accepted in February, 1977 and describing the VIN format from English Vehicle Identification Number (identification number of a vehicle).
VIN of motor transport made in the countries which have accepted the international standard represents a combination of the Arab figures and capital letters of the Latin alphabet:
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
A B C D E F G H J K L M N P R S T U V W X Y Z
Letters I, O and Q aren't used in view of their similarity with figures 0,1
The structure of VIN includes three independent parts:
World Manufacturers Identification (WMI) - a world index of the manufacturer
Vehicle Description Section (VDI) - a descriptive part
Vehicle Identification Section (VIS) - a distinctive part
VIN
|
WMI
|
VDI
|
VIS
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
X
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
8
|
9
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
13
|
14
|
15
|
16
|
17
|
WMI - represents a code attributed to the manufacturer for the purpose of his identification. The code consists of three symbols. The first symbol is a figure or a letter which indicates the geographical region (if needed several symbols can be attributed to a geographical region). The second symbol is a figure or a letter indicating the country in the geographical region. If necessary some symbols (for example, codes of producers of the USA can begin with figures 1, 4,5) can be attributed to the country. The third symbol is a letter or the figure attributed by the national organization to a certain producer of motor transport. Figure “9” as the third symbol should be used by the producer making less than 500 cars in a year.
VDS - is the second section of VIN and it consists of six symbols describing properties of the vehicle. Symbols, sequence of their arrangement and their sense are defined by the manufacturer. Its design, types of the body, the engine, design of the drive, engine capacity, a wheel arrangement (at the left or at the right) are usually used for designation of the vehicle..., that is important for determination the authenticity of VIN of a vehicle. The manufacturer is entitled to fill unused positions with symbols chosen at its own discretion (most often “0” or “Z”). For example, the VIN AUDI car, - WAUZZZ89ZHA123456.
The ninth symbol in VIN markings should be specially noted. According to the standard ISO 3779, the ninth VIN symbol is designated for the control figure (Check Digit - 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and the letter X corresponds to figure 10). All companies which manufacture cars for the North American market adhere to this standard. These rules are defined by the Code of Federal Laws of the USA 49 CFR Part 565, §6 (c) and are uniform for all manufacturers of vehicles in the USA. The control figure is defined by special algorithm when assigning number at the factory. This figure is being calculated by means of arithmetic manipulations with VIN symbols. Check up of VIN correctness allows to define changed number because as a rule resembling figures and letters are forged. In this case it is rather hard to adjust new VIN to the control figure. However, some European companies, BMW, in particular, adhere to ISO also in the European cars. For example, the VIN of BMW is WBAHC11010BA23456. The control figure is 1. Check of correctness of this VIN showed that VIN was changed. For this VIN the control figure is 9, - (WBAHC11090BA23456).
VIS - is the third section of VIN and consists of eight symbols, the last four symbols of this section surely should be figures. If the manufacturer wishes to include indication of modeling year in VIS structure, it is recommended to place indication of modeling year on the first position (the tenth VIN symbol, as a rule is a letter or figure). The concept of modeling year differs from a calendar year shifting the beginning of year forward by three – five months (at various producers). It is done for the purpose that the made cars have marking of the current year (by the moment of sale). The beginning of the modeling year is established by each producer differently, but more often as a reference point of new (next) modeling year is accepted October 1 of the current year. For example, the manufacturer of Volkswagen Borа, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Passat models started release of cars of 2003 modeling year on May 01, 2002.
The eleventh VIN symbol (as a rule) is a figure or a letter is indicating the assembly plant of this vehicle. For example, AUDI cars have VIN - WAUZZZ89ZHA123456. The symbol "H" indicates modeling year of the production (1987), and a symbol "A" indicates manufacturing plant (Ingolstadt).
Some producers, for example, “FORD” (European), as the eleventh symbol specify calendar year, and the twelfth symbol – month of release of the car.
The release year some producers which have not accepted the international standard, specify in other places. It is necessary to note also that many producers of minibuses and trucks attribute to these vehicles structure of VIN similar to cars. At the same time producers of cars of those countries which didn't accept the international standard in any edition, use VIN with less number of symbols. For example, the MITSUBISHI PAJERO cars assembled in Arab Emirates, have VIN which consists of fourteen symbols, - DONV120SJ00477.
Some producers, for example, BMW, the eleventh VIN symbol specifies the manufacturing plant, and the twelfth symbol indicates a model range.
Except for the last four positions VIN has the digital structure indicating serial production number of the car. For example, the VIN of BMW car - WBAHC11090BA234569. The symbol "B" indicates the manufacturing plant (Dingolfing), and a symbol "A"- model range.
VIN should placed in one or two rows with identical intervals between symbols. In case of VIN placement in two rows, division is admitted between each of the above described parts of VIN (by WMI, VDS, VIS) only. Division of these parts by a symbol divider different from figures used in designations and letters is admitted. Such symbol (horizontal line, an asterisk or a company symbol) is often placed before and after VIN or its part identifying a vehicle.
In the conclusion of this section, we are decoding the VIN of HONDA ACCORD car: 1HGCG2250YA600529.
1 - Geographical region - the USA
H - the Producer of the car - HONDA
G - Vehicle Type - the Car
CG225 - Model - ACCORD EX-V6/2DR CP/4A/2 AIR BAGS
0 - Control digit * - doesn't coincide, requires - 1
Y - Modelling year - 2000
A - Assembly plant - MARYSVILLE, OH (USA)
600529 - Serial production number of the car.
As you see, the car is made in the USA (the first VIN symbol is figure 1. It indicates the geographical region, - the USA), but the control figure "0" doesn't coincide. The reason is in the following: the manufacturer doesn’t use the ninth symbol of VIN as a control figure in the cars manufactured for the European market instead it places 0. Only an expert with long experience of practical work can deal with such VIN marking.
|