VIN manufacturer code check

Client

Manufacturer code check searches focus on the World Manufacturer Identifier at the start of the frame. Paste for WMI substring readout and full mod-11 validation—brand names come from NHTSA tables, not live decode APIs here.

Manufacturer prefix vs full decode

This page validates checksum and highlights WMI. Detailed manufacturer names and plant lists are maintained by NHTSA and OEMs—use those references after format pass.

Privacy: parsing runs only in your browser. This page does not query DMV, insurance, or manufacturer databases—only the published mod-11 rule for the ninth character.
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After removing spaces and hyphens, the frame must be exactly 17 characters. Letters I, O, and Q are forbidden everywhere. Position 9 (index 8) is the check symbol: decimal 0–9 or X for remainder ten. Each symbol maps to a numeric value, is multiplied by a fixed weight for its position, products are summed, and sum mod 11 must equal the check symbol’s value (X → 10).

Result

Passes check digit — weighted sum mod 11 is 10; expected X.

  • WMI (positions 1–3): 1HG
  • Attributes (4–8): BH41J
  • Check (9): X
  • Model year code (10): M
  • Plant (11): N
  • Sequential (12–17): 109186

Common use cases

  • Confirm WMI prefix matches expected make on intake forms.
  • Spot swapped WMI on mixed fleet CSV rows.
  • Link spec docs to a working manufacturer-prefix readout.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Treating WMI as proof of final assembly country

    WMI registers manufacturer—not always the assembly plant location.

  • Expecting manufacturer code to reveal engine or trim

    Deep attribute decode lives in VDS positions with OEM-specific tables.

FAQ

What is the VIN manufacturer code?

The first three characters (WMI) identifying the manufacturer under ISO 3779.

Is this an NHTSA WMI lookup API?

No—display and checksum math run locally without registry queries.

Common search terms

Phrases people search for that match this tool. See the full long-tail keyword index.

  • vin check digit verifier online
  • validate vin number mod 11 free
  • ninth position vin checksum browser
  • iso 3779 vin check digit calculator
  • vehicle identification number check digit locally

More tools

Related utilities you can open in another tab—mostly client-side.