VIN year code decoder

Client

The tenth VIN character encodes model year on North American-style frames. This page shows the year code readout plus mod-11 validation—not full trim or engine decode from OEM tables.

Year code readout limits

Toolcore maps position ten to the standard model year table and validates mod-11 on the full string. Plant, trim, and option codes require OEM-specific references beyond public checksum rules.

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.
?

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

  • Rough model year sanity check before ordering parts catalogs.
  • Audit year-code consistency across auction intake CSVs.
  • Explain position-10 charts with a working validator link.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Assuming year code equals calendar registration year

    Model year codes follow NHTSA charts—registration year can differ.

  • Decoding year without validating check digit

    A wrong ninth symbol means the entire frame may be mistyped.

FAQ

Which position is the model year?

Character ten (index nine) in a 17-character VIN.

Does year decode include month of manufacture?

No—only the published year code at position ten plus checksum validation.

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.