Have you ever pondered, “How do I truly look for my car’s VIN number and make sure I’m not being hoodwinked into buying an older model?” Or considered the importance of knowing your car’s actual manufacturing date?
Think about it. When you’re shelling out those bucks, expecting a brand new car, how sure are you about its ‘freshness‘? It’s essential to know if your dealer isn’t, metaphorically speaking, selling you ‘old wine in a new bottle‘. Would you want a 6-month old car being passed off as a new one? Or even worse, a car that’s over a year old?
Why the VIN Matters
What is VIN number? It’s not some mysterious code. VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, serves as a unique fingerprint for cars. Each car gets stamped with a VIN, typically found in the engine bay or around the passenger compartment.
The real magic lies in decoding this VIN. It can reveal the Month & Year of the car’s production, thus acting as an essential tool for a vin number lookup. VIN has simplified the process for you. With our guide, you can perform a vin lookup for free to decode the VIN specific to various manufacturers.
Decoding the Universal Month & Year Codes
Before diving into individual manufacturers, it’s good to understand the universal codes for months and years:
Month Codes:
| Letter | Month |
|---|---|
| A | JAN |
| B | FEB |
| C | MAR |
| D | APR |
| E | MAY |
| F | JUN |
| G | JUL |
| H | AUG |
| J | SEP |
| K | OCT |
| L | NOV |
| M | DEC |
Year Codes:
| Letter | Year |
|---|---|
| A | 2010 |
| B | 2011 |
| C | 2012 |
| D | 2013 |
| E | 2014 |
| F | 2015 |
| G | 2016 |
| H | 2017 |
| J | 2018 |
| K | 2019 |
| L | 2020 |
| M | 2021 |
| N | 2022 |
| P | 2023 |
| R | 2024 |
| S | 2025 |
| T | 2026 |
| V | 2027 |
| W | 2028 |
| X | 2029 |
| Y | 2030 |
The letters “I“, “O” and “Q” are never used in a VIN. Remember these codes, as they’ll be crucial when we delve deeper into our vin number check.
Let’s Decode: Manufacturer-wise VIN Analysis
While you can use the codes above to understand most VINs, it’s crucial to recognize the unique patterns of each manufacturer for accurate vin number check.
Tata Motors
If you search vin numbers for Tata Motors, you’ll notice they usually begin with MAT....
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 12th character: MONTH of Manufacture
For example, if your VIN’s 10th character is A, it signifies the Year 2010. If the 12th is G, it means the car was made in July.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet’s VINs start with MA6... for all models, barring the Trailblazer.
Initially:
- 9th character: MONTH of Manufacture
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
But from February 2011, there was a change. Now:
- 7th character: MONTH of Manufacture
- 9th character: YEAR of Manufacture
To clarify, a 7th character G and a 9th character F indicate July 2015. And for those trying to how to check car manufacturing date online, Chevrolet vehicles also feature a placard near the front left door, providing another way to determine the manufacture date.
Honda
Initiating a vin number search for Honda? Their VINs start with MAK....
- 9th character: MONTH of Manufacture
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
For instance, a 9th character G and a 10th character A represent July 2010.
Mahindra
Mahindra VINs, starting with MAI..., use:
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 12th character: MONTH of Manufacture
A detailed breakdown of their VIN structure reveals specifics like the vehicle’s continent, country, and manufacturer codes, among others.
Mitsubishi
For Mitsubishi, whose VINs begin with MA7...:
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 11th character: MONTH of Manufacture
Hyundai
Hyundai vehicles come with a longer VIN, starting with MAL....
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 19th character: MONTH of Manufacture
For Hyundai owners eager for a ford decoder vin experience, there’s an exclusive website to access VIN details after registration.
Fiat
Fiat’s longer VIN, beginning with MCA..., uses:
- 18th character: MONTH of Manufacture
- 19th & 20th character: YEAR of Manufacture
Skoda
Skoda has made a recent change. Previously, VINs started with TMB... but from 2021, began with MEX... for models like Kushaq and Slavia.
- 6th character: MONTH of Manufacture
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
Volkswagen
Volkswagen’s VINs, initiated with WVW..., have:
- 4th character: MONTH of Manufacture
- 5th & 6th characters: YEAR of Manufacture
Toyota
For Toyota, with VINs beginning MBJ...:
- 19th & 20th characters: MONTH of Manufacture
- 21st & 22nd characters: YEAR of Manufacture
Maruti Suzuki
Popularly known by its VIN starting with MA3..., Maruti uses a variation based on the car’s age. But the common thread? The VIN’s characters. For most cars:
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 11th character: MONTH of Manufacture
Here’s a trick. If you notice “00” as the 10th and 11th characters, then the VIN has two more characters after a star, making it 19 characters long.
Ford
Initiating your ford decoder vin for a Ford car? Their VINs, which often start with MAJ..., have a 4-year repeating pattern. Thus, decoding requires some attention:
- 11th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 12th character: MONTH of Manufacture
Nissan / Datsun
Having a Nissan or Datsun? Their VINs, typically starting with MDH...:
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 11th character: MONTH of Manufacture
Renault
Renault, with its VINs often beginning with “MEE”, keeps it straight:
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 11th character: MONTH of Manufacture
Kia
For Kia owners, the VIN is usually 19 characters long and starts with MZB...:
- 10th character: Model YEAR
- 19th character: MONTH of Manufacture
Jeep
Jeep, another popular name, uses 20-character VINs starting with MCA...:
- 20th character: Model YEAR
- 19th character: MONTH of Manufacture
MG Motor
For MG Motors, it’s a straightforward decode with their VINs, which often start with MZ7...:
- 10th character: YEAR of Manufacture
- 9th character: MONTH of Manufacture
In Conclusion
Your VIN is like your car’s fingerprint, and with this guide, you’re well-equipped to check vin numbers and decode the secrets it holds. So, next time someone asks, “Can you tell when this car was made?“, you know exactly where to look and how to answer! Why wait? Check your vehicle’s manufacture date now and dive deeper into its history. Who knew a string of characters could reveal so much?
