Decoding The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

[SK01]

Vehicle Identification Number which is also known as VIN, in short, is a unique identification number marked on the vehicle in different locations (Engine bay, passenger compartment, etc). This helps us find the exact month and year the vehicle was manufactured. This is really useful to know whether the dealer is selling us the new vehicle or else a vehicle manufactured 6 months ago and even a year ago. However reading it isn't an easy job, neither is a tough job. It just requires proper decoding codes and knowledge of what alphabet, number on the big VIN says what. VIN pattern is different from manufacturer to manufacturer. Sometimes even cars to cars in the same manufacturer. Here are the codes to decode the VIN of different manufacturers. Using this, one can find out what exactly the VIN represents. 

 

 

NOTE: The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are never used in a VIN. 

NOTE: None of the below mentioned  VIN represents the original VIN of any manufacturer. 

 

HONDA CAR INDIA

VIN Characters: 17 (MAK*****AE********) 

Method:
9th character - MONTH of Manufacture (A) refer above VIN 
10th character - YEAR of Manufacture (E) refer above VIN

 

Month Codes:
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:
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

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in January 2014. 

 

 

TATA MOTORS 
VIN Characters: 17 (MAT******B*K*****) 

Method:

10th character - YEAR of Manufacture (B) refer above VIN 
12th character - MONTH of Manufacture (K) refer above VIN

Year Codes: 

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

 

Month Codes: 

A = JAN, B = FEB, C = MAR, D = APR, E = MAY, F = JUN, G = JUL, H = AUG, J = SEP, K = OCT, N = NOV, P = DEC

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in October 2011. 

 

MITSUBISHI MOTORS INDIA
VIN Characters: 17 (MA7******DC******) 

Method:
10th character - YEAR of Manufacture (D) refer above VIN 
11th character - MONTH of Manufacture  (C) refer above VIN

Year Codes:

A = 2010, B = 2011, C = 2012, D = 2013, E = 2014, F = 2015, G = 2016, H = 2017, J = 2018, K = 2019, K = 2019, L = 2020, M = 2021, N = 2022, P = 2023, R = 2024, S = 2025, T = 2026,

V = 2027, W = 2028, X = 2029, Y = 2030

 

Month Codes:
A = JAN, B = FEB, C = MAR, D = APR, E = MAY, F = JUN, G = JUL, H = AUG, J = SEP, K = OCT, L = NOV, M = DEC

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in March 2013 

 

MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA
VIN Characters: 17 (MA1******C*D*****)

Method:
10th character - YEAR of Manufacture (C) refer above VIN 
12th character - MONTH of Manufacture  (D) refer above VIN

Year Codes:
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

 

Month Codes:, A = JAN, B = FEB, C = MAR, D = APR, E = MAY, F = JUN, G = JUL, H = AUG, J = SEP, K = OCT, L = NOV, M = DEC

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in April 2012. 

 

HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY

VIN / Chassis Number Characters: 19 (MAL******D********F)

Method:
10th character - Model YEAR (D) refer above VIN 
19th character - MONTH of Manufacture (F) refer above VIN 

Year Codes:
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

 

Month Codes:
A = JAN, B = FEB, C = MAR, D = APR, E = MAY, F = JUN, G = JUL, H = AUG, J = SEP, K = OCT, L = NOV, M = DEC

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in June 2013. 

 

SKODA AUTO INDIA 
VIN Characters: 17 (TMB**C***D*******)

Method:
6th character - MONTH of Manufacture (C) refer above VIN 
10th character- YEAR of Manufacture (D) refer above VIN 

Month Codes:
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:

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

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in March 2013. 

 

VOLKSWAGEN INDIA

VIN Characters: 17 (WVWB10***C*******)

Method:
4th character - MONTH of Manufacture (B) refer above VIN 
5th & 6th character - Production Year (10) refer above VIN 
10th character - Model Year (C) refer above VIN 

Month Codes:
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:
10 = 2010, 11 = 2011, 12 = 2012, 13 = 2013, 14 = 2014, 15 = 2015, 16 = 2016, 17 = 2017, 18 = 2018, 19 = 2019, 20 = 2020, 21 = 2021, 22 = 2022, 23 = 2023, 24 = 2024, 25 = 2025,

26 = 2026, 27 = 2027, 28 = 2028, 29 = 2029, 30 = 2030

Model Year Codes:
A = 2010, B = 2011, C = 2012, D = 2013, E = 2014, F = 2015, G = 2016, H = 2017, J = 2018, K = 2019

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in February 2010, model year 2012. 

 

FIAT INDIA 
VIN Characters: 20 (MCA**************GFZ)

Method:
18th character - MONTH of Manufacture (G) refer above VIN 
19th & 20th character - YEAR of Manufacture (FZ) refer above VIN 

Month Codes:
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:
8Z = 2030, 7Z = 2029, 6Z = 2028, 5Z = 2027, 4Z = 2026, 3Z = 2025, 2Z = 2024, 1Z = 2023, AZ = 2022, BZ = 2021, CZ = 2020, DZ = 2019, EZ = 2018, FZ = 2017, GZ = 2016, HZ = 2015,

JZ = 2014, KZ = 2013, LZ = 2012, MZ = 2011, NZ = 2010, QZ & PZ = 2009

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in July 2017.

TOYOTA INDIA
VIN Characters: 22 (MBJ**************0510)

Method:
19th & 20th character - MONTH of Manufacture (05) refer above VIN 
21st & 22nd character - YEAR of Manufacture (10) refer above VIN 

Month Codes:
01 = JAN, 02 = FEB, 03 = MAR, 04 = APR, 05 = MAY, 06 = JUN, 07 = JUL, 08 = AUG, 09 = SEP, 10 = OCT, 11 = NOV, 12 = DEC

Year Codes:
10 = 2010, 11 = 2011, 12 = 2012, 13 = 2013, 14 = 2014, 15 = 2015, 16 = 2016, 17 = 2017, 18 = 2018, 19 = 2019, 20 = 2020, 21 = 2021, 22 = 2022, 23 = 2023, 24 = 2024, 25 = 2025,

26 = 2026, 27 = 2027, 28 = 2028, 29 = 2029, 30 = 2030

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in May 2010. 

 

MARUTI SUZUKI 

VIN Characters: 17 (MA3******HA******)

Method:
11th character - MONTH of Manufacture (H) refer above VIN
10th character - YEAR of Manufacture (A) refer above VIN

Month Codes:
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:
Y=2030, X=2029, W=2028, V=2027, T=2026, S=2025, R=2024, P=2023, N=2022, M=2021, L=2020, K=2019, J=2018, H=2017, G=2016, F=2015, E=2014, D=2013, C=2012, B=2011, A=2010, 9=2009, 8=2008, 7=2007, 6=2006, 5=2005

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in August 2010. 

 

RENAULT INDIA

VIN Characters: 17 (MEE******AA******)

Method:
10th character - YEAR of Manufacture (A) refer above VIN
11th character - MONTH of Manufacture (A) refer above VIN

 

Year Codes:
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

Month Codes:
1 = January, 2 = February, 3 = March, 4 = April, 5 = May, 6 = June, 7 = July, 8 = August, 9 = September, A = October, B = November, C = December

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in October 2010. 

 

NISSAN/DATSUN INDIA 
VIN Characters: 17 (MDH******AA******)

Method:
10th character - YEAR of Manufacture  (A) refer above VIN
11th character - MONTH of Manufacture  (A) refer above VIN

Year Codes:
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

Month Codes:
1 = January, 2 = February, 3 = March, 4 = April, 5 = May, 6 = June, 7 = July, 8 = August, 9 = September, A = October, B = November, C = December

 

Example: According to the above mentioned VIN, the vehicle was manufactured in October 2010. 

 

FORD INDIA

VIN Characters: 17 (MAJGXX****KG*******)

Ford India uses a pattern that repeats every 4 years. That means the 2005-2008 pattern repeats for 2009-2012 (and so on).

Method:

(Use the chart below for reference)

11th character - YEAR of Manufacture (K) refer above VIN 
12th character - MONTH of Manufacture (G) refer above VIN 

 

 

Anyone having Jeep, MG and KIA VIN details can mention them in the comments section in the above written format. 

 

Edited October 31, 2019 by SK01

[Shan]

Hyundai vin to pincode 2020. Web price

[LoneRanger]

Very informative article. 

[sagar]

Wonderful thread @SK01.. Thank you so much for spreading the knowledge 😊

[karthik]

Finally I am able to decode my duster information. Good share. 

[Nirmal]

How to identify KIA VIN Number pls....

[RBJ]

MZBFE813LLN013674 plz decode 

[Yogeshr]

Hi, 

Could you please help to decode my KIA car VIN details. ( Like manufactured month & year ). My Sales rep is not transparent & not providing exact details of manufactured month/year & o don't want to get hit.

 

Thank you so much in advance. 

 

VIN - MZBFF811LNN207416