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SURFACE J272 AUG2008

VEHICLE
Issued 1972-05
RECOMMENDED Revised 2008-08

PRACTICE
Superseding J272 DEC2006

Vehicle Identification Number Systems

RATIONALE

Decimal equivalent for the fractional remainder of 6/11 is published incorrectly. Change required to correct a technical
inaccuracy.

FOREWORD

This document replaces SAE J273 Passenger Car Vehicle Identification Number System and SAE J1108 Truck and
Truck Tractor Vehicle Identification Number Systems.

1. SCOPE

1.1 This recommended practice describes general characteristics of VIN systems. It includes certain specific
requirements, supporting definitions, basic content, and examples.

1.2 The VIN should be considered in the context of a world manufacturer identifier to establish a unique motor vehicle
identity.

1.3 Purpose

This SAE Recommended Practice provides direction for uniform content and structure of vehicle identification numbers
assigned to each type of motor vehicle.

2. REFERENCES

2.1 Applicable Publications

The following publications form a part of the specification to the extent specified herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the
latest issue of SAE Publications shall apply.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
SAE Technical Standards Board Rules provide that: “This report is published by SAE to advance the state of technical and engineering sciences. The use of this report is
entirely voluntary, and its applicability and suitability for any particular use, including any patent infringement arising therefrom, is the sole responsibility of the user.”
SAE reviews each technical report at least every five years at which time it may be reaffirmed, revised, or cancelled. SAE invites your written comments and suggestions.
Copyright © 2008 SAE International
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of SAE.
TO PLACE A DOCUMENT ORDER: Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside USA and Canada)
Tel: 724-776-4970 (outside USA)
Fax: 724-776-0790
Email: CustomerService@sae.org
SAE WEB ADDRESS: http://www.sae.org
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2.1.1 SAE Publications

Available from SAE International, 400 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15096-0001, Tel: 877-606-7323 (inside
USA and Canada) or 724-776-4970 (outside USA), www.sae.org.

SAE J218 Passenger Car Identification Terminology

SAE J853 Vehicle Identification Numbers

SAE J1044 World Manufacturer Identifier

SAE J1229 Truck Identification Terminology

3. DEFINITIONS

3.1 Divider

A symbol, character, or physical border to separate the sections of the VIN or to define the limits (beginning and end) of
the VIN.

3.2 Engine Type

A code determined by the vehicle manufacturer to uniquely identify the vehicle power source

3.3 Field

A set of character positions reserved for a specific element of information.

3.4 Sequential Number

A production number assigned to the vehicle.

3.5 Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second section of the VIN. It provides information describing the general attributes of the vehicle.

3.6 Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN)

The number assigned to a vehicle by the manufacturer primarily for registration and identification purposes. It may consist
of numerals, letters, or a combination thereof (see SAE J853).

3.7 Vehicle Indicator Section (VIS)

The third section of the VIN. It is a combination of characters assigned by the manufacturer, which, in conjunction with the
WMI and VDS distinguishes one vehicle from another.

3.8 World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The first section of the VIN consisting of a code designating the manufacturer of the vehicle (see SAE J1044)

3.9 For other basic definitions, see SAE Publications listed under References.
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4. REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Vehicle Identification Number Basic Content

The VIN shall consist of three sections and a verification character: first section, the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI);
second section, the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS); and last section, the Vehicle Indicator Section (VIS).

4.2 Vehicle Identification Number Length

The complete VIN shall be fixed at 17 characters.

4.3 World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The WMI is pre-assigned to the manufacturer by the National Organization (SAE in the case of U.S. vehicle
manufacturers) in accordance with SAE Recommended Practice J1044 World Manufacturer Identifier.

4.3.1 For manufacturers of more than 900 vehicles annually, the WMI will consist of 3 characters in position 1 through 3
of the VIN.

4.3.2 For Manufacturers of less than 900 vehicles annually, the WMI shall consist of 6 characters, positions 1 through 3
and 12 through 14. Character 3 shall be a 9 and will indicate a 6 character WMI. (For more information
concerning WMIs for manufacturers of less that 900 vehicles annually, see SAE J1044.)

4.4 Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

Characters 4 through 8 of the VIN shall be the VDS. The five characters in this section shall identify the general
descriptive attributes of the vehicle. The coding and sequence of this section is determined by the manufacturer.

4.4.1 Sample attributes for Trucks: Make, Truckline, Series, Chassis Type, Body Type, Drive Wheels, and Engine
Type.

4.4.2 Sample attributes for Passenger Cars: Make, Car Line, Series, Body Type, and Engine Type.

4.5 The ninth (9th) position of the VIN shall consist of a single VIN verification character called a “check digit”. After all
other characters in the VIN have been determined by the manufacturer, the check digit shall be calculated by
carrying out the mathematical computation specified in this section. A sample calculation is included in Table 4.

4.5.1 Check Digit Calculation:

a. Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value and assign to each letter the value specified in
Table 1.

b. Multiply the assigned value for each character in the VIN by the position weight factor specified in Table 2.

c. Add the resulting products and divide the total by 11.

d. The numerical remainder or decimal equivalent determines the check digit value and the numbers 0-9 or the letter X
that are used to indicate the check digit is obtained from Table 3.
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TABLE 1 - ASSIGNED VALUES FOR LETTERS

A=1 G=7 N=5 V=5
B=2 H=8 P=7 W=6
C=3 J=1 R=9 X=7
D=4 K=2 S=2 Y=8
E=5 L=3 T=3 Z=9
F=6 M=4 U=4

TABLE 2 - VIN POSITION AND WEIGHT FACTORS

Position Weight Factor Position Weight Factor

1 8 10 9
2 7 11 8
3 6 12 7
4 5 13 6
5 4 14 5
6 3 15 4
7 2 16 3
8 10 17 2
9 0

TABLE 3 - CHECK DIGIT VALUES

Fractional 0 1/11 2/11 3/11 4/11 5/11 6/11 7/11 8/11 9/11 10/11
Remainder
Decimal 0 0.091 0.182 0.273 0.364 0.455 0.545 0.636 0.727 0.818 0.909
Equivalent
Check Digit 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 X

TABLE 4 - SAMPLE CHECK DIGIT CALCULATION

VIN Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Sample VIN 1 G 4 A H 5 9 H - 5 G 1 1 8 3 4 1
Assigned 1 7 4 1 8 5 9 8 - 5 7 1 1 8 3 4 1
Value
Weight Factor 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
0
Product 8 4 2 5 3 1 1 8 0 4 5 7 6 4 1 1 2
9 4 2 5 8 0 5 6 0 2 2
Sum of 8+49+24+5+32+15+18+80+0+45+56+7+6+40+12+12+2 = 411
Products
Divide by 11 411/ 11 = 37 4/11 or 37.364
(Whole number 37 with Remainder 4 or 0.364)
Check Digit Check Digit = 4 (See Table 3)
Completed VIN 1 G 4 A H 5 9 H 4 5 G 1 1 8 3 4 1
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4.6 Vehicle Indicator Section (VIS)

Characters 10 through 17 of the VIN shall be the VIS. Character 10 shall indicate the model year or year of manufacture
and character 11 shall indicate the plant of manufacture. The code to be used when designating the year is indicated in
Table 5.

For manufacturers of less than 900 vehicles annually, characters 12 through 14 shall be part of the WMI which uniquely
identifies the manufacturer (see SAE J1044). For VINs with a six character WMI, characters 15 through 17 shall be
numeric. For all other VINs, characters 14 through 17 shall be numeric.

TABLE 5 - CHARACTERS USED FOR DESIGNATING THE YEAR

Year Code Year Code Year Code Year Code

1980 A 1995 S 2010 A 2025 S
1981 B 1996 T 2011 B 2026 T
1982 C 1997 V 2012 C 2027 V
1983 D 1998 W 2013 D 2028 W
1984 E 1999 X 2014 E 2029 X
1985 F 2000 Y 2015 F 2030 Y
1986 G 2001 1 2016 G 2031 1
1987 H 2002 2 2017 H 2032 2
1988 J 2003 3 2018 J 2033 3
1989 K 2004 4 2019 K 2034 4
1990 L 2005 5 2020 L 2035 5
1991 M 2006 6 2021 M 2036 6
1992 N 2007 7 2022 N 2037 7
1993 P 2008 8 2023 P 2038 8
1994 R 2009 9 2024 R 2039 9

4.7 Characters

Only the following Arabic numerals and Roman letters shall be used in the VIN:

1234567890
ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRSTUVWXYZ
(the letters I, O and Q shall not be used.)

4.8 Dividers

A divider shall be used at the limits of each line (as described in 4.9.2 below) and may be used between sections of the
VIN on the vehicle only (not on documents). The selection of the specific divider to be used is at the discretion of the
manufacturer, but shall not be any character that may be confused with an Arabic numeral or Roman letter.

4.9 VIN Display

4.9.1 The VIN printed on documents shall be shown on one line without blanks.

4.9.2 The VIN shall be displayed on the vehicle or manufacturer’s plate on either one or two lines without blanks and
with no section being split.
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5. STRUCTURE OF VIN

5.1 The VIN shall consist of numerals, letters, or combination thereof. These characters shall be legible. Protection
against the likelihood of digits being added shall be provided by the appropriate design of the site or the plate on
which the VIN number is located or by use of dividers, terminators, or delimiters.

6. IDENTIFICATION AND CORRECTION OF INCORRECT VINS

6.1 Errors Identified While in Manufacturer’s Control

Any identified, uncorrected errors shall be reported to a national repository for vehicle build information, if such an entity
exists.

6.2 Errors Identified After Vehicle has Entered Commerce

Any identified errors shall be reported, along with any correcting action, to a national repository for vehicle build
information, if such an entity exists.

NOTE: This SAE Recommended Practice may not necessarily be consistent with existing national statutory
requirements.

7. NOTES

7.1 Marginal Indicia

A change bar (I) located in the left margin is for the convenience of the user in locating areas where technical revisions,
not editorial changes, have been made to the previous issue of this document. An (R) symbol to the left of the document
title indicates a complete revision of the document, including technical revisions. Change bars and (R) are not used in
original publications, nor in documents that contain editorial changes only.

PREPARED BY THE SAE VIN/WMI TECHNICAL COMMITTEE