VIN Year Chart: Decode the 10th Digit for Model Year
Find your vehicle’s model year by referring to the 10th digit of the VIN. Use our VIN Year Chart to accurately confirm the vehicle’s manufacture year. Need to get more information? Our free VIN decoder service helps you get the complete vehicle’s specifications info!
What is a VIN Year Chart?
VIN is a 17-character unique code known as “Vehicle Identification Number”. Every character on the VIN represents every component on the car, be it engine information, manufacturer year, and so on.
When it comes to the year of a vehicle’s model, the 10th digit of the VIN encodes that information, the 10th digit VIN represents the model year of the vehicle. This system has been standardized since 1981. For instance, a car manufactured in late 2022 might have a 2023 model year code, as the VIN reflects the model year rather than the exact production date.
The VIN year code follows a repeating cycle that begins with the letters A to Y, continues with the numbers 1 to 9, and then restarts at A. Certain letters are excluded from VINs: I, O, and Q, because they resemble the numbers 1, 0, and 9. Similarly, U, Z, and the digit 0 are skipped in the VIN number model year.
Complete VIN Year Chart (1980–Present)
Use this interactive VIN Year chart to identify the model year of the vehicle. You can download the VIN number year chart in PDF format to be downloaded and seen from every device.
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 | L | 2020 | Y | 2030 |
| B | 1981 | M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 | 1 | 2031 |
| C | 1982 | N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 | 2 | 2032 |
| D | 1983 | P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 | 3 | 2033 |
| E | 1984 | R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 | 4 | 2034 |
| F | 1985 | S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 | 5 | 2035 |
| G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 | T | 2026 | 6 | 2036 |
| H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 | V | 2027 | 7 | 2037 |
| J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 | W | 2028 | 8 | 2038 |
| K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 | X | 2029 | 9 | 2039 |
Did You Know?
The coding system cycles every 30 years, meaning VIN year codes repeat after 30 years. For instance, 'A' was used for 1980 and then again for 2010. Get our downloadable VIN number chart to examine the VIN model year codes.
How to Read the VIN Year Digit
The VIN has a 17-digit code that highlights the elements that make a vehicle from the country of origin to the sequence number. The VIN number model year is represented at the 10th digit of the VIN.
Here’s how the VIN code year is shown.
2016 Nissan Maxima – 1N4AA6AP2GC422916
Notice that the 10th digit of the VIN code is “G” and, according to the VIN Year Chart, we can tell that it is a 2016 Nissan Maxima. Check the sample report to see the full vehicle’s information.
2012 Toyota Highlander – 5TDYK3EH9CS065007
On the VIN code above, the 10th digit of the VIN is “C”, and based on the VIN Number Year chart, C codes mean 2012. See the sample report below to examine the full vehicle history report.
Free VIN Decoder Tool – Go Beyond the Chart
A VIN year chart helps you identify your vehicle’s model year, but that’s just the beginning. For everyone who wants to know the detailed past records behind their vehicle, a VIN decoder can help you see much more information, like the specifications and past records.
Want to know your car’s make, model, trim, recall history, accident reports, or even theft records? Try our VIN Decoder tool to see complete vehicle history records easily.
Here’s a snippet of what you will be getting from our VIN decoder service:
Vehicle’s Specifications
Check the detailed vehicle specification by using our VIN Decoder service. In this section, you’ll get to see the drive type, standard seating, fuel type, transmission, MSRP, country of origin, and more.
Auction Records and Market Value
Check if the vehicle has ever been sold at auction. See the auction house location, date, and the final sale price of the vehicle to help you know its market value. In addition to that, you can also get up to ten pictures that show the vehicle’s real condition during the auction.
Accident Records
A VIN decoder can show if the car has been in any accidents. You can see the date, place, and number of accidents linked to the vehicle.
Title Status
Knowing the title history is very important. The report will tell you if the car has a clean title or if it was branded as salvage or rebuilt after heavy damage.
Odometer and Mileage
Odometer fraud is common in the used car market. Check the full recorded mileage along with the last and the last known mileage before the vehicle was put on sale.
Recalls Information
Check the vehicle’s recall history to ensure safety. In this section, you will get to see the recalls' detailed information, including the date, causes, and the recall status (open/resolved).
Theft Records
With thousands of car thefts reported each year, it’s smart to check if the vehicle was ever stolen. A VIN check shows theft reports with the date, place, and source.
Vehicle Past Usage
A vehicle history report helps you find out how the vehicle was used in the past. It may have been a rental, a taxi, or part of a business fleet, which can affect its condition and value.
Model Year vs. Build Date – What's the Difference?
Many people confuse a car’s model year with its build date, but they are not the same. The model year is what the 10th digit of the VIN shows, and it is the year the car is sold. For example, a car built in late 2022 may still be called a 2023 model.
The build date is the exact month and year when the car was manufactured at the factory. You can usually find this on a label inside the driver’s door or in the vehicle documents.
Knowing both is important. The model year is used for registration, insurance, and resale value, while the build date can be useful for recalls, parts replacement, and service records.
FAQ About VIN Year Chart
Where Can I Find the VIN on My Vehicle?
The most visible spot is on a small plate on the dashboard, which you can see through the driver’s side of the windshield. It is also printed on a sticker inside the driver’s side doorjamb. If it’s not easy to find on the car itself, you can check official documents like the title, registration, or insurance papers.
What does the 10th digit in a VIN number mean?
The 10th digit in a 17-character VIN shows the model year of the vehicle. Since 1981, car makers have followed one standard code using both letters and numbers.
From 1981 to 2000, the years were marked with the letters B to Y. Between 2001 and 2009, numbers 1 to 9 were used. Some characters are never used in this position, like I, O, Q, U, Z, and the number 0, to avoid confusion.
What Do the Other Digits in a VIN Mean?
The numbers and letters in a VIN give key details about a vehicle. The first three digits, called the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), show the country, maker, and type of vehicle. The next six digits describe features such as model, body style, transmission, and engine.
The 9th digit is used as a check for security, while the 10th digit shows the model year. The 11th digit tells which plant made the vehicle, and the last six digits are the unique serial number for that car.
Can you tell the year from a VIN number?
Yes, you can see the year from the VIN Number. The 10th digit VIN number indicates the model number of the vehicle when the VIN was standardized in 1981. The system uses various letters and numbers to represent different years, excluding characters that could be easily misread or mistaken for others. Run the VIN Decoder to easily decode the VIN year.
What year is the letter Y in a VIN?
The 10th character of a VIN number year codes serves as the model year code. For instance, the letter 'Y' in this position indicates a vehicle manufactured in either 2000 or 2030, depending on the manufacturing cycle.
What letters are excluded from VINs?
Not all letters are eligible to be used. The letters I, O, and Q are excluded from the Vehicle Identification Number to prevent confusion between numerals 1 and 0.
