Complete List of VIN Number Country Codes

VINs are used to identify and track vehicles all over the world. These 17-digit identifiers  have all the information about a vehicle, including the country of origin, manufacturing plant, and other specific details of your car.

The first few digits of the VIN show the geographical origin of the vehicle. But it’s not something that you typically remember off the top of your head, that’s why we have put together this list of VIN number country codes for you to use as a cheat sheet.  

Understanding the VIN and learning about the country codes of VIN numbers including classic 13-digit VIN vehicles is beneficial to anyone in the automobile market or any associated industry. Let me present a comprehensive guide to all VIN number country codes, their importance, and how to interpret them.

Related: How to Decode A Classic VIN Number

What Does the VIN Number Tell You?

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is the fingerprint of your car that contains information such as the year the car was built, which manufacturing plant built it, engine types, and the car’s unique features (trim).

To make things easier to follow, let’s use the following VIN as an example to analyze.

While each digit of the VIN typically contain different information, there are three sections within a VIN:

• World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): Identifies the manufacturer’s name, country of origin, and locale. 
• Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): Contains information about the vehicle’s body type, engine, and other attributes.
• Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS): Contains the details about one particular vehicle – think of it like the car’s serial number.

In the case of the example above, here’s a breakdown of which characters belong to which sections

VIN Country Codes 

VIN country codes are significant for correct determination of vehicle origin, appropriate compliance with import and export requirements, and checking the car’s authenticity. This means that if you are purchasing a vehicle, selling another, or just comparing, having information about these codes will help you estimate necessary details about its history and parameters.

Below are the codes according to the continents: 

Africa VIN Codes

Oceania VIN Codes

South America VIN Codes

Europe VIN Codes

Asia and the Middle East VIN Country Codes 

Related: The Best Mobile VIN Scanner Apps to Check Vehicles On The Go

Conclusion

To individuals engaged in automobile commerce, it is crucial to identify various attributes of a VIN number, specifically its country code. This information is used for everything from a basic check of car specifications and its compliance with the buyer’s requirements to an insurer’s risk assessment.

Decoding the WMI and the other sections of the VIN can provide a huge amount of information regarding the place of car production, manufacture, and certain car characteristics. This knowledge helps you approach the really challenging and competitive automotive market with full confidence.

Thus, with the development of new technologies for vehicle identification, VIN numbers are going to play an extended role in the future. Knowledge of some of the current advancements and breakthroughs in VIN technology will therefore be of paramount importance to automotive sector personnel as well as motor vehicle lovers.

Remember: This guide gives a general understanding of VIN country codes but in regard to certain questions or particular situations, it is better to turn to other sources or contact the specialists. For example, you may need more information about a car’s specification, in this regard, it is usually important to utilize a free VIN decoder. 

If you are searching for more information about a particular classic, or antique vehicle, classic vin decoder can be of help. In essence, it can be said that by learning to decode VIN numbers you are already on your way to becoming a wiser car buyer or a car expert.