The modern 17-character VIN
Most modern road vehicles use a 17-character VIN. It is an identity code, not a uniform parts catalog. Manufacturers have discretion in how some positions describe a vehicle, so a character should not be over-interpreted outside its manufacturer context.
WMI4-8
Descriptor9
Check digit10
Year11
Plant12-17
Sequence
What the groups mean
Positions 1-3 form the World Manufacturer Identifier and commonly indicate manufacturer and region. Positions 4-8 are the vehicle descriptor section. Position 9 is a check digit for many North American VINs. Positions 10-17 identify the vehicle, commonly including model year, assembly plant, and production sequence.
Decode, then verify
Use a decoder for the source-returned vehicle identity, then compare it to the vehicle and title. The VIN is useful for identification and recall research, but it does not independently prove condition, ownership, title status, or history.