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There is a lot of information you can get by simply decoding a VIN

One of the easiest pieces of information to get from a VIN is the vehicle’s model year. 

You don’t even need to enter your VIN or decipher a code to figure out the model year.

All you’ll need to do is look at a single digit within the VIN number.

Refer to the year chart or use our free VIN decoder to find out a car’s model year by VIN below!

How to Tell What Year a Car is By the VIN Number

In order to figure out a vehicle’s model year, you’ll simply need to look at your VIN. 

Count to the 10th digit, refer to the VIN year chart below, and you’ve got your answer!

And, learn more about vehicle identification numbers and vehicle history reports here

What Digit in the VIN is the Year?

In all VINs for vehicles manufactured since 1981, the 10th digit in the VIN represents the model year.

This is true for cars, trucks, motorcycles, and most other vehicles.

VIN Year Chart

The VIN year code is a single digit.

Depending on the year, it will either be a letter or a number. 

The year code started at the letter “A” in 1980, and “1” in 2001.

In 2010, the model year code started over again at “A.”

The VIN will never include the letter I (i), O (o), Q (q), U (u), or Z (z), or the number zero.

Check out the VIN year chart below to determine which model year your vehicle is.

As you can see, the codes recycle every 30 years.


VIN Year Chart: 1980 to 2009

10th Digit in VINModel Year
A1980
B1981
C1982
D1983
E1984
F1985
G1986
H1987
J1988
K1989
L1990
M1991
N1992
P1993
R1994
S1995
T1996
V1997
W1998
X1999
Y2000
12001
22002
32003
42004
52005
62006
72007
82008
92009

VIN Year Chart: 2010 to 2039

10th Digit in VINModel Year
A2010
B2011
C2012
D2013
E2014
F2015
G2016
H2017
J2018
K2019
L2020
M2021
N2022
P2023
R2024
S2025
T2026
V2027
W2028
X2029
Y2030
12031
22032
32033
42034
52035
62036
72037
82038
92039

Learn what else your VIN can tell you by just looking at it in our related page: How to Read a VIN Number.