Definition
49 CFR Part 565 sets the format, content, and physical requirements for the vehicle identification number system. Its stated purpose is to simplify vehicle identification information retrieval and to increase the accuracy and efficiency of vehicle recall campaigns. Under 565.13, each VIN consists of seventeen characters, and a check digit appears in position nine.
What the sections mean
- The first section identifies the manufacturer, make, and type of vehicle.
- The next section describes vehicle attributes, which differ by vehicle type, followed by the check digit in position nine, which the rule defines as a number or the letter X used to verify the accuracy of transcription.
- The tenth character carries the model year code.
- The next characters identify the plant and a sequential production number.
Trailers have their own VINs, and so do many pieces of truck mounted equipment. A truck and the trailer it pulls are separate units with separate VINs.
Why it matters in a repair shop
The VIN is the most reliable unit identifier you have. Fleet unit numbers change when trucks are renumbered or sold, but the VIN stays with the vehicle. Use it to:
- Identify the vehicle on work orders, invoices, and annual inspection reports. 49 CFR 396.3 requires carrier records to identify each vehicle by make, serial number, and year, and the VIN covers the serial number.
- Look up the right parts and specifications.
- Check open safety recalls through NHTSA.
- Match warranty claims to the correct unit.
Common mistakes
Copying VINs by hand causes errors, especially with characters such as 8 and B, or 5 and S. The check digit helps catch some mistakes. Reading the VIN from a photo of the plate, or scanning it, cuts typing errors.
MetaFleet reads VINs, plates, and odometers from photos; see VIN photo scan. Related terms: unit number and recall check.