VIN Validator

Batch by newline

Values to check

Result

VINscheme0values0valid0invalid0unreadable

17 characters, check character in position 9, mod 11.

Open the full check digit validator with Luhn, IBAN, ISBN, GTIN, VIN, ISIN, Verhoeff, and Damm

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Settings are written to the URL as you change them. Nothing differs from the defaults yet.

Position 9

A VIN is 17 characters: 3 for the world manufacturer identifier, 5 for the vehicle descriptor, 1 check character, then 8 identifying the individual vehicle. Position 10 encodes the model year and position 11 the assembly plant.

The check character sits in the middle rather than at the end. Its own weight is 0, so it contributes nothing to the sum it verifies.

Add the check character

Paste the whole 17-character VIN in add check digit mode and position 9 is replaced with the correct character. 1M8GDM9A0KP042788 returns 1M8GDM9AXKP042788.

A VIN that fails is usually a transcription problem, most often 0 read as O or 1 read as I. Neither letter is legal in a VIN, so those characters are rejected before the arithmetic starts.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is a VIN check character calculated?

Each character maps to a number, the 17 positions are weighted 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 10, 0, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and the sum modulo 11 gives the character in position 9. A remainder of 10 is written as X.

Why are I, O, and Q not allowed?

They are excluded across the whole VIN because they are too easily confused with 1 and 0 when a number is read off a plate or a windshield.

Is the check character used everywhere?

It is required in North America and China. Some vehicles built for other markets carry a VIN that will not satisfy it.