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General VIN Help Print E-mail

How to match up a 17 digit VIN number to our VIN pattern
 
 Our VIN Pattern is digits 1-8, and 10-11.  Examples:
 
JH4DA9359LS000340 = JH4DA935LS
JH4DA9457LS034985 = JH4DA945LS
JH4DA9451LS023870 = JH4DA945LS
 
How to run a checksum to ensure that you have a valid VIN number
 
The check digit for a VIN is obtained through a number of mathematical steps. Each letter used in a VIN has a corresponding number value, while numbers stay the same. The VIN becomes a string of 17 numberswith the ninth position being the checksum digit. Each position in the VIN has a weight which is the number of times that digit is multiplied.
Example: the weight of position one is eight. A computer multiplies the number in position one by 8. Then multiplies all 16 numbers by the appropriate weight for their position in the VIN. The results are added together that result is divided by 11. The remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is 10, the check digit is X.
 
 
Why 17 Digit VINs?
 
The United States Department of Transportation created a consistent, unified VIN system in 1981. Specifically, it included the VIN system in the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 49, Chapter V, Part 565 [ref]. Prior to 1981, auto manufacturers used their own numbering system to stamp cars with unique IDs. The VIN system conforms to a standard developed by the International Organization for Standardization in 1977: ISO 3779. Manufacturers use all letters and numbers, with the exception of the letters I, O and Q.