ISO 3779 VIN Decoding & Safety Recall Lookup: WMI Country Codes, Check Digit & NHTSA / EU Gate
How to decode all 17 characters of a Vehicle Identification Number (WMI, VDS, VIS), verify physical stamping zones, and check open safety recalls.
| Positions 1–3 (WMI) | World Manufacturer Identifier (1/4/5=US, J=JP, K=KR, W=DE, V=FR/ES) |
|---|---|
| Positions 4–8 (VDS) | Vehicle Descriptor Section (platform, body, restraint, engine) |
| Position 9 (Check Digit) | Modulo-11 weighted checksum (mandatory in North America) |
| Position 10 (Model Year) | A=2010 … L=2020, M=2021, N=2022, P=2023, R=2024, S=2025, T=2026 |
1. Why Letters I, O, and Q Never Appear in a Valid VIN
Under ISO 3779, the letters I, O, and Q are strictly prohibited throughout all 17 positions to prevent visual confusion with the numerals 1 and 0. Furthermore, letters U, Z, and the digit 0 are excluded from Position 10 (Model Year code).