Paste a 17 character VIN, or just its 10th character, to see the model year and test the check digit. Nothing is sent anywhere.
The 7th character rule is set by US federal VIN rules (49 CFR 565) for cars and light vehicles up to 10,000 lb. For other vehicle types the decoder shows both possible years.
| Positions | Characters | Meaning |
|---|
Model year is not the build date: a 2023 model year vehicle can be built in 2022. Some European VINs do not use the 10th character for the year.
This VIN model year decoder tells used car buyers, owners and dealers the model year of any vehicle with a 17 character VIN, using the 10th character and the 7th character rule that US federal VIN regulations set for vehicles built from 1981 onwards. It also runs the official check digit sum, so a mistyped or altered VIN shows up before you pay for a history report or sign anything.
Quick answer: the 10th character of a VIN is the model year code. Letters A to Y (skipping I, O, Q, U and Z) and digits 1 to 9 repeat every 30 years, so P means 1993 or 2023. On cars and light trucks, a number in position 7 means the older year. The VIN model year decoder applies this automatically.
In This Guide
What Is a VIN Model Year Decoder?
A VIN model year decoder is a tool that reads the year code in position 10 of a vehicle identification number and converts it into the model year the manufacturer assigned. The logic in plain words: look up the 10th character in the year chart to get two possible years 30 years apart, then use the 7th character to choose between them, with a number meaning 1980 to 2009 and a letter meaning 2010 to 2039.
The 17 character format is set by an international standard and, for vehicles sold in the US and Canada, by NHTSA's federal rule 49 CFR Part 565. The vehicle identification number article on Wikipedia summarises how each section works, and this decoder follows the same rules: positions 1 to 3 identify the maker, 4 to 8 describe the vehicle, 9 is the check digit, 10 is the year, 11 is the plant and 12 to 17 are the serial number.
How to Use the VIN Model Year Decoder
Step 1: Paste the VIN
Copy the VIN from the base of the windscreen, the driver door pillar, the logbook or the insurance documents. Spaces and lower case letters are cleaned up for you. If you only know the 10th character, type that single character to see both possible years.
Step 2: Choose the Vehicle Type
Leave the first option selected for cars, SUVs, vans and pickups up to 10,000 lb gross weight, which is where the 7th character rule is mandatory. Pick the second option for motorcycles, heavy trucks, buses and trailers, and the decoder will show both candidate years instead of guessing.
Step 3: Read the Model Year
The large figure is the model year. Underneath, the decoder explains which cycle it used and why, and the tiles show the 10th character, the 7th character, the check digit and the region of the manufacturer code.
Step 4: Check the Check Digit
A green box means the check digit sum matches position 9. A red box means the VIN as typed is not valid, which is almost always a typo but can be a sign of a cloned plate. The VIN model year decoder table also breaks the number into its six sections so you can compare each part with the paperwork.
How Do I Tell the Year of a Car From the VIN?
Read the 10th character and look it up in the chart below, then check the 7th character: a number means the earlier year and a letter means the later year. Worked example: Marcus in Ohio is viewing a pickup advertised as a 2023 with VIN 1FTFW1E51PFA12345. The 10th character is P, which means 1993 or 2023, and the 7th character is E, a letter, so the VIN model year decoder confirms 2023. The check digit is 1 and the sum agrees, so the number is internally consistent.
Now take the well known example VIN 1M8GDM9AXKP042788. The 10th character is K, which is 1989 or 2019, and the 7th character is 9, a number, so the model year is 1989. If a seller described that vehicle as a 2019, the VIN would tell you straight away that something is wrong.
10th Digit VIN Chart: Year Codes 1980 to 2039
This 10th digit VIN chart lists every model year code with both of its years. Codes for 2010 to 2039 come from the year table in 49 CFR 565.15, and the earlier cycle repeats the same order 30 years before.
| 10th character | Position 7 is a number | Position 7 is a letter |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 |
| M | 1991 | 2021 |
| N | 1992 | 2022 |
| P | 1993 | 2023 |
| R | 1994 | 2024 |
| S | 1995 | 2025 |
| T | 1996 | 2026 |
| V | 1997 | 2027 |
| W | 1998 | 2028 |
| X | 1999 | 2029 |
| Y | 2000 | 2030 |
| 1 to 9 | 2001 to 2009 | 2031 to 2039 |
The letters I, O and Q never appear anywhere in a VIN because they look like 1 and 0. U, Z and the digit 0 are also left out of the year position, which is why the chart jumps from T to V and from Y to 1.
Why Does the 7th Character Decide the Year?
The 7th character decides the year because the year codes ran out after 30 years, so from model year 2010 the rule requires a letter in position 7 on cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks up to 10,000 lb. Before 2010 that position was a number on most of these vehicles. Motorcycles, trailers and heavy trucks are not covered, so for those the decoder lists both years and you confirm with the registration document or the build plate.
How Is a VIN Check Digit Calculated?
The check digit is the remainder when a weighted total of the other 16 characters is divided by 11, with a remainder of 10 written as X. Each letter is first given a number (A and J are 1, B, K and S are 2, and so on), then each position is multiplied by its weight: 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 10 for positions 1 to 8, and 9 down to 2 for positions 10 to 17. For 1M8GDM9AXKP042788 the total is 351, and 351 divided by 11 leaves 10, so the check digit is X, which matches.
A passing check digit proves only that the number is self consistent, not that the vehicle is genuine. Before buying a used car in the UK, compare the VIN with the V5C and use the DVLA vehicle information checker on GOV.UK to confirm the first registration date, tax and MOT status match what you are being sold.
Model Year vs Build Date
The model year is a marketing year chosen by the manufacturer, and it often starts months before the calendar year. A pickup with P in position 10 may have been assembled in autumn 2022, and the build month is usually printed on the door pillar label rather than in the VIN. Insurers, parts suppliers and US state agencies normally work from the model year, while UK documents show the first registration date, which can be later again for imported vehicles.
Once you know the year, you can compare real running costs: the MPG calculator works out fuel economy from a brim to brim fill, and the fuel cost calculator turns that figure into a cost per journey for the car you are considering. Figures checked October 2026 against 49 CFR 565.15.
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How we checked this tool: the Tools Veria Editorial Team built this tool by hand, checked it against the official rules or published standards where they apply, and tested it against worked examples. Results are estimates for planning, not personal financial or tax advice. Read our editorial policy and disclaimer, or report an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which digit of the VIN shows the year?
The 10th character of a 17 character VIN shows the model year. It uses letters A to Y, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z, and the digits 1 to 9, so one code covers two years 30 years apart, such as R for 1994 or 2024.
What year is a VIN with T in the 10th position?
T means model year 1996 or 2026. On a car, SUV or light truck, a letter in the 7th position means 2026 and a number in the 7th position means 1996. Paste the full VIN above to get the answer instantly.
Is the 10th digit of a VIN the year it was built?
No. The 10th digit is the model year, which the manufacturer sets and which often begins in the previous calendar year. The actual month and year of build is usually printed on the label inside the driver door pillar.
Why does my VIN fail the check digit test?
A failed check digit almost always means a typing mistake, such as 8 for B or 5 for S. Vehicles built for North America must pass the test, but many European and Asian market VINs do not use position 9 as a check digit.
Do UK cars have the model year in the VIN?
Often, but not always. Many manufacturers selling in the UK and Europe use the 10th character for the year, but European rules do not require it. Your V5C logbook shows the date of first registration, which is the date UK rules such as MOT timing use.
Is it safe to type my VIN into this decoder?
Yes. The VIN model year decoder runs entirely in your browser, so the number is never uploaded, stored or shared. It does not look up history or ownership records; it only reads the year code and tests the check digit.