Car care · Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center · Elgin, IL
Where Is the VIN Number on a Car?
Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the 17-character code that identifies your car. Here is where to find it, what each part of it means, and why it matters when you buy, sell or service a vehicle.
17characters in every modern VIN
Dashleft front corner, seen through the windshield
Door labeldriver's side door or B-pillar
Position 10the model year code
The short answer
On most cars, SUVs and light trucks, look through the windshield at the left front corner of the instrument panel (dashboard) on the driver's side. Federal rules require the VIN on these vehicles to be inside the passenger compartment and readable through the glass by someone standing outside next to the left windshield pillar. The VIN also appears on the Vehicle Certification Label on the driver's side door or door pillar.
Where to find the VIN on your vehicle
Check these places. The first two are on the vehicle itself:
| Where | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver's side | Stand outside the car and look through the windshield at the left front corner of the instrument panel. The 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Dodge Charger manuals both place the VIN here. |
| Driver's door or door pillar | The Vehicle Certification Label on the driver's side door or B-pillar lists the VIN along with the month and year of manufacture and the weight ratings. On the Ram 1500, the bar code at the bottom of this label is the VIN. |
| Your paperwork | The VIN is also printed on documents such as your title, registration and insurance card, so you can check it without going to the car. |
Vehicle locations from the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (pp. 215, 366) and the 2026 Dodge Charger Owner's Manual (pp. 170, 287), read November 9, 2026. The paperwork row is general guidance.
What the 17 characters of a VIN mean
Federal rules (49 CFR 565.15) split a VIN into four sections:
| Positions | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer identifier | Identifies the manufacturer and type of vehicle. Identifiers are assigned through SAE International. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle attributes | Describes attributes such as make, line, series, body type and engine type, as decoded with information the manufacturer supplies. |
| 9 | Check digit | A number from 0 to 9 or the letter X, calculated from the other characters to verify the VIN was copied correctly. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number code for the vehicle model year (see the next section). |
| 11 | Plant | The plant of manufacture, where the manufacturer affixes the VIN. |
| 12-17 | Production number | The number assigned in sequence by the manufacturer in production (for high-volume manufacturers). |
From 49 CFR Part 565, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements, sections 565.12, 565.15 and 565.16, read November 9, 2026. Low-volume manufacturers use positions 12-14 as part of their identifier, so their production number is positions 15-17.
VIN model year codes
Position 10 is the model year. Recent codes from the federal table:
| Model year | Code in position 10 |
|---|---|
| 2016 | G |
| 2017 | H |
| 2018 | J |
| 2019 | K |
| 2020 | L |
| 2021 | M |
| 2022 | N |
| 2023 | P |
| 2024 | R |
| 2025 | S |
| 2026 | T |
| 2027 | V |
| 2028 | W |
| 2029 | X |
| 2030 | Y |
From 49 CFR Part 565, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements, Table VII, read November 9, 2026.
The codes repeat on a 30-year cycle, so the rule tells you how to tell them apart. For cars, and for SUVs and trucks with a GVWR of 10,000 lb or less, a letter in position 7 means the model year code refers to 2010-2039; a number in position 7 means 1980-2009.
Other federal VIN rules worth knowing
Every VIN has exactly 17 characters, and every space must be filled. Only capital letters and numbers are used, and the letters I, O and Q are not in the allowed set. The characters are printed in a capital, sans-serif typeface.
On cars, SUVs and trucks with a GVWR of 10,000 lb or less, the VIN must be inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glass in daylight from outside the vehicle next to the left windshield pillar, with characters at least 4 mm tall. The VINs of any two vehicles subject to the federal safety standards and manufactured within a 60-year period beginning with the 1980 model year may not be identical.
The VIN is meant to stay with the vehicle. Both manuals note that it is illegal to remove or alter the VIN.
From 49 CFR Part 565, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements, section 565.13, read November 9, 2026, and the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (p. 366) and 2026 Dodge Charger Owner's Manual (p. 287).
When you will need your VIN
Shopping for a used car? Compare the VIN on the dashboard with the one on the door label and on the title. They should match. The VIN is also what you use to check a used car for recalls and to pull a vehicle history report.
You will also be asked for it when you insure or register a vehicle, order parts, or schedule service, because it pins down the exact model year and build of your car.
General guidance; see the linked guides for details.
Service at Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center
Have your VIN handy when you book. Schedule service or see our service specials.
Our service department at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed Sunday. Get directions.
VIN FAQ
Where is the VIN number on a car?
On most cars, SUVs and light trucks it is on the driver's side of the dashboard, visible through the windshield. It is also on the Vehicle Certification Label on the driver's side door or door pillar.
How many characters are in a VIN?
Seventeen. Federal rules require every VIN to have 17 characters.
Which letters are not used in a VIN?
I, O and Q. The allowed letters are A through Z without those three.
How can I tell the model year from the VIN?
Look at the 10th character. For example, R is 2024, S is 2025 and T is 2026 under the federal year code table.
What is the check digit?
The 9th character. It is calculated from the other characters so a mistyped VIN can be caught.
Is it legal to remove a VIN plate?
No. Owner's manuals note that it is illegal to remove or alter the VIN.
What are your service hours?
Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. We are closed Sunday.
Buying or servicing a car?
Visit us at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin.
Sources
VIN format and location rules are from the federal VIN regulation (49 CFR Part 565), and vehicle locations from the 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Dodge Charger owner's manuals, all read November 9, 2026. Some vehicles, such as heavy trucks, follow different location rules. Your own vehicle's labels and owner's manual are the authority for your vehicle. Our address and service hours are from our own website, checked the same day. Photo is of our dealership.
- 49 CFR Part 565, Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements, Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), read November 9, 2026
- 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Mopar): certification label (PDF p. 217); Vehicle Identification Number (PDF p. 368), FCA US LLC via vehicleinfo.mopar.com, read November 9, 2026
- 2026 Dodge Charger Owner's Manual (Mopar): Vehicle Certification Label (PDF p. 172); Vehicle Identification Number (PDF p. 289), FCA US LLC via vehicleinfo.mopar.com, read November 9, 2026
- Service page: address and hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center, read November 9, 2026