The 10th digit is your vehicle's model year
The 10th position in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a single letter or number that represents the year your vehicle was manufactured. This digit does not follow a calendar year — instead, manufacturers use a repeating cycle that resets every 30 years. The current cycle began in 2010 with the letter A, and will continue through 2039.
Knowing your model year matters for several practical reasons: insurance rates, parts compatibility, recall notices, and resale value all depend on it. The 10th digit is the most straightforward way to find this information directly from the VIN itself, without needing to look it up in a separate database.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th digit of a VIN is a letter or number that identifies the model year your vehicle was built, using a 30-year repeating cycle.
- The current cycle runs from 2010 (A) through 2039 (Y), with the letter I skipped to avoid confusion with the number 1.
- You can locate the 10th digit by counting from the left: positions 1–3 are the manufacturer, positions 4–8 are vehicle details, position 9 is a check digit, and position 10 is the year.
- The model year shown in the 10th digit may differ from the calendar year the vehicle was sold, since manufacturers build vehicles months before they reach dealerships.
How to find and read the 10th digit
A VIN is always 17 characters long. To locate the 10th digit, count from the left side of the VIN. The first three characters identify the manufacturer and country of origin. Characters 4 through 8 describe the vehicle type, engine, and body style. Character 9 is a check digit used to verify the VIN's validity. Character 10 is the model year you are looking for.
Your VIN appears in several places on your vehicle: on the dashboard just below the windshield on the driver's side, on the driver's side door jamb, on your vehicle registration, and on your insurance documents. The dashboard location is the easiest to read without opening any doors.
The model year code chart for 2010 to 2039
The 10th digit follows a fixed sequence that repeats every 30 years. Notice that the letter I is skipped in this sequence. Manufacturers omit I to prevent confusion with the number 1, which can look identical in certain fonts or when handwritten. The same logic applies to O (which looks like zero) and Q (which can resemble O).
| 10th Digit | Model Year | 10th Digit | Model Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
| B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
| C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
| D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
| E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
| F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
| G | 2016 | T | 2026 |
| H | 2017 | V | 2027 |
| J | 2018 | W | 2028 |
| K | 2019 | X | 2029 |
After 2029 (X), the sequence continues with Y for 2030, then restarts with A for 2040. This repeating pattern means that a vehicle from 2010 and a vehicle from 2040 will both have the letter A in the 10th position, but you can distinguish them by looking at other VIN digits or by checking the registration.
Why model year differs from calendar year
A vehicle's model year is not always the same as the year it was sold. Manufacturers typically begin building vehicles for the next model year several months before the calendar year ends. A 2024 model year vehicle might have rolled off the assembly line in the summer or fall of 2023, then spent months in transit and on dealer lots before being sold in early 2024.
This timing matters when you are checking for recalls, because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issues recalls by model year, not by the date of sale. A vehicle you purchased in January 2024 might carry a 2023 model year designation and fall under recalls issued for 2023 models. Always check recalls using the model year from your VIN, not the year you bought the vehicle.
What the 10th digit tells you about insurance and parts
Insurance companies use the model year to calculate premiums, because newer vehicles typically cost less to repair and may have more advanced safety features. The 10th digit gives insurers a quick way to verify the year without relying on your word or a separate lookup. When you get a quote, the insurer will often pull your VIN and read the 10th digit to confirm the model year matches what you reported.
Parts suppliers also use the model year to determine compatibility. An engine part, transmission component, or body panel from a 2019 model year vehicle may not fit a 2020 model year vehicle, even if they are the same make and model. The 10th digit helps mechanics and parts departments identify exactly which year's specifications explore to your vehicle.
How the 30-year cycle works
The VIN model year code repeats every 30 years because manufacturers decided this cycle was long enough that confusion would be unlikely. A 2010 model year vehicle (10th digit A) and a 1980 model year vehicle (also 10th digit A) are so far apart in age that no one would mistake them for each other in normal transactions.
The current cycle began in 2010 and will end in 2039. In 2040, the sequence restarts with A for 2040 model year vehicles. If you are working with a very old vehicle from the 1980s or 1990s, you can determine which cycle it belongs to by looking at the overall condition and other VIN digits, or by checking the vehicle registration or title, which always shows the actual year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the 10th digit to learn about a vehicle has been in an accident?
No. The 10th digit only tells you the model year. Accident history, title status, and repair records are not encoded in the VIN. You can order a vehicle history report from services like Carfax or AutoCheck, which pull data from insurance claims, police reports, and repair shops, but this information does not come from the VIN itself.
What if the 10th digit on my VIN doesn't match the year on my registration?
Check your registration again — it should match. If it does not, contact your state's Department of Motor Vehicles with your VIN and registration documents. A mismatch could indicate a data entry error when the vehicle was first registered, or in rare cases, a title problem that needs correction.
Does the 10th digit tell me anything about where the vehicle was built?
No. The country and plant of manufacture are encoded in the first three digits (the World Manufacturer Identifier and plant code), not the 10th digit. The 10th digit is reserved only for model year.
If I have a 2023 model year vehicle, will it have the same 10th digit as a 1993 model year vehicle?
Yes. Both 2023 and 1993 model year vehicles have the letter N in the 10th position, because the 30-year cycle repeats. You can tell them apart by looking at the first three digits or by checking the registration, but the 10th digit alone will be identical.