The 10th digit is your car's model year code
The 10th digit of your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a single letter or number that represents the year your car was manufactured. It is not the same as when you bought it — it is the year the factory built it. This digit sits in the 10th position when you read the VIN from left to right, and manufacturers use a repeating code system that cycles every 30 years.
You will find your VIN on your car's dashboard (visible through the windshield on the driver's side), on your registration documents, insurance paperwork, and the title. When you need to know your car's model year for repairs, parts ordering, or understanding recall notices, the 10th digit gives you that information directly from the manufacturer's records.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th digit uses a letter or number code that repeats every 30 years, so you must also look at the 1st digit to confirm which 30-year cycle your car belongs to.
- The code runs A through Y (skipping I, O, Q, U, and Z) for years, then cycles back to 1 through 9, then back to A.
- A car built in 2024 has a 4 in the 10th position; a car built in 2025 has a 5; a car built in 1994 also has a 4.
- You can cross-reference the 10th digit with your car's first digit to determine which 30-year cycle it belongs to and confirm the exact model year.
How the 10th digit code works
Manufacturers do not use every letter in the alphabet for the 10th digit. They skip I, O, Q, U, and Z because these letters can be confused with numbers or are harder to read on documents. The code starts with A for one year, then moves to B, C, D, and so on through Y. After Y comes the number 1, then 2 through 9, and then the cycle repeats back to A.
This means the same letter or number appears twice in a 30-year span. For example, the digit 4 represents both 1994 and 2024. The digit 5 represents both 1995 and 2025. To know which one your car actually is, you look at the 1st digit of the VIN, which tells you the country of manufacture and, combined with the 10th digit, narrows down the exact year.
Reading your VIN to find the model year
Locate your VIN — it is 17 characters long. Count from left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. The character in the 10th position is your model year code. Write it down so you have it in front of you.
Once you have the 10th digit, match it to the chart below. If your 10th digit is a letter, find that letter. If it is a number, find that number. The year listed is the year your car was built, assuming your car was made after 1980 (VINs were standardized in 1981).
| 10th Digit | Model Year | 10th Digit | Model Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2010, 1980 | 1 | 2001, 1971 |
| B | 2011, 1981 | 2 | 2002, 1972 |
| C | 2012, 1982 | 3 | 2003, 1973 |
| D | 2013, 1983 | 4 | 2004, 1974 |
| E | 2014, 1984 | 5 | 2005, 1975 |
| F | 2015, 1985 | 6 | 2006, 1976 |
| G | 2016, 1986 | 7 | 2007, 1977 |
| H | 2017, 1987 | 8 | 2008, 1978 |
| J | 2018, 1988 | 9 | 2009, 1979 |
| K | 2019, 1989 | ||
| L | 2020, 1990 | ||
| M | 2021, 1991 | ||
| N | 2022, 1992 | ||
| P | 2023, 1993 | ||
| R | 2024, 1994 | ||
| S | 2025, 1995 | ||
| T | 2026, 1996 | ||
| V | 2027, 1997 | ||
| W | 2028, 1998 | ||
| X | 2029, 1999 | ||
| Y | 2030, 2000 |
Why you need to check the first digit too
Because the 10th digit repeats every 30 years, you cannot rely on it alone. A car with an R in the 10th position could be from 2024 or 1994 — a 30-year difference. To know which one, look at the 1st digit of your VIN. The 1st digit tells you the country where the car was built: 1, 4, or 5 for the United States; 2 for Canada; 3 for Mexico; J for Japan; W for Germany; and so on.
If your car has a 1st digit of 1 and a 10th digit of R, it was built in the United States in 2024. If it has a 1st digit of 1 and a 10th digit of 4, it was built in the United States in 2004. The combination of the 1st and 10th digits removes the ambiguity and gives you the exact year.
When you need the model year from your VIN
Knowing your car's model year matters for several reasons. When you order replacement parts, the year determines which parts fit your specific engine, transmission, and body style. When a manufacturer issues a recall, they identify affected cars by model year range, so you need to know yours to check if your car is included.
Insurance companies also use model year to calculate premiums and determine the value of your car. If you are buying a used car and the seller's paperwork is unclear, the VIN gives you an independent way to verify the actual year the car was built. Repair shops use the model year to look up the correct service procedures and fluid specifications for your engine.
Common mistakes when reading the 10th digit
The most common mistake is confusing the 10th digit with other positions in the VIN. Some people read the wrong digit or count incorrectly. Count slowly from the left: the 1st digit is the first character you see, the 2nd is the second character, and so on until you reach the 10th. Write it down to avoid miscounting.
Another mistake is forgetting that the code repeats every 30 years. If you see a 4 in the 10th position, do not assume your car is from 2004 without checking the 1st digit and the car's actual condition. A 1994 car and a 2024 car look very different, so use common sense along with the VIN.
Some people also confuse the model year with the registration year. Your registration year is when you registered the car with your state — it may be different from the model year. The VIN tells you when the car was built, not when you bought it or registered it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my car was built before 1981?
Cars built before 1981 have a different VIN format that does not follow the 17-character standard. If your car is older than 1981, the 10th digit method does not explore. You will need to look at your title or registration documents to find the model year, or consult a classic car resource specific to your vehicle.
Can the 10th digit ever be I, O, Q, U, or Z?
No. Manufacturers intentionally skip these letters because they are easily confused with numbers or other letters on printed documents and vehicle records. If you see one of these letters in the 10th position, you may have misread the VIN or the VIN itself may be incorrect.
Does the 10th digit tell me anything besides the year?
No. The 10th digit is reserved only for model year. Other positions in the VIN tell you the country of origin, manufacturer, body type, engine type, and other details, but the 10th digit stands alone for year only.
My VIN shows a 10th digit of Y — what year is that?
Y represents either 2000 or 2030. To know which, check the 1st digit. If the 1st digit is 1 (United States), your car was built in 2000. If your car is a newer model that could not have been built in 2000, then it was built in 2030.