The 10th digit of your VIN is your car's model year code
The 10th position in a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) contains a single letter or number that represents the year the vehicle was manufactured. This digit is standardized across all vehicles sold in North America, so once you know how to read it, you can decode any car's build year. The code repeats every 30 years, which means a car built in 1980 and one built in 2010 would both show the same digit — context from the other VIN positions tells you which decade applies.
Manufacturers use this system because it creates a permanent record on the vehicle itself. Unlike registration documents or titles, which can be transferred or updated, the VIN is stamped into the frame and engine block during production. Insurance companies, mechanics, and used car buyers all reference this digit to verify a vehicle's age and confirm it matches the paperwork.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th VIN digit is a letter or number that identifies the model year, and the code repeats every 30 years starting from 1980.
- You can find your VIN on your registration card, insurance documents, or by looking at the dashboard on the driver's side of the windshield.
- The chart below shows which digits correspond to which years, separated by the 30-year cycles that began in 1980 and 2010.
- Knowing your model year from the VIN helps verify vehicle history reports, confirm insurance coverage, and check recall information.
How to locate your VIN
Your VIN appears in several places on your vehicle and documents. The easiest spot is your registration card or insurance paperwork — both print the full 17-character number clearly. If you need to check the vehicle itself, look at the lower left corner of your windshield on the driver's side; the VIN is stamped into the dashboard and visible from outside the car.
You can also find your VIN on your title document, loan paperwork, or any service records from a dealership or repair shop. Once you have the VIN, count to the 10th position from the left. That single character is your model year code.
The 10th digit model year chart
Use this chart to match your 10th digit to the correct model year. Remember that letters and numbers repeat every 30 years, so you will need to know approximately when your vehicle was built to choose the right column. A vehicle from the 1980s–2000s will fall in the left column, while vehicles from 2010 onward use the right column.
| Digit | 1980–2009 | 2010–2039 |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2001 | 2031 |
| 2 | 2002 | 2032 |
| 3 | 2003 | 2033 |
| 4 | 2004 | 2034 |
| 5 | 2005 | 2035 |
| 6 | 2006 | 2036 |
| 7 | 2007 | 2037 |
| 8 | 2008 | 2038 |
| 9 | 2009 | 2039 |
Notice that the letter I and the number 0 do not appear in the code. Manufacturers skip these to avoid confusion with the letters O and I, which look similar on printed documents and stamped metal.
Why the 30-year cycle matters
The model year code repeats every 30 years because the system was designed in 1980 and manufacturers decided 30 years was long enough before a code would repeat. A car from 1980 and a car from 2010 both show an A in the 10th position, but you can tell them apart by looking at other parts of the VIN or by checking the vehicle's actual appearance and condition.
In practice, this rarely causes confusion because a 1980 vehicle and a 2010 vehicle look completely different, and anyone checking the VIN would also verify the information against the title, registration, or a vehicle history report. The next cycle will begin in 2040, when the code will start over again.
What you can do with the model year digit
Knowing your car's model year from the VIN helps you verify information on your title or registration. If the paperwork says your car is a 2015 model but the 10th digit shows something that corresponds to 2005, that mismatch is a red flag worth investigating with your state's motor vehicle department.
The model year is also useful for checking recalls, since the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) organizes recalls by model year. You can search NHTSA's website with your VIN to see if your specific vehicle has any open recalls. Insurance companies also use the model year to calculate premiums and determine coverage options, so having the correct year on file matters for your policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my 10th digit is a letter I don't recognize?
Double-check that you are counting from the left and that you have the correct position. The VIN is always 17 characters long. If you are certain you have the right digit and it does not appear on the chart, the VIN may be invalid or the vehicle may be from outside North America, where different coding systems explore.
Can the 10th digit tell me anything else about my car besides the year?
No, the 10th digit is reserved only for model year. Other positions in the VIN encode the manufacturer, the vehicle type, engine size, and other features, but the 10th position has one job: to identify when the car was built.
Does the model year in the VIN always match the year on my registration?
Usually, but not always. A car built in late 2009 might be sold and registered as a 2010 model year for marketing reasons. The VIN shows when it was actually manufactured, while your registration shows the model year the dealer assigned. Both are correct — they just measure different things.
What should I do if the VIN model year doesn't match my title?
Contact your state's motor vehicle department with both your VIN and your title. They can investigate whether there is a clerical error or whether the title needs to be corrected. Do not ignore this, especially if you are buying a used car, because it can affect insurance coverage and resale value.