Where to Find the Year Code in Your VIN
The VIN is always 17 characters long. Count from the left: the 10th position holds the year code. If your VIN is 1HGCV41JXMN109186, the 10th character is M — that's your year code.
You can find the VIN in three places on any vehicle: on the dashboard at the base of the windshield on the driver's side (visible from outside without opening the car), on the driver's side door jamb, or in your vehicle registration documents and insurance paperwork. The dashboard location is the easiest to read without tools.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th character in a 17-character VIN is always the year code.
- Year codes use letters and numbers on a 30-year repeating cycle, so the same code appears once every three decades.
- The year code tells you the model year (when the vehicle was manufactured), not the calendar year you bought it.
- A vehicle with a 2024 model year code may have been built in late 2023 or early 2024, depending on the manufacturer's production schedule.
The Year Code Chart
The year codes repeat every 30 years. Below is the current cycle, which started in 2010 and runs through 2039. If you are looking at a vehicle older than 2010, the same letter or number appeared 30 years earlier — for example, a car with code Y was built in either 2000 or 1980.
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 2010 | K | 2019 | U | 2024 |
| B | 2011 | L | 2020 | V | 2025 |
| C | 2012 | M | 2021 | W | 2026 |
| D | 2013 | N | 2022 | X | 2027 |
| E | 2014 | P | 2023 | Y | 2028 |
| F | 2015 | R | 2024 | Z | 2029 |
| G | 2016 | S | 2025 | 1 | 2030 |
| H | 2017 | T | 2026 | 2 | 2031 |
| J | 2018 | V | 2027 | 3 | 2032 |
Note that the letter I and the number 0 are never used as year codes. This prevents confusion with the letters O and the number 1, which can look identical on worn or damaged VINs.
Why the Year Code Matters
Insurance companies, mechanics, and used-car buyers use the year code to confirm a vehicle's age and check its history. The model year determines which safety features and emissions standards the car must meet, which parts are compatible, and how much the vehicle is worth. A one-year difference in model year can change insurance rates and repair costs.
The year code also helps detect odometer fraud. If a seller claims a car is from 2015 but the VIN shows code F (2015) and the odometer reads 250,000 miles, that is plausible. If the VIN shows code C (2012) and the odometer reads 15,000 miles, something is wrong — the car is too old to have so few miles.
Model Year vs. Calendar Year
The year code tells you the model year, not necessarily the calendar year the car was built. Manufacturers often begin production of the next model year in the previous calendar year. A 2024 model year vehicle may have been manufactured in September 2023. This is standard practice across the industry and does not indicate a problem with the vehicle.
When you register a vehicle or buy insurance, the registration and policy use the model year from the VIN, not the date you purchased it. A 2024 model year car purchased in 2025 is still registered as a 2024.
How to Verify the Year Code
Once you have identified the 10th character, cross-reference it with the chart above. If you are unsure whether you are reading the correct position, count carefully from left to right: position 1 is the first character, position 10 is the tenth. Write down the VIN and mark every fifth character to make counting easier.
If the 10th character does not match any code on the chart, the VIN may be damaged, incorrectly transcribed, or counterfeit. Counterfeit or altered VINs are a red flag for stolen vehicles or title fraud. If you are buying a used car and the year code seems wrong, have a mechanic or dealer verify the VIN before you complete the purchase.
Common Confusion Points
The most common mistake is counting the wrong position. The VIN is read left to right, starting at 1. The year code is always the 10th character — not the 10th from the right, not the 10th letter, but the 10th character in the sequence. If you count to position 10 and find a number instead of a letter, that is correct; numbers are valid year codes from 2030 onward.
Another source of confusion is the 30-year cycle. If you see code Y on a vehicle that looks brand new, it is a 2028 model year, not a 1980 or 2000. The cycle that applies depends on when the vehicle was manufactured. A vehicle from the 1980s with code Y is a 1980 model; a vehicle from the 2000s with code Y is a 2000 model; a vehicle from the 2020s with code Y is a 2028 model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I tell what month a car was built from the VIN?
No. The VIN tells you the model year only, not the month or specific date. Some manufacturers stamp the build date elsewhere on the vehicle — inside the driver's door jamb, on the engine block, or on interior panels — but this information is not part of the standard VIN.
What if the year code does not match when the car was actually made?
This usually means the vehicle was built late in the previous calendar year. A 2024 model year car built in October 2023 is correct. If the discrepancy is larger — for example, a car that looks brand new but has a 2015 code — the VIN may have been altered or the vehicle may have been in long-term storage.
Do all countries use the same year code system?
Yes. The VIN format, including the year code in the 10th position, is standardized internationally. A car built in Japan, Germany, or Mexico uses the same year code system as one built in the United States.
What happens when the year code cycle repeats in 2030?
In 2030, the year code 1 will represent 2030 model year vehicles. The cycle then continues: 2 for 2031, 3 for 2032, and so on through 9 for 2039. After 2039, the cycle repeats and starts again with A for 2040.