The VIN tells you the model year in the 10th position
The 10th character in a vehicle identification number (VIN) is a letter or number that represents the model year the car was built. This single character is your quickest way to find out what year a vehicle is without looking at registration papers or asking the seller. The VIN is printed on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), on the door jamb, and on your registration and insurance documents.
The year code repeats every 30 years because there are only 30 possible characters (the letters I, O, Q, and Z are never used). This means a car coded as "A" could have been made in 1980, 2010, or 2040. To know which, you need to look at the first character of the VIN — the country and manufacturer — along with the 10th character together.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th character in the VIN is a letter or number that represents the model year, and you can find it by counting from the left.
- Year codes repeat every 30 years because letters I, O, Q, and Z are skipped, so you must use the first character and other context to confirm the actual decade.
- A year chart shows which letters and numbers correspond to which years, starting with A for 1980 and cycling through 2009, then Y for 2000 and cycling through 2029.
- The model year is not always the calendar year — a 2024 model year car may have been built in late 2023.
The year code chart and how to read it
Below is the standard year code used by all manufacturers in North America. Find the 10th character of your VIN in the left column, then read across to see what year it represents.
| 10th Character | Year | 10th Character | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980, 2010 | P | 1993, 2023 |
| B | 1981, 2011 | R | 1994, 2024 |
| C | 1982, 2012 | S | 1995, 2025 |
| D | 1983, 2013 | T | 1996, 2026 |
| E | 1984, 2014 | V | 1997, 2027 |
| F | 1985, 2015 | W | 1998, 2028 |
| G | 1986, 2016 | X | 1999, 2029 |
| H | 1987, 2017 | Y | 2000, 2030 |
| J | 1988, 2018 | 1 | 2001, 2031 |
| K | 1989, 2019 | 2 | 2002, 2032 |
| L | 1990, 2020 | 3 | 2003, 2033 |
| M | 1991, 2021 | 4 | 2004, 2034 |
| N | 1992, 2022 | 5 | 2005, 2035 |
| 6 | 2006, 2036 | ||
| 7 | 2007, 2037 | ||
| 8 | 2008, 2038 | ||
| 9 | 2009, 2039 |
Notice that the letters I, O, Q, and Z do not appear. This is intentional — manufacturers skip them to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. The chart cycles through letters A through Y, then numbers 1 through 9, then repeats.
How to locate the 10th character in your VIN
A VIN is always 17 characters long. Count from the left, starting at 1. The 10th position is the one you need. If your VIN is 1HGCV41JXMN109186, count across: 1-H-G-C-V-4-1-J-X-M. The 10th character is M, which means the model year is 1991 or 2021.
You can find the VIN in several places on your vehicle. The easiest is to look through the windshield at the driver's side dashboard — the VIN is printed on a sticker at the base of the windshield. You can also find it on the driver's side door jamb (open the door and look at the frame where it closes), on your vehicle registration, on your insurance card, and on the title document.
Why the model year might not match the calendar year
The model year printed on your registration or insurance documents may be different from the calendar year the car was actually built. Manufacturers assign model years in the fall of the previous calendar year. A car with a 2024 model year may have been manufactured in September or October of 2023.
This matters when you are checking the age of a used car or calculating warranty coverage. The VIN's 10th character tells you the model year assigned by the manufacturer, not necessarily the month and year it rolled off the assembly line. If you need the exact build date, you can contact the manufacturer with the full VIN, but the model year is what appears on all official documents.
What to do if the year seems wrong
If the 10th character gives you two possible years (like 1991 or 2021) and you are not sure which one is correct, look at the first character of the VIN. The first character identifies the country where the vehicle was made. If the first character is a number between 1 and 5, the car was made in North America. If it is a letter, it was made elsewhere. This can help narrow down the decade — a car made in 2021 is far more likely than one made in 1991 if you are looking at a used vehicle you just saw on the road.
You can also check the vehicle's condition, mileage, and any visible wear. A car that looks brand new is unlikely to be from 1991. If you are still uncertain, the title document will show the year, or you can run the full VIN through a vehicle history report service that cross-references manufacturer records.
Why manufacturers use this system
The VIN system was standardized in 1981 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to make vehicle identification uniform across all manufacturers. The 10th character year code is part of the "model year section" of the VIN. Using a repeating 30-year cycle keeps the VIN length at 17 characters, which is the standard for all vehicles sold in North America.
This system makes it straightforward for mechanics, insurers, and buyers to quickly identify a vehicle's age without needing to look up additional documents. The year code is also used in recall notices, parts catalogs, and warranty information, so manufacturers need a consistent way to mark model years across all their vehicles.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the 10th character tell me the exact month the car was built?
No. The 10th character only tells you the model year, not the month. To find the exact build date, you need the full VIN and must contact the manufacturer directly or use a detailed vehicle history report. Some manufacturers include a build date code elsewhere in the VIN, but this varies by brand.
What if my VIN has a letter I, O, Q, or Z in the 10th position?
That VIN is not valid. These letters are never used in the 10th position of a legitimate VIN. If you see one of these letters in that spot, the VIN may be forged or incorrectly recorded. Check the VIN again on the vehicle itself or contact the manufacturer to verify.
Does the year code work the same way for cars made outside North America?
The 10th character year code is the standard for all vehicles sold in North America, regardless of where they were manufactured. However, some vehicles made for markets outside North America may use different VIN systems. If you are researching a car made for export to another country, that vehicle's year code may differ.
If a car has a 2024 model year, was it definitely built in 2023?
Not necessarily. Most 2024 model year vehicles are built in late 2023, but some may be built in early 2024. Manufacturers begin production of the next model year several months before the calendar year changes. The exact build date requires contacting the manufacturer or checking a detailed vehicle history report.