ARTICLE: Find your car's date of manufacture (VIN)

[wildon]

How do you know that your dealer isn't selling you a 6 month old car, under the guise of a new one? Or worse still, a car that's over a year old?

Knowing when your car was manufactured is critical; after all, when you have paid good money for a brand new car, shouldn't you be getting just that? Automotive manufactures around the world use a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) that can be decoded to reveal the Month & Year of production. Each car has a unique VIN that is usually stamped somewhere within the engine bay, or around the passenger compartment.

Team-BHP shows you how to decode the VIN of your car. Simply scroll down to the manufacturer-specific posts and follow the instructions therein.

NOTE : An excel sheet containing the location of engine / chassis numbers (on various vehicles) is attached to the bottom of this post.

Manufacturer: Tata Motors

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with MAT...)

Decode:

10th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture
12th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 10th VIN character is A, then it represents the Year - 2010
If your 12th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month - July

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

P.S. The letters "I", "O" and "Q" are never used in a VIN.

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Chevrolet

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with MA6...)

Decode:

7th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
9th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

Reference photo attached in post #582.

Additionally, you can find a separate placard near the front left door, right bottom (near seat) that has 2 characters representing MONTH and YEAR. For e.g GB = July 2011.

Full credit goes to fellow members Ghostrider, Torquedo, keyur and Poitive for the findings.

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Honda

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with MAK...)

Decode:

9th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
10th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 9th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month - July
If your 10th VIN character is A, then it represents the Year - 2010

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Mahindra

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with MAI...)

Decode:

10th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture
12th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 10th VIN character is A, then it represents the Year - 2010
If your 12th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month - July

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

EDIT : Here's some more info from Spike. Thanks!

Originally Posted by SPIKE ARRESTOR

The VIN code for mahindra vehicles consists of 17 digits, which is divided mainly into 3 sections.
first section containing 3 digits which give details of Manufacturer code.
second section containing 6 digits which give details of general characteristics of the vehicle
third section containing 8 digits which give details of particular vehicle identification. Now the details of all the 17 digits
Digit 1- Continent code ( M means Asia)
Digit 2- Country code (A means India)
Digit 3- Manufacturers code for MnM (1 means Mahindra)
Digit 4,5-Vehicle code for RHD,LHD
Digit 6- 4WD or 2WD (4 means 4WD and 2 means 2WD)
Digit 7,8- Engine code (Different codes for MDI and NEF)
Digit9- Transmission code (N for NGT 530R and L for NGT530)
Digit 10- Year code (2 for 2001, 3 for 2002 and so on)
Digit 11- Plant location (1 for Kandivali, 2 for Nasik, 3 for Zaheerabad)
Digit 12- Month code (A for January, B for Feb and so on)
Digit 13-17- Vehicle Serial No.

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Mitsubishi

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with MA7...)

Decode:

10th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture
11th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 10th VIN character is A, then it represents the Year - 2010
If your 11th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month - July

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Hyundai

VIN / Chassis Number Characters: 19 (beginning with MAL...)

Decode:

10th character represents the Model YEAR
19th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 10th VIN character is A, then it represents the Model Year - 2010
If your 19th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month of Manufacture - July

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Fiat

VIN Characters: 20 (beginning with MCA...)

Decode:

18th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
19th & 20th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 18th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month - July
If your 19th & 20th VIN character is NZ, then it represents the Year - 2010

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

LZ= 2012
MZ = 2011
NZ = 2010
QZ & PZ = 2009

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Skoda

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with TMB...)

Decode:

6th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
10th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 6th VIN character is G, then it represents the Month - July
If your 10th VIN character is A, then it represents the Year - 2010

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

Note: Here's a link to a worldwide VIN decoder for VW / Skoda / Audi cars. Try it out, thanks to BHPian dkaile for sharing.

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Volkswagen

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning with WVW...)

Decode:

4th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
5th & 6th combined character represents Production Year
10th character represents the Model Year

An Example:

If your 4th VIN character is C, then it represents the Month - March
If your 5th & 6th Combined character is 12 then it represents the production year 2012
If your 10th VIN character is C, then it represents the Model Year - 2012

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

10 = 2010
11 = 2011
12 = 2012

Model Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013
E = 2014
F = 2015
G = 2016
H = 2017
J = 2018
K = 2019

Note: Here's a link to a worldwide VIN decoder for VW / Skoda / Audi cars. Try it out, thanks to BHPian dkaile for sharing.

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Toyota

VIN Characters: 22 (beginning with MBJ...)

Decode:

19th & 20th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
21st & 22nd character represents the YEAR of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 19th & 20th VIN characters are 0 & 5, then it represents the Month - May
If your 21st & 22nd VIN characters are 0 & 8, then it represents the Year - 2008

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Maruti

VIN Characters: 21 (beginning mostly with MA3...)

Decode:

20th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture
21th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 20th VIN character is L, then it represents the Month - November
If your 10th VIN character is 6, then it represents the Year - 2006

Month Codes:

A = JAN
B = FEB
C = MAR
D = APR
E = MAY
F = JUN
G = JUL
H = AUG
J = SEP
K = OCT
L = NOV
M = DEC

Year Codes:

D=2013
C=2012
B=2011
A=2010
9=2009
8=2008
7=2007
6=2006
5=2005

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Ford

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning mostly with MAJ...)

Ford India uses a pattern which repeats every 4 years. That means the 2005-2008 pattern repeats for 2009-2012 (and so on).

Decode: (Use the chart below for reference)

11th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture
12th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 11th VIN character is 7, then it represents the Year - 2007
If your 12th VIN character is K, then it represents the Month - February

[wildon]

Manufacturer: Nissan

VIN Characters: 17 (beginning mostly with "MD")

Decode:

10th character represents the YEAR of Manufacture
11th character represents the MONTH of Manufacture

An Example:

If your 10th VIN character is C, then it represents the Year 2012
If your 11th VIN character is 3, then it represents the Month of March

Year Codes:

A = 2010
B = 2011
C = 2012
D = 2013

Month Codes:

1 = January
2 = February
3 = March
4 = April
5 = May
6 = June
7 = July
8 = August
9 = September
A = October
B = November
C = December

[Stratos]

Hey Wildon, Thank You for all the input on VINs. We have just moved your posts to this separate thread so that members can easily refer to the posts above in order to decode the VINs of their cars.

[ghodlur]

@wildon,

Great work buddy, have always been appreciating the work you been doing.

Would it be possible to post the Nissan VIN Decoding too . Thanks in advance.