Looking for a VIN number example? Most guides show one made-up code. Below are real VINs from seven markets, decoded character by character. Plus the math that proves whether a VIN is valid.
Same 17 characters. Very different rules.
Key takeaways
- Vincario offers a free full vehicle check. 3 free VIN lookups every month, no credit card. Decode any VIN here.
- Only North American and Chinese VINs must carry a check digit and model-year code. A European VIN with the letter Z in position 9 is still 100% valid.
- Not every car has a 17-digit VIN. Japanese domestic cars use shorter chassis numbers, and importers convert them into surrogate VINs.
What is a VIN number example?
A VIN number example is a real 17-character vehicle identification number broken down into its parts. Here is one from a 2003 Honda Accord EX-V6 Coupe built in Ohio:
1HGCM81613A017358
| Position | Characters | Meaning in this VIN |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 (WMI) | 1HG | 1 = USA, HG = Honda (passenger car) |
| 4–8 (VDS) | CM816 | Accord coupe, EX-V6 trim, 3.0L V6 (J30A4) |
| 9 | 1 | Check digit – passes the calculation |
| 10 | 3 | Model year 2003 |
| 11 | A | Plant: Marysville, Ohio |
| 12–17 | 017358 | Production serial number |
New to VINs? Start with our guide, what is a VIN number?
VIN number examples by country
The first character tells you the region: 1–5 and 7 North America, J–R Asia, S–Z Europe, 6 Oceania, A–C Africa, 8–9 South America (full WMI list on Wikipedia). Everything after that depends on local rules.
For more details, check our complete guide to VIN country codes.
| Region | Example VIN | Vehicle | What to notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA | 1HGCM81613A017358 | Honda Accord, 2003 | Check digit + year code mandatory |
| Japan (export) | JHMCM56343C034301 | Honda Accord, 2003 | Same model, Japanese plant (C = Sayama) |
| Europe | WVWZZZ3HZNE501484 | VW Arteon, 2022 | “Z” fillers, no check digit |
| China | LRW3F7FR0MC429957 | Tesla Model 3, Shanghai | Check digit mandatory, like the US |
| South Korea | KMHD641DBHU295368 | Hyundai, 2017, Ulsan | Letter in position 9 – not a check digit |
| Australia | 6G1FE5EW2HL332906 | Holden Commodore SSV, 2017 | Starts with 6 = Oceania |
| South Africa | AHTFR22G106090796 | Toyota Hilux, 2006 | “0” in position 10 – year not encoded |
1. US VIN example: 1HGCM81613A017358
The US standard (49 CFR 565) is the strictest. Position 9 must be a check digit, position 10 must be the model year. That’s why US VINs are the easiest to validate and decode. Decode Honda VINs with the Honda VIN decoder.
2. Japanese VIN number example: JHMCM56343C034301
This is the same car line as the US example, a 2003 Accord built in Sayama, Japan. Compare them:
- 1HG vs JHM – country of manufacture changes the WMI.
- Position 11: A (Marysville) vs C (Sayama).
- Check digit and year code work the same, because the car was built for North America.
Tip: The first character shows where the car was built, not the brand’s home country. A Japanese Honda can start with 1, 2, 5 or J.
3. EU VIN example: WVWZZZ3HZNE501484
A typical European Volkswagen VIN. US-style validators reject it. They are wrong.
- WVW – Volkswagen passenger car, Germany
- ZZZ – filler characters, no data
- 3H – model code (Arteon)
- Z – position 9 is a filler, not a check digit
- N – 2022 model year
- E – Emden plant
The EU (ISO 3779) does not require a check digit or a year code. VW, Audi, Škoda and Porsche use Z fillers instead. Decode these with the Volkswagen VIN decoder. It reads manufacturer data, not just the generic structure.
Here’s a quick example of a VIN decoded using Vincario.
4. Chinese VIN example: LRW3F7FR0MC429957
A Tesla Model 3 from Giga Shanghai, sold in the UK. LRW = Tesla China, M = 2021 model-year code, C = Shanghai plant. China requires a valid check digit, so position 9 (0) passes the same math as a US VIN. More in our Tesla VIN decoder.
5. Korean VIN example: KMHD641DBHU295368
A Hyundai built in Ulsan (U) for the 2017 model year (H). Position 9 holds a B – a letter, not a check digit. For a European-market car, that’s allowed. Run the same VIN through a strict US validator and it fails. Use the Hyundai VIN decoder instead.
6. Australian VIN number example: 6G1FE5EW2HL332906
A 2017 Holden Commodore SSV – one of the last Commodores built in Australia. 6 = Oceania, 6G1 = Holden, H = 2017. It passes the check digit too. See the Holden VIN decoder.
Imports are different. Australia requires a 17-character VIN for registration. Cars without one get a government-issued VIN starting with 6ZZ (source). Example: 6ZZK… = a 2019 model.
7. African VIN example: AHTFR22G106090796
A Toyota Hilux double cab built by Toyota South Africa Motors near Durban. A = Africa, AHT = Toyota South Africa. Notice position 10 is 0 – the model year is not encoded. You can’t read the year from this VIN by hand. You need a decoder with manufacturer data, like the Toyota VIN decoder.
8. Japanese chassis number vs. VIN
Cars sold new in Japan often have no 17-digit VIN at all. They carry a chassis (frame) number:
SV30-0169266
- 9–12 characters, usually with a dash
- SV30 = model code (Toyota Camry/Vista), 0169266 = serial
- No country code, no year, no check digit
When a JDM car is imported to Australia, New Zealand or the UK, it usually gets a surrogate VIN: a regional prefix, zero padding and the original chassis number. Wikipedia’s example: PV35-400637 becomes 6U90000PV35400637.
Buying a grey import? Check both numbers. The chassis number must match the old Japanese records, the surrogate VIN must match the new registration.
How to calculate a VIN check digit?
The check digit (position 9) catches typos and crude fakes. Here’s the full calculation for 1HGCM81613A017358.
Convert letters to numbers
A–H = 1–8 · J–N = 1–5 · P = 7 · R = 9 · S–Z = 2–9. Digits keep their value. (I, O and Q never appear in a VIN.)
Multiply by position weights
Weights for positions 1–17: 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
| Pos. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Char | 1 | H | G | C | M | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 3 | A | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Value | 1 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 6 | – | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| Weight | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Product | 8 | 56 | 42 | 15 | 16 | 24 | 2 | 60 | 0 | 27 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 35 | 12 | 15 | 16 |
Add up and divide by 11
Sum = 342. 342 ÷ 11 = 31, remainder 1.
Compare
Remainder 1 = position 9 is 1. Valid. If the remainder is 10, the check digit is X – like in the classic example 1M8GDM9AXKP042788 (sum 351, remainder 10).
Use it only for North American and Chinese VINs. Run it on WVWZZZ3HZNE501484 and you get 2 instead of Z a false alarm.
Valid vs. invalid VIN number examples
One wrong character is enough to break a VIN. Real-world mistakes look like this:
| VIN | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1HGCM81613A017358 | ✅ Valid | Check digit matches (1) |
| 1HGCM81613A017359 | ❌ Invalid | Last digit mistyped – check digit should be 3 |
| 1HGCM81613A018358 | ❌ Invalid | Serial altered – check digit should be 6 |
| SGZCZ43D13S812715 | ❌ Invalid | “5” misread as “S” (correct: 5GZCZ43D13S812715) |
| 1HGCM8161OA017358 | ❌ Invalid | Contains the letter O |
| 1HGCM81613A01735 | ❌ Invalid | 16 characters |
| WVWZZZ3HZNE501484 | ✅ Valid | EU VIN, no check digit required |
Tip: compare the VIN on the windshield, door jamb, title, registration and insurance card. A check digit catches typos. It does not catch a cloned VIN copied from another real car. For that, run a stolen vehicle check.
How to decode a VIN example online?
Here are two simple ways to decode a VIN online and check vehicle details.
Vincario (worldwide VINs)
Paste any 17-character VIN into the Vincario VIN decoder. It decodes US, EU and Asian VINs – including Z-filler and no-check-digit formats. Need it at scale? The VIN decoder API returns the same data in JSON. Dealers can skip typing with a VIN OCR scanner.
NHTSA vPIC (US-market VINs)
The free NHTSA VIN decoder lets you enter a VIN to check details such as the manufacturer, model, model year, engine, and assembly plant.
For automated VIN decoding, NHTSA also offers a free API that returns vehicle information in JSON format, with an extended option for additional details.
Limit: NHTSA primarily covers vehicles intended for the US market. European and many Asian VINs may return limited or no information.
For more alternatives, explore our guide to the best free VIN decoders.
Example VINs for testing (random VIN generators)
Developers often need sample VINs for forms, databases or demos. Random VIN generators create codes with a real WMI and a correct check digit. Use them only for testing.
- A generated VIN may belong to a real car. Never put one on a listing or document.
- Generated VINs follow the US format. They won’t help you test EU-style VINs with Z fillers.
- For real data, use real VINs like the examples in this article and a VIN decoder API.
Final words
A VIN example only makes sense with its region. US and Chinese VINs can be checked with math. European, Korean and African VINs often can’t and that’s fine. Japanese domestic cars may not have a VIN at all.
Don’t guess. Check any VIN with Vincario. 3 free lookups every month, no credit card.
FAQ
1. What is an example of a VIN number?
1HGCM81613A017358 is a real VIN of a 2003 Honda Accord EX-V6 Coupe. 1HG = Honda USA, 3 = 2003, A = Marysville plant, 017358 = serial number.
2. What does a 17-digit VIN look like?
17 letters and digits, no spaces, no I, O or Q. The last characters are usually numbers. Example: WVWZZZ3HZNE501484.
3. Is WVWZZZ a valid VIN start?
Yes. WVW is Volkswagen’s code for passenger cars made in Germany. ZZZ are filler characters used by VW Group in Europe.
4. Does every VIN have a check digit?
No. It’s mandatory in North America and China. In Europe and many other markets, position 9 can be a letter or filler.
5. Why is the 10th digit of my VIN a 0?
Outside North America, many manufacturers don’t encode the model year. A 0 in position 10 simply means not used. Decode the full VIN to get the year.
6. What is a Japanese VIN number example?
Export cars use a standard VIN starting with J, e.g. JHMCM56343C034301. Cars sold in Japan use a chassis number like SV30-0169266.
7. What does an Australian VIN look like?
Locally built cars start with 6, e.g. 6G1FE5EW2HL332906 (Holden). Imports without a valid VIN receive a government VIN starting with 6ZZ.
8. Do trailers and motorcycles have the same VIN format?
Yes. 17 characters since 1981 in the US. Small trailer builders often use a 9 in position 3. Try the trailer VIN decoder or motorcycle VIN decoder.
