Vin Decoder.

A VIN is a unique code assigned to every motor vehicle when it's manufactured. It's a 17-character string of letters and numbers without intervening spaces or the letters Q (q), I (i), and O (o), which are omitted to avoid confusion with the numerals 0 and 1. Scroll below to learn more.

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example VIN with red fingerprint on top

The importance of a Vehicle Identification Number is:

VINs act as a fingerprint for heavy-duty trucks, providing a unique identifier for each vehicle. They are crucial for tracking recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts, and insurance coverage.

VIN disection

The structure OF A HEAVY-DUTY TRUCK VIN.

The VIN is divided into three segments: The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each segment provides specific information about the vehicle, like the country of manufacture, brand, and specific attributes. The model year, for instance, is typically represented by a single character in the 10th position. The vehicle manufacturer is identified in the first three characters (WMI).

How the VIN provides information on the truck's body type & brake system:

  • Certain characters within the VIN, typically in the VDS, indicate the vehicle's body style and type of brake system.
  • This can be useful for parts compatibility and understanding vehicle specifications.
  • By comparing VINs, one can understand the differences in specifications and features across various truck models and manufacturers.
example VIN with red fingerprint on top
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FAQ'S

Can I get a build sheet with a VIN?
Fullbay’s VIN decoder provides some aspects of a build sheet, including information about the vehicle chassis, engine, trailer box, bus body, and country of origin.
How do I decode my truck's VIN number?
  • 1st Character: Country of origin. 1 and 4 signify the United States. Canada is 2 and Mexico is 3. Sometimes it’s a letter; if you see “J,” for example, your vehicle was made in Japan.
  • 2nd Character: The manufacturer that built the truck.
  • 3rd Character: Division of origin or type of vehicle. This character tells you what kind of truck it is or the manufacturing branch that built it.
  • 4th Through 8th Characters: Physical attributes. Engine type, body style, transmission, and so on.
  • 9th Character: Check digit. This is the number or letter that is entirely unique to your truck—the character that creates its distinctive “thumbprint.”
  • 10th Character: Model year.
  • 11th Character: Assembly plant identification.
  • 12th Through 17th Characters: These are production numbers that relate to when the truck came off the assembly line.
How do I find out the specs of my truck?
You can generally work out what your truck should come with by decoding each character of the VIN—or you can type the VIN into a decoder and see the full spec sheet.
How do you read a VIN number on a semi-truck?
The VIN number may be located in a few places, including the driver’s door frame or the driver’s or passenger’s side frame rail. Where yours is located will depend on the age and manufacturer of the semi.
How do I find the original build sheet of my car?
Huh, not usually our wheelhouse, but we’ll take a shot at it. If your car is newer, you may be able to contact a dealership or the manufacturer with the VIN number (typically located on the dashboard to the left of the wheel, on the door, and on the engine itself).
If your car is older or has changed hands several times, you may want to contact the manufacturer directly. And hey, if you just want some basic information about your car, go ahead and type its VIN into our VIN decoder…that’s right, we handle automotive stuff too!
How do I get a full VIN report?
Fullbay’s VIN report will show you what your vehicle looked like at build time—OEM status, if you will. You’ll be able to see things like cab and bed type, safety systems, engine classification, and trailer information—along with its city of origin.
A full VIN report—often called a vehicle history report—will have the information described above regarding the vehicle as-built. The full report contains additional information like changes of ownership and accidents the vehicle may have been in, along with data about recalls and whether it’s been marked as a lemon.
Kelley Blue Book and CARFAX are both solid places to get full VIN reports, but be warned, you may have to pay for the complete report.
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NATO Translation

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