AI DamageA VIN is a car's 17-character passport. It identifies the manufacturer, model, engine and year. Part compatibility, the sensor package and the right parts catalogue for an estimate all depend on the VIN.
VIN structure
| Positions | Name | What it encodes |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | Country and manufacturer. For example, a leading J means Japan, 1, 4 or 5 the US, W Germany |
| 4–8 | VDS | Model, body, engine, safety systems; each manufacturer has its own code |
| 9 | Check digit | Calculated from the other characters; it catches errors and forgeries |
| 10 | Model year | See the table below |
| 11 | Plant | Assembly plant code |
| 12–17 | Serial number | The car's sequential number |
Model year codes
| Code | Year | Code | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| H | 2017 | N | 2022 |
| J | 2018 | P | 2023 |
| K | 2019 | R | 2024 |
| L | 2020 | S | 2025 |
| M | 2021 | T | 2026 |
What to check in the lot photos
- The VIN on the plate under the windscreen and on the door pillar must match the lot page.
- The door pillar sticker: production date, paint code, sometimes the trim level.
- Signs of tampering near the plate or a re-stamped number are a reason to walk away from the lot.
- A Replaced VIN brand or similar on the title is a separate legal risk.
Why the VIN matters for an estimate
One model in one year can have different headlights (halogen, LED, adaptive) and different bumpers with and without a radar. We pick the part number for an estimate by VIN, not by model name. Look for a model's common problems by year in the Model faults section, and the history in VIN and damage history.