Which digit of the vehicle identification number (VIN) indicates the vehicle year?

The tenth digit of the vehicle identification number (VIN) is specifically designated to represent the vehicle's model year. This encoding follows a standardized format established by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and is part of the standardized 17-character VIN used since 1981.

In this system, the digit can either be a number or a letter that corresponds to a specific year. For example, the number "1" might indicate 2001, whereas the letter "A" indicates 2010. This allows anyone reading the VIN to quickly ascertain when the vehicle was produced, which is essential for various reasons including determining recall status, finding appropriate replacement parts, and understanding the vehicle's age for purchase considerations.

Other digits in the VIN serve different purposes: the first digit represents the country of manufacture, the fifth digit identifies the vehicle type, and the ninth digit is a security check character used to validate the VIN's authenticity. Therefore, understanding the layout and specifics of a VIN is crucial for automotive professionals.