VIN Country Codes (and What a VIN Means)
The first character of a VIN is the country of final assembly — 1, 4, or 5 is the United States; 2 is Canada; 3 is Mexico; J is Japan; K is South Korea; W is Germany. The first three characters together are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). CarWhere decodes any VIN free, and the $9.99 report adds the full build, MSRP, and recalls.
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VIN country codes — the first character
The first character (and broadly the first three) identifies where the vehicle was built:
- 1, 4, 5 — United States
- 2 — Canada
- 3 — Mexico
- J — Japan
- K — South Korea
- L — China
- S — United Kingdom
- W — Germany
- V — France / Spain
- Z — Italy
What the 17 characters mean
A VIN has three parts. Characters 1–3 are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) — country and manufacturer. Characters 4–8 are the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) — model, body, engine, and restraints. Character 9 is a check digit; character 10 is the model-year code; character 11 is the plant; and 12–17 are the unique serial number. A VIN never contains I, O, or Q to avoid confusion with 1 and 0.
What the report covers
- Factory build, specs, and assembly plant
- Original window sticker (supported brands) + MSRP & options
- Open NHTSA recalls · downloadable PDF
What it does not cover
- Accident, title-brand, odometer, salvage, theft
CarWhere's VIN report is a factory build and price report — what the car was when it left the factory and what it cost. It does NOT include accident, title-brand, odometer, salvage, or theft records. For those, use a vehicle-history report or a state title check.
FAQ
Is the VIN decode free?
Yes. Decoding the VIN to identify the year, make, model, trim, and basic specs is free with no account or signup. Only the full report — window sticker when available, MSRP and options, recalls, and a downloadable PDF — is the $9.99 one-time purchase.
What do I get for free, and what costs $9.99?
Decoding the VIN to see the year, make, model, and trim (via the NHTSA vPIC database) is free with no account. The $9.99 one-time Full VIN Report adds the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes it, the original MSRP and itemized factory options, full factory specs, and an open-recall scan — a one-time purchase with no subscription.
Is this a vehicle-history report?
CarWhere's VIN report is a factory build and price report — what the car was when it left the factory and what it cost. It does NOT include accident, title-brand, odometer, salvage, or theft records. For those, use a vehicle-history report or a state title check.
Where do I find the VIN?
The 17-character VIN is on the metal plate at the base of the windshield on the driver's side (visible from outside), the sticker in the driver's door jamb, and on your registration, insurance card, and title. It never contains the letters I, O, or Q.
What does the first number of a VIN mean?
It is the country of final assembly. 1, 4, and 5 are the United States; 2 is Canada; 3 is Mexico; J is Japan; K is South Korea; W is Germany. Decode the full VIN free on CarWhere to see the exact plant.
What is the WMI in a VIN?
The World Manufacturer Identifier is the first three characters of the VIN. It identifies the country of origin and the manufacturer — for example, 1HG is a US-built Honda and WBA is a German-built BMW.
Decode any VIN free — full report is $9.99
Year, make, model, and trim are free. The Full VIN Report adds the window sticker (where published), MSRP, options, and recalls — one-time, no subscription.
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