1. FAXVIN
  2. VIN Decoder
  3. Validator

VIN Validator

Confirm the VIN Format and Check Digit

A VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, is a 17-character code that uniquely identifies a vehicle.
For most vehicles, you can find the VIN on the front driver's-side interior dashboard or the driver's-side doorpost. Alternatively, it may appear on the vehicle's insurance and ownership documents. Example: 7FARW2H5XNE029388

Checking whether a VIN is correctly formatted – and whether its check digit matches – is an important and straightforward step. A VIN is a 17-character code, and its 9th character is a check digit (it can be 0–9 or "X"). Validating that check digit can help catch common typos or transcription errors before you rely on the VIN for research or paperwork.

What Is a VIN Validator?

A VIN Validator is a tool used to validate Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) for accuracy. VINs are 17-character codes (which can consist of both letters and numbers) that are used to uniquely identify a vehicle by serving as the vehicle's fingerprint.

VINs are used by manufacturers and dealers to help track vehicles for recalls, warranties, registration, inspections, and more. With VIN validation, you can quickly and easily check that the VIN you've been given is correct. This helps ensure that you get accurate information about your vehicle and that you can make sound decisions when buying or selling a car.

Our VIN Validator works on a simple premise. Character 9 of the VIN serves as an error-detecting check digit. Using the check-digit calculation specified in NHTSA's 49 CFR Part 565 (and consistent with ISO 3779), we can determine whether that character is correct. We convert each VIN letter into its standard numeric value, then multiply those values by weight factors based on their position in the sequence. This produces 16 weighted values, which are summed and divided by 11. The remainder equals the check digit; if the remainder is 10, the check digit is represented by "X".

Don't worry about performing this calculation manually with weight factor tables. Our super handy tool takes care of VIN verification for you – all you need to do is to enter your VIN and let us take care of finding your check digit.

VIN Check Digit Formula

Calculating the VIN check digit is easier than you think:

  1. Start by transliterating all letters in your VIN to their respective numerical counterparts. See the numerical counterparts in the table below.
  2. Take the new numbers and multiply them according to their assigned weights from the provided table ("Weights").
  3. Add up all of the products.
  4. Divide the total sum by 11 to find the remainder.
  5. Note that if the remainder is 10, the check digit should be "X".

Transliterating

Transliteration converts VIN letters into numeric values using the standard VIN transliteration table. It involves swapping each letter for its assigned number.

NOTE: Valid VINs don't contain the characters I, O, and Q. In the table, they appear as empty cells. Numerical values remain unchanged in this transliteration process.

Transliteration Table

Code A B C D E F G H
Code J K L M N P R
Code S T U V W X Y Z
Value 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Weights

The following table shows the weight factor for each position. Position 9 is the check digit; its weight is set to 0 so it does not affect the calculation.

Position 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Weight 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2

Example

Let's look at a hypothetical VIN 4T1K61AK_PU125114. Take note of how we derive the check digit. The underscore is used here only as a placeholder (a real VIN contains 17 letters/numbers only).

VIN 4 T 1 K 6 1 A K _ P U 1 2 5 1 1 4
Value 4 3 1 2 6 1 1 2 _ 7 4 1 2 5 1 1 4
Multiplier 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Product 32 21 6 10 24 3 2 20 0 63 32 7 12 25 4 3 8
  1. The Value is the transliteration of the VIN characters using the transliteration table.
  2. The Multiplier is the values from the weight factor table that have been copied below.
  3. The Products are what you get by multiplying the Value and the Weight.
  4. After adding the Products, the total will be 272.
  5. The modulo operation (MOD) of 272 by 11 will be 8 (272 MOD 11 = 8).
  6. The remainder of the mod operation is the check digit. In this case, it's eight and will be denoted as "8".

The final VIN will be listed as 4T1K61AK8PU125114.

Did you know that a VIN where the transliteration values are all "1s" will have a check digit of 1? That's because after multiplying the values with the weights, the sum of all the products will be 89. The MOD of 89 by 11 is 1. It's a nice way to sanity-check the VIN validation math.

Standards And Primary References

This validator follows the North American check-digit rules used in U.S. VIN requirements.

  • 49 CFR 565.15 – Content requirements (check digit calculation)
  • ISO 3779:2009 – Vehicle identification number (VIN) — Content and structure

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Validate a VIN?

Enter the VIN in the field at the top of this page and click "Decode VIN" to check the format and verify the check digit. You may also see basic decoded identifiers (when available), such as the manufacturer and model year. For deeper vehicle history and insights, you can choose one of our more comprehensive report packages.

Why Is My VIN Invalid?

There are a few common reasons. The vehicle may be pre-1981, when VIN formats were not standardized and may be shorter or different. You may also have a simple typo (or the VIN contains disallowed letters like I, O, or Q). Finally, some non-U.S. market VINs may not follow the North American check-digit rules, even if they are 17 characters.

Does a Valid VIN Mean the Vehicle Is Legit or Not Stolen?

Not necessarily. A valid VIN check digit mainly confirms that the VIN is correctly formatted and likely free of common typos. It does not prove legal ownership, that the vehicle is not stolen, or that the VIN has not been cloned or swapped. To assess legitimacy, you should also compare the VIN on the dashboard/door label to the title/registration and check for theft or title-brand records where available.