The 10th character in a VIN tells you the model year
The 10th digit of a Vehicle Identification Number is a single letter or number that represents the model year the vehicle was manufactured. This position is standardized across all manufacturers and is the most reliable way to determine a vehicle's year from the VIN alone.
The year code does not follow a straightforward 1–9 pattern. Instead, manufacturers use a repeating cycle of 30 characters (the letters A through Y, skipping I and O) that resets every 30 years. This means a vehicle with a year code of "A" could have been built in 1980, 2010, or 2040. You need additional context — usually the first three characters of the VIN, which identify the manufacturer and country — to pinpoint the exact year.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th character of the VIN is always the model year code, using a 30-year repeating cycle of letters A through Y (skipping I and O).
- The same year code repeats every 30 years, so you must cross-reference the manufacturer (first three characters) to confirm whether a vehicle is from 1980, 2010, or another cycle.
- Model year does not always match calendar year; a 2024 model year vehicle may have been built in late 2023.
- The year code is the same across all manufacturers — Ford, Toyota, Honda, and others all use the identical letter-and-number sequence.
The complete VIN year code chart
Below is the full 30-year cycle. Find the 10th character of your VIN in the left column, then read across to see which years that code represents.
| 10th Character | Years (First Cycle) | Years (Second Cycle) | Years (Third Cycle) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 | 2040 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 | 2041 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 | 2042 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 | 2043 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 | 2044 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 | 2045 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 | 2046 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 | 2047 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 | 2048 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 | 2049 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 | 2050 |
| M | 1991 | 2021 | 2051 |
| N | 1992 | 2022 | 2052 |
| P | 1993 | 2023 | 2053 |
| R | 1994 | 2024 | 2054 |
| S | 1995 | 2025 | 2055 |
| T | 1996 | 2026 | 2056 |
| V | 1997 | 2027 | 2057 |
| W | 1998 | 2028 | 2058 |
| X | 1999 | 2029 | 2059 |
| Y | 2000 | 2030 | 2060 |
| 1 | 2001 | 2031 | 2061 |
| 2 | 2002 | 2032 | 2062 |
| 3 | 2003 | 2033 | 2063 |
| 4 | 2004 | 2034 | 2064 |
| 5 | 2005 | 2035 | 2065 |
| 6 | 2006 | 2036 | 2066 |
| 7 | 2007 | 2037 | 2067 |
| 8 | 2008 | 2038 | 2068 |
| 9 | 2009 | 2039 | 2069 |
Notice that the letters I and O are missing from the sequence. This is intentional — manufacturers skip them to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0 on printed documents and in handwriting.
How to find the 10th character in your VIN
The VIN is 17 characters long. Count from left to right: the first three characters identify the manufacturer and country, characters 4 through 8 describe the vehicle's features (body type, engine, transmission), the 9th character is a check digit used to validate the entire VIN, and the 10th character is your year code.
On most vehicles, you can find the VIN printed on the driver's side dashboard at the base of the windshield. It is also on the driver's side door jamb, on the title and registration documents, and on insurance paperwork. If you are looking at a vehicle you do not own yet, the dealer or seller can provide it.
Why the year code alone is not enough
Because the 30-character cycle repeats, a year code of "R" could mean 1994, 2024, or 2054. To determine which, you need to know the manufacturer. The first three characters of the VIN — called the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) — tell you the country and company that built the vehicle.
For example, if the 10th character is "R" and the first three characters are "1G1" (General Motors, United States), the vehicle is from 2024. If the first three characters are "JT2" (Toyota, Japan), it is also from 2024. But if you are looking at a vehicle with "R" in the 10th position and the first three characters indicate a 1990s manufacturer code, the vehicle is from 1994.
In practice, the context usually makes the answer obvious. A vehicle that looks brand new with modern features is almost certainly from the current or recent cycle, not from 30 years ago.
Model year versus calendar year
The year code tells you the model year, not necessarily the calendar year the vehicle rolled off the assembly line. Manufacturers typically begin building the next model year in the summer or fall of the previous calendar year.
A 2024 model year vehicle (10th character "R") may have been manufactured in September 2023. A 2025 model year vehicle (10th character "S") may have been built in July 2024. This is why a vehicle that looks brand new might have a VIN year code from the previous calendar year — it is the model year that matters for parts compatibility, recall may be able to access, and emissions standards, not the exact date it was assembled.
Using the year code for recalls and parts
When you search for recalls or order replacement parts, the model year (from the 10th character) is what you need. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) organizes recalls by model year, not by the month or day the vehicle was built. Similarly, parts suppliers use model year to determine compatibility.
If you are checking whether your vehicle is affected by a recall, enter the model year from the VIN's 10th character into the NHTSA recall search tool at safercar.gov. If you are ordering parts, provide the model year to the supplier or dealer to may support you get the correct fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the 10th character is a number instead of a letter?
Numbers appear in the second half of the 30-year cycle. The number 1 represents 2001 and 2031, the number 2 represents 2002 and 2032, and so on through 9, which represents 2009 and 2039. The same rule applies: you need the manufacturer code to know which cycle the vehicle belongs to.
Can I determine the exact month the vehicle was built from the VIN?
No. The VIN contains only the model year, not the month or day of manufacture. Some manufacturers include a build date elsewhere on the vehicle — on the door jamb label or under the hood — but the VIN itself does not encode that level of detail.
Does every manufacturer use the same year code system?
Yes. The 10th character year code is standardized across all manufacturers worldwide. Ford, Toyota, Honda, BMW, Chevrolet, and every other brand use the identical 30-year cycle. This standardization is set by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE).
What happens after 2030 when the cycle repeats?
The cycle resets and begins again. A vehicle built in 2031 will have the same year code (L) as a vehicle built in 1990 or 2020. Context and the manufacturer code determine which cycle applies. By 2031, vehicles from 1990 will be 40+ years old and rarely encountered in normal use, so confusion is unlikely in practice.
Is the year code used for anything other than recalls and parts?
Yes. Insurance companies use it to determine the vehicle's age and depreciation. Lenders use it to verify the vehicle's value. Emissions testing programs use it to determine which standards explore. Registration and title documents rely on it. In any situation where the vehicle's age matters, the model year from the 10th character is the official reference point.