VIN Year Codes
By CheckMyVIN · Data source: NHTSA vPIC · Updated July 5, 2026
Seller says it's a 2019? Verify it in 30 seconds. The 10th character of the VIN is the model year — here's the full 1980–2030 chart and how to read it.
VIN year code chart (1980–2030)
The 10th character of a VIN encodes the model year, following the ISO 3779 cycle used by every manufacturer. Find the code in the chart to read its year:
| Code | 1980–2000 | 2010–2030 | Code | 1980–2000 | 2010–2030 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 | M | 1991 | 2021 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 | N | 1992 | 2022 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 | P | 1993 | 2023 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 | R | 1994 | 2024 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 | S | 1995 | 2025 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 | T | 1996 | 2026 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 | V | 1997 | 2027 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 | W | 1998 | 2028 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 | X | 1999 | 2029 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 | Y | 2000 | 2030 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 |
Model years 2001–2009 use digits instead of letters: 1 = 2001, 2 = 2002, … 9 = 2009 (the digits return for 2031–2039). The letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the digit 0 are never used, to avoid confusion with 1, 9, 2 and O.
Know the year — now decode the rest free →The 30-year cycle
The year code isn't unique — it repeats every 30 years. The same letter that meant 1980 comes back around for 2010; 1989 and 2019 both read as K; 2000 and 2030 both read as Y. Model years 2001–2009 use the digits 1–9 instead of letters. For any car on the road today the year is almost always the recent value, but the VIN itself doesn't say which cycle — you have to read it in context.
How to tell the cycles apart
On most passenger vehicles the trick is the 7th character: if position 7 is a number, the vehicle belongs to the older cycle (1980–2009); if it's a letter, it's the current cycle (2010 onward). This works because manufacturers shifted position 7 to a letter when the codes rolled over in 2010. It's a good sanity check, but the definitive answer comes from a full decode — the NHTSA vPIC database returns the resolved model year outright, and so does a free CheckMyVIN report.
The year is right — is the car?
Confirming the model year matters, because a mismatched year is a quick way to catch a relisted or misrepresented vehicle. But the model year is just factory data: it tells you when the car was built, not what has happened to it since. Accident and damage history, title brands (salvage, flood), and the true odometer reading are not in the VIN and not in NHTSA's data — they need a full vehicle history report. Start by decoding the VIN for free to confirm the year, specs, and open recalls, then pull history if you're buying.
Frequently asked questions
Which character of the VIN is the model year?
The 10th character (position 10). It encodes the model year using the ISO 3779 letter/number cycle — not the calendar year the car was actually sold, and not the build date.
What year is VIN code K? (or any repeating letter)
K is either 1989 or 2019 — the code cycle repeats every 30 years, so each letter maps to two model years. For a modern used car it is almost always the recent one (K = 2019), but confirm with the rest of the VIN. Full mapping is in the chart above.
How do I tell a 1989 from a 2019 (the same letter)?
On most passenger vehicles the 7th character breaks the tie: if position 7 is a number, the vehicle is from the older cycle (1980–2009); if position 7 is a letter, it is the current cycle (2010 onward). When in doubt, decode the full VIN — NHTSA VPIC returns the resolved model year directly.
Why are the letters I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 skipped?
They are too easily confused with the digits 1, 0, and 9 (and with each other). The VIN standard omits them everywhere, including the year code, so a smudged or hand-copied VIN is less likely to be misread.
Keep reading
See what every VIN position means, validate a VIN with the check digit calculator, or run any VIN for a free report.
About this guide
CheckMyVIN generates free vehicle reports for cars sold or titled in the US, using official NHTSA data — VPIC specifications plus live recall records. This guide is reference material maintained alongside the tool: no signup, no paywall. More about CheckMyVIN →