How to Read a VIN Number of a Chevy Truck

The vehicle identification number (VIN) on a vehicle provides a way for individuals and agencies to keep track of an automobile, from ownership and registration, to warranties and insurance claims. These 17-character codes look like a nonsensical jumble of numbers and letters, but each one means something. If you already own a Chevy truck or you're looking to purchase one, the ability to read the VIN number can reveal a lot about the automobile. Discover how the VIN is arranged, then consult a Chevrolet VIN decoder chart.

Instructions

1

Look at the dashboard of the Chevy truck to find the VIN number. It is printed on a strip that is attached to the dashboard, usually where the windshield meets the dash.

2

Identify the first three characters in the Chevy truck's VIN. This is the world manufacturer identifier. For a Chevy truck, you might see 1G1, which means it is a Chevrolet manufactured in the United States.

3

Check out the fourth character to learn the weight rating code for the Chevy truck. For example, G would mean 8,001 to 9,000 pounds. The fifth character identifies the line of the truck. Examples include a 4 for a 1/2-ton heavy duty.

4

Examine the sixth character in the Chevy truck's VIN to find out the body style of the vehicle. There could be a 3 for a four-door cab or a 4 for a two-door cab.

5

Discover what kind of restraint type is present in the Chevy truck with the seventh character in the VIN. For example, a 3 means the truck has a driver's side airbag, while a 9 means seatbelts only.

6

Find the eighth character in the VIN to identify the engine type for the truck. A number 1 in this spot means a 6.6-liter V8 diesel. The ninth character stands for the check digit for the Chevy truck. This number is to verify the accuracy of the previous VIN characters.

7

Look to the 10th character of the Chevy truck's VIN to find the model year. Match the numeral with a corresponding model year on a Chevrolet VIN decoder chart.

8

From the 11th character, learn the factory where the Chevy truck was manufactured. For example, T would be from the Tarrytown, Louisiana, plant.

9

The rest of the digits are a serial number assigned to the Chevy truck as it came off the manufacturing line. This serial number is on no other Chevy truck and further makes the VIN a truly individualized identification tag.