How to Test a VIN Number

The VIN (vehicle identification number) in any car manufactured since 1981 identifies many of its features such as year, make, model, body style, engine and manufacturing plant, along with a special character--the ninth--coded to detect against fraud. State governments, insurance companies and private research companies use VINs to specifically identify vehicles for titling, registration and accident reports. If you have a VIN you suspect may be fraudulent, apply it to the VIN "check digit" or "checksum" formula or algorithm to test it.

Instructions

1

Find the numeric value of each character of the VIN. Numbers have their face value, and letters have an assigned value for each, but not totally random but irregular because VINs don't use "I," "O" or "Q." Visit VINquery or Angelfire for value charts for the letters and the algorithm.

2

Multiply the numeric value of each character of the VIN by its weight factor, a number assigned to each position. For example, position 1's weight factor is 8, 2's is 7 and so on. When finished, you should have 17 separate values. Visit VINquery or Angelfire for the weight factor for each position.

3

Add all the values together and divide the sum by 11. The remainder should be the same as the ninth character of the VIN. If the remainder is 10, the check digit is "X."