VIN Model Year Chart (10th Character)
The 10th character of every VIN encodes the model year. The codes run through a fixed 30-year cycle — letters A through Y (skipping I, O, Q, U, and Z), then digits 1 through 9 — and then repeat. Find your 10th character below.
| 10th character | First cycle | Second cycle |
|---|---|---|
| A | 1980 | 2010 |
| B | 1981 | 2011 |
| C | 1982 | 2012 |
| D | 1983 | 2013 |
| E | 1984 | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | 2015 |
| G | 1986 | 2016 |
| H | 1987 | 2017 |
| J | 1988 | 2018 |
| K | 1989 | 2019 |
| L | 1990 | 2020 |
| M | 1991 | 2021 |
| N | 1992 | 2022 |
| P | 1993 | 2023 |
| R | 1994 | 2024 |
| S | 1995 | 2025 |
| T | 1996 | 2026 |
| V | 1997 | 2027 |
| W | 1998 | 2028 |
| X | 1999 | 2029 |
| Y | 2000 | 2030 |
| 1 | 2001 | 2031 |
| 2 | 2002 | 2032 |
| 3 | 2003 | 2033 |
| 4 | 2004 | 2034 |
| 5 | 2005 | 2035 |
| 6 | 2006 | 2036 |
| 7 | 2007 | 2037 |
| 8 | 2008 | 2038 |
| 9 | 2009 | 2039 |
Which cycle is my vehicle in?
The cycles are told apart by the 7th character. Under the federal standard, when the 7th character is a letter, the vehicle belongs to the second cycle (2010–2039); when it is a digit, it belongs to the first (1980–2009). In practice you'll rarely be confused — a code "A" is either a 1980 or a 2010 vehicle, and the two don't look alike.
Why U, Z, and 0 are never year codes
Beyond the standard I/O/Q ban, the year position also excludes U, Z, and the digit 0, keeping every code unambiguous across the alphabet-to-digit rollover.
Don't want to count characters? The free decoder reads the year automatically, and the full decode guide explains every other position.
Frequently asked questions
What VIN character tells the year?
How do I know if the code means 1995 or 2025?
Why isn't the year just written as two digits?
Does the model year match the build date?
A free decode shows specs — not accidents, salvage titles, or odometer rollbacks. Those records live in title and insurance databases. Run a full history report before buying any used vehicle.
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