National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Vehicle Identification
Number (VIN),
Using Manufacturer
VIN Specifications as a
Standard
Michael D Frenchik
Safety Systems Management Division
(SSMD), Chief
 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
What is it? How is it used?
VINs are used to identify vehicles that are intended to be operated
on roads throughout the world

A VIN is broken up into six main parts

World Manufacturer Index (WMI)
Manufacturer Specification Data
Check Digit
Model Year
Plant Location
Vehicle Unique Number

NHTSA manages the standard of how VINs are applied within the
United States through CFR 49 Part 565.

Safer drivers. Safer cars. Safer roads. 2

 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
How is it generated?
VIN Specification
Unique to the vehicle
Follows guidance based on NHTSAs standard (CFR 49 Part 565)
Specifications reported minimum 60 days prior
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manufactures (e.g., Tesla uses
12th for Series ID

Safer drivers. Safer cars. Safer roads. 3

 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
NHTSA Regulation / SAE Collaboration

Partnership with SAE

NHTSA maintains the reporting requirements from the
manufacturers and VIN standards / regulations
CFR 49 Part 565 (Vehicle Identification Number Guidance)
Manufacturers are required to submit to NHTSA

SAE maintains the process for World Manufacturer Indexes (WMIs)

Includes trying to maintain WMI records for foreign companies
Issuance of WMI Certificate Letters

For More Information Search for CFR on eCFR at:

http://www.ecfr.gov/

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 NHTSAs Public Manufacturer Data / VIN Decoding Platform
What is it?

NHTSA Product Information Catalog and

Vehicle Listing (vPIC)

To Serve as a centralized authoritative data source for

VIN associated, and VIN specific data:
Manufacturer 565 Submittals Primary Source
> 10,000 submitted documents used;
New vPIC Data Standard Used for Core (565-based)
Includes data intended to represent all regulated
vehicles by NHTSA
Model Year 1995 Forward
Older model years lower confidence / completeness

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 vPIC: Vehicle Types Included

Passenger Multi Purpose Motorcycles /

Vehicles Vehicles (MPVs) Scooters

Trucks Buses Low Speed

Vehicles (LSVs)

Trailers

* Some manufacturers have included off-road / track-only vehicles for purposes

of transparency / crash decoding (Not regulated by NHTSA)

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 vPIC Overview
What is in a vPIC Vehicle Configuration?

vPIC Vehicle Configuration - Not a Complete VIN

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is specific to a vehicle and is
considered PII.
NO sequential IDs in vPIC
Only decoding information

Vehicle Configuration
Refers to a group of vehicles with a similar configuration
Comprises of the first 11-14th digits of the VIN
11 digits for Large Volume Manufacturers
14 digits for Low Volume Manufacturers (< 999 vehicles / year)
Requires a 9 in 3rd Digit of the Coding

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 vPIC Demonstration
Please show me what you are talking about ..
vPIC Public Interface:
Link: http://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/
Includes three Public application areas:
vPIC Decoder
Full decoding capability
Manufacturer Information Database (MID)
General manufacturer information
WMI entries
View submittals
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
Single and Batch Decoding
Attributes and values
Manufacturer information (Name, Make, Models, etc.)

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 vPIC: Online Submissions- Manufacturers

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 vPIC: MID Search

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 vPIC: Decoding Screenshot
Mobile Ready

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 vPIC: APIs Data Feeds

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 vPIC: Online Public Platform

http://vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov/

FREE FOR PUBLIC USE

Manufactures Can Update
View Submittals and Company Info
Research Vehicle Data
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 vPIC Discussion
Conclusion / Questions
NHTSA Contact Information:

Michael D. Frenchik
NHTSA NCSA ODA
Safety Systems Management Division (SSMD), Chief
Michael.Frenchik@dot.gov
Phone: (202)366-0641

Safer drivers. Safer cars. Safer roads. 14