- A vehicle’s assigned country is placed in the first character of its 17-digit VIN.
- You can use a VIN country code to verify a vehicle’s origin.
- Remember that a VIN country code is only one part of the VIN and doesn’t show the whole location records.
- Run a VIN check to access vehicle records, including factory specifications, title records, ownership, theft, auction history, warranty, and accident history.
A VIN country code is the first character of a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It shows the country where the manufacturer is assigned. Knowing this information helps when examining the vehicle’s country of origin, especially when you plan to sell a used car, import a vehicle, or check its match with the seller’s information.
In this article, you’ll find detailed information about the vehicle’s VIN number country code and learn how to read the VIN to easily spot the country codes on the first try.
What are VIN Country Codes?
A VIN country code is part of the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). The WMI identifies the manufacturer and the country or region to which it is assigned. Modern VINs follow the ISO 3779 international standard. This standard requires every vehicle to have a unique VIN and uses the same format around the world.
Take a look at the table below to see how a VIN embeds its country of origin information.
Example of a VIN Structure
Take a look at the VIN structure that you can use as a reference.
VIN Section | Characters | What It Shows | Example |
WMI | 1–3 | Country and manufacturer | 1HG |
VDS | 4–9 | Vehicle details, such as body style and engine | CM8263 |
VIS | 10–17 | Model year, assembly plant, and serial number | 3A004352 |
In this example, the WMI is 1HG. The first digit, 1, shows that the vehicle’s manufacturer is located in the United States.
Why do VIN Country Codes not show the Whole Thing?
A country code on a VIN only shows where the vehicle was manufactured. However, please note that it does not show where the vehicle was registered, sold, or even imported; it also cannot show directly whether the vehicle was ever involved in an accident, stolen, or recalled, unless you get a vehicle history report by VIN.
For example, a Toyota that was built in Japan may have been sold new in Canada. Even if the vehicle is imported into another country, the VIN’s WMI will still refer to its manufacturer’s origin.
Read also: Top 10 Countries Importing Cars from the US in 2025: Data & Trends
How to Find the Country Codes in the VIN
Finding the country codes in the VIN only takes a few seconds. Once you have the VIN you want to examine, you can refer to its first character to find the origin.
Step 1: Find the VIN
Start by locating the vehicle’s 17-digit VIN, which you can find in these locations:
- On the dashboard near the windshield (driver’s side)
- Inside the driver’s door jamb
- On the vehicle registration or insurance documents
- In the engine bay of some vehicles
Step 2: Read the First Character
The first character of the VIN is the country code. It can be a number or a letter, depending on where the manufacturer is assigned.
For example:
- 1 = United States
- 2 = Canada
- J = Japan
- K = South Korea
- W = Germany
In some cases, you may also need to look at the second character to identify the manufacturer more accurately.
Step 3: Match It with the VIN Country Code List
Compare the first character of the VIN with the list of countries of origin below to identify the country. If you need more details, such as checking specifications information like engine, body type, transmission, and market value, you can use the VIN Decoder tool to get information for free.
How to Decode the VIN
To decode a VIN is easy; you can use PremiumVIN’s VIN Decoder and get detailed information on the vehicle’s origin and other specific information in seconds. Follow these simple steps.
Step 1: Find the VIN
Check the driver’s side doorjamb, windshield, engine bay, or the vehicle’s paperwork like the title, registration, or bill of sale.
Step 2: Enter the VIN
Click on the form and enter the VIN. Then, click the button to submit the form.
Step 3: Check Basic Vehicle Details
You can see the page where you can get detailed information on the vehicle, such as origin, engine capacity, body type, drive type, MSRP, and market value, at no cost.
Complete VIN Country Code List by Region
The table below includes the most common VIN country codes used by vehicle manufacturers around the world. These country codes help with finding the right information for the vehicle’s origin and support vehicle import or export reporting requirements.
Africa VIN Codes
Code | Country | Code | Country |
AA–AH | South Africa | BA–BE | Angola |
AJ–AN | Ivory Coast (Côte d’Ivoire) | BF–BK | Kenya |
BA–BE | Angola | BL–BR | Tanzania |
CA–CE | Benin | BS–B0 | Zambia |
CF–CK | Madagascar | FA–FE | Ghana |
CL–CR | Tunisia | FF–FK | Nigeria |
DA–DE | Egypt | FL–FR | Morocco |
DF–DK | Morocco | FS–F0 | Algeria |
EA–EE | Ethiopia |
Oceania VIN Codes
Code | Country |
6A–6W | Australia |
7A–7E | New Zealand |
North America, Central America & the Caribbean VIN Codes
Code | Country | Code | Country |
1, 4, 5 | United States | 3A–3W | Mexico |
2 | Canada | 3X–37 | Costa Rica |
38–39 | Trinidad & Tobago |
South America VIN Codes
Code | Country | Code | Country |
8A–8E | Argentina | 9F–9K | Colombia |
8F–8K | Colombia | 9L–9R | Paraguay |
8L–8R | Chile | 9S–9W | Uruguay |
8S–8W | Ecuador | 9X–92 | Peru |
8X–82 | Venezuela | 93–99 | Brazil |
Europe VIN Codes
Code | Country | Code | Country |
SA | United Kingdom | SM | United Kingdom |
SN | Germany | ST | Germany |
VA | Austria | VE | Austria |
VF | France | VR | France |
VS | Spain | VW | Spain |
W | Germany | XA | Bulgaria |
XE | Bulgaria | XF | Greece |
XK | Greece | XL | Netherlands |
XR | Netherlands | X0 | Russia |
X3 | Russia | XS | Russia (formerly USSR) |
XW | Russia (formerly USSR) | X2 | Luxembourg |
XX | Luxembourg | YA | Belgium |
YE | Belgium | YF | Finland |
YK | Finland | YL | Malta |
YR | Malta | YS | Sweden |
YW | Sweden | YX | Norway |
Y2 | Norway | Y3 | Belarus |
Y5 | Belarus | Y6 | Ukraine |
Y0 | Ukraine | ZA | Italy |
ZR | Italy | ZX | Slovenia |
Z2 | Slovenia | Z3 | Lithuania |
Z5 | Lithuania | S1 | Latvia |
S4 | Latvia | SU | Poland |
SZ | Poland | TA | Switzerland |
TH | Switzerland | TJ | Czech Republic |
TP | Czech Republic | TR | Hungary |
TV | Hungary | TW | Portugal |
T1 | Portugal | UH | Denmark |
UM | Denmark | UN | Ireland |
UT | Ireland | UU | Romania |
UZ | Romania | U5 | Slovakia |
U7 | Slovakia | V3 | Croatia |
V5 | Croatia | V6 | Estonia |
V0 | Estonia | VX | Serbia |
Asia and the Middle East VIN Country Codes
Code | Country | Code | Country |
J | Japan | PA | Philippines |
KL | South Korea | PK | Singapore |
L | China | PR | Malaysia |
MF | Indonesia | RF | Turkey |
ML | Thailand | RS | Saudi Arabia |
KF | Israel |
Common VIN Country Codes Mistakes that You Need to be Aware of
Knowing the country codes is indeed important; however, you need to know that they can be changed over time once new manufacturers are assigned. Using an outdated reference could lead to wrong interpretation results, so it is best to use tools like PremiumVIN to decode the VIN and automatically get the updated country of origin information.
If the Country Does not Match the Manufacturer
The VIN number country code does not show the vehicle’s manufacturer’s location; take a closer look. While some manufacturers place their plants in different countries, an incorrect or altered VIN could also be a sign of VIN tampering. Don’t forget to cross-check their official information.
VIN Codes Do Not Show Vehicle’s Location
Please note that a VIN does not show the location where the vehicle is registered or where it has been driven, as many vehicles were imported or exported in their lives. If you want to find the vehicle’s past location, you can check the vehicle’s ownership history by VIN.
Using an Outdated Vehicle
VIN country code assignments can change as new manufacturers receive World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes or existing assignments are updated. Using an old reference could lead to incorrect results, so it’s always best to check against an up-to-date VIN country code list.
Why is Knowing the Vehicle’s Origin Important?
A vehicle maker can have different manufacturing plants outside their origin country, for example, Mercedes-Benz has plants in Alabama and South Carolina. Knowing the vehicle’s current origin can help buyers and sellers make a good decision.
Read also: How to Check Vehicle History for Free Before Buying a Used Car
How to Read a Vehicle Identification Number
A Vehicle Identification Number is classified into three categories: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS). Each VIN code embeds different information about the vehicle, including its country of origin.
World Manufacturer Identifier
The World Manufacturer Identifier is placed on the first to third sequences of the VIN. It identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer and includes the VIN country code. The first character shows the manufacturer’s origin, and the second and third refer to the brand.
Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
The Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS) covers characters 4 through 9. This section describes the vehicle’s features such as the body style, engine type, transmission, model, and restraint system.
Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)
The Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS) includes characters 10 through 17. It contains the vehicle’s details such as model year, assembly plant, and the vehicle’s unique production serial number.
VIN Breakdown Example
Take a look at this section below to see how a VIN is decoded.
Sample VIN: SBM22GCAXPW002370
WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier)
Digits 1–3: SBM
S = Country of origin (United Kingdom)
BM = McLaren Automotive
- S identifies the vehicle as manufactured in the United Kingdom.
- BM is assigned to McLaren Automotive Limited.
- SBM is the WMI used on all modern McLaren passenger vehicles.
VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section)
Digits 4–9: 22GCAX
22G = McLaren GT model
C = 4.0L Twin-Turbocharged V8 with 7-speed Dual-Clutch Transmission
A = Safety restraint system (LHD U.S./Canada specification)
X = Check digit
VIS (Vehicle Identifier Section)
Digits 10–17: PW002370
P = Model year (2023)
W = Woking, United Kingdom Assembly Plant
002370 = Production sequence number
Always Check the Vehicle’s Origin Through Its VIN
Checking the first digit of the VIN is important before you decide to purchase a used vehicle or to learn about the manufacturer’s origin, as it is an important step to know the vehicle better. If you plan to buy a used car, you will need more information about the car aside from its country of origin.
PremiumVIN can help you get detailed information about the vehicle, including the window sticker, VIN decoder, and vehicle history report that shows its records, such as odometer history, recall check, damage history, accident records, and more!
FAQs on VIN Country Codes
How can I tell what country my VIN number is from?
You can find a vehicle’s country code by checking the first character of its 17-digit VIN. This character is part of the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) and shows the country or region assigned to the manufacturer.
How to tell which country a car is from?
To check a vehicle’s country code, start with the first character of the VIN. You can usually find the 17-digit VIN on the driver’s side dashboard or inside the driver’s door jamb.
What do the first 3 digits of a VIN mean?
To identify a vehicle’s country code, look at the first character of its 17-digit VIN. This character is the first part of the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) and shows the country or region assigned to the manufacturer.
How to tell the origin of a vehicle by VIN?
To check a vehicle’s country code, look at the first character of its 17-digit VIN. This character identifies the country or region assigned to the manufacturer.
Is VIN 2 Canada?
Yes. If the first character of a 17-digit VIN is 2, the VIN is assigned to a manufacturer in Canada.
What country is Z on a VIN?
A VIN that starts with Z is assigned to a manufacturer in Italy.
How to tell if a VIN is from Mexico?
Check the first character of the 17-digit VIN. If it begins with 3, the vehicle was assigned to a manufacturer in Mexico or another country within that VIN region. For vehicles built in Mexico, WMI codes from 3A to 3W identify Mexican manufacturers.
