Free Ford VIN Decoder & Lookup

Decode your Vehicle Identification Number for free

Try a sample VIN
  • Official data from NHTSA
  • Most recent recalls
  • Most recent complaints
Successfully Decoded
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VIN
Make
Model
Year
Drive Type
Style/Body
Engine
Manufactured in
Age
Manufactured By -
Plant Company Name -
Vehicle Type -
Series -
Body Class -
Doors -
Front Airbag Location -
Seat Belts Type -
Engine Displacement (CI) -
Engine Displacement (CC) -
Fuel Type -
Engine Number of Cylinders -
Additional Vehicle Info
Most Recent Recalls
Most Recent Complaints
*NOT specific to this particular vehicle. Submitted by other owners of this model.
Source: official gov. database of complaints

What is a VIN Number?

A Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every motor vehicle at the time of manufacture. This sequence, which excludes the letters Q, I, and O to avoid confusion with the numbers 0 and 1, details the vehicle's manufacturer, model, year, and place of production, all in one continuous string without spaces. Driving-tests.org's VIN decoder is free to use and pulls straight from government data. For Ford vehicles, this means detailed information about models like the F150, F250, Ranger, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, Focus, Fusion, Escape, and classic Ford models like the Falcon. Each section of the VIN offers distinct information about the vehicle, including the make, model, year, and serial number. This alphanumeric code, typically found printed on a single line on the vehicle's chassis or documents, is essential for registration, insurance, and tracking the vehicle's history.

How many characters:
17 (digits and capital letters)
Where to find:
Dashboard on the driver's side
First digit stands for:
Country of manufacturer

How to Find It

Finding your Ford's VIN is straightforward. Here's where to look:

  • Passenger Cars: Check the front of the dashboard on the driver's side. View it from outside the vehicle through the windshield. Also, inspect the driver's side door pillar—open the door to find the VIN where the door latches.
  • Trucks: Look in similar locations as passenger cars, focusing on the driver's side door pillar and the front of the dashboard.

If you're unable to locate the VIN on the Ford vehicle, it can also be found on

  • Your vehicle's title documents.
  • Liability insurance documents.

How to Check a Specific Number

Enter your Ford's 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the field above to look up and receive an instant report on its manufacturer, brand, make and model, body style, engine size, assembly plant, and model year. The information is provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) from the data submitted by the manufacturers to NHTSA. The VIN Decoder lookup is intended for use with Ford vehicles manufactured since 1981. Whether you own a truck like the F150, F250, Ranger, or classic Ford models like the Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, Focus, Fusion, Escape, or Falcon, this tool is the best way to get a detailed build sheet or chart specific to your vehicle. If your Ford was made before 1981, the VIN will most likely contain 11 characters.

How to Read the Different Components

Curious about what each character in your Ford's VIN stands for? Here's a breakdown:

How to decode a Vehicle Identification (VIN) number

Model Year Character Codes

The table below shows the model year character codes used in Ford VINs. These codes help you determine the exact year of manufacture for your vehicle.

  • Example: A Ford Mustang with a VIN of 1FAFP42X4WF123456 has a model year character of "W," indicating it was manufactured in 1998.
  • Example: A Ford F-150 with a VIN of 1FTFW1EF1EKE12345 has a model year character of "E," indicating it was manufactured in 2014.
Brand Code Year Code Year Code Year Code Year
Ford A 1980 L 1990 Y 2000 A 2010
Ford B 1981 M 1991 1 2001 B 2011
Ford C 1982 N 1992 2 2002 C 2012
Ford D 1983 P 1993 3 2003 D 2013
Ford E 1984 R 1994 4 2004 E 2014
Ford F 1985 S 1995 5 2005 F 2015
Ford G 1986 T 1996 6 2006 G 2016
Ford H 1987 V 1997 7 2007 H 2017
Ford J 1988 W 1998 8 2008 J 2018
Ford K 1989 X 1999 9 2009 K 2019

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The table below shows the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) codes used in Ford VINs. These codes help you determine the country of origin for your vehicle. Understanding these codes can provide insights into the manufacturing and origin of your Ford vehicle.

Brand-Specific WMIs:

  • 1, 4, 5 = United States
  • 2 = Canada
  • 3 = Mexico

Historical Context:

Ford has a long history of manufacturing vehicles in North America, with major production facilities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This extensive network allows Ford to produce a wide range of vehicles to meet the demands of different markets.

Production Volume:

Ford's production is heavily concentrated in the United States, but significant volumes are also produced in Canada and Mexico. This helps Ford optimize its supply chain and manufacturing efficiency.

Trivia:

  • The Ford F-Series, including the F-150, has been the best-selling vehicle in the United States for decades.
  • Ford's Mustang is one of the most iconic American muscle cars, with a production history dating back to 1964.
WMI Region Notes
A-H Africa AA-AH = South Africa
J-R Asia
  • J = Japan
  • KL-KR = South Korea
  • L = China
  • MA-ME = India
  • MF-MK = Indonesia
  • ML-MR = Thailand
  • MS = Myanmar
  • PA-PE = Philippines
  • PL-PR = Malaysia
  • RF-RG = Taiwan
S-Z Europe
  • SA-SM = United Kingdom
  • SN-ST, W = Germany
  • SU-SZ = Poland
  • TA-TH = Switzerland
  • TJ-TP = Czech Republic
  • TR-TV = Hungary
  • TW = Portugal
  • VA-VE = Austria
  • VF-VR = France
  • VS-VW = Spain
  • VX-V2 = Yugoslavia
  • XL-XM = The Netherlands
  • XS-XW = USSR
  • X3-X0 = Russia
  • YA-YE = Belgium
  • YF-YK = Finland
  • YS-YW = Sweden
  • ZA-ZR = Italy
1-5 North America
  • 1, 4, 5 = United States
  • 2 = Canada
  • 3 = Mexico
6-7 Oceania
  • 6A-6W = Australia
  • 7A-7E = New Zealand
8-0 South America
  • 8A-8E = Argentina
  • 8F-8J = Chile
  • 8X-82 = Venezuela
  • 9A-9E, 93-99 = Brazil
  • 9F-9J = Colombia

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