VIN Check Digit Validator

How it is calculated

The tool strips spaces, converts to capitals and requires exactly 17 characters. Each character becomes a number: digits keep their value, letters follow the standard table (A=1 … H=8, J–N=1–5, P=7, R=9, S–Z=2–9). The letters I, O and Q are not allowed and give no result. Each value is multiplied by its position weight 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2, and the products are added up. The check digit is sum mod 11, written as X when the remainder is 10. Position 9 has weight 0, so its own value never affects the sum. The tool then compares the computed digit with the 9th character you typed and reports Valid or Invalid. It checks only this one digit, not the manufacturer, model or year.

Common mistakes

• Typing the letter O for zero or I for one. These letters are not valid in a VIN, so the tool returns nothing; check the plate or registration for 0 and 1.
• Entering fewer or more than 17 characters, for example an old pre-1981 chassis number. The tool only handles 17-character VINs.
• Assuming Valid proves the vehicle is genuine. It only shows the 9th character matches the other 16; a different VIN can pass by chance, and a cloned VIN passes if copied correctly.
• Treating Invalid as proof of fraud. A single mistyped digit is the likeliest cause. Also, this check follows the North American rule, so a VIN from another market may fail even if it is genuine.
• Entering a VIN with dashes or other punctuation. Spaces are removed, but dashes are not, so the length is wrong and no result appears.