VIN Year Chart, 10th Character Model Year
The 10th character of a VIN encodes the model year. Letters B–Y (excluding I, O, Q, U and Z) cover 1981–2000, numbers 1–9 cover 2001–2009, and the letter cycle restarts at A in 2010 (A = 2010, B = 2011, and so on). Enter your full VIN in the VinSpecs decoder to confirm the exact model year automatically.
How the Model-Year Code Works
- 1981–2000, letters B through Y (I, O, Q, U and Z are skipped)
- 2001–2009, numbers 1 through 9
- 2010–2030, letters A onward (A = 2010, B = 2011, …)
- The cycle repeats every 30 years, so the 7th digit (numeric vs. alpha) helps disambiguate
Recent Model-Year Codes
- L = 2020
- M = 2021
- N = 2022
- P = 2023
- R = 2024
- S = 2025
- T = 2026
Avoiding Year Confusion
Because the letters repeat every 30 years (A was 1980 and again 2010), decoders use the 7th VIN character to tell the cycles apart: a number in position 7 indicates 1980–2009, while a letter indicates 2010 or later.
Because the letters repeat every 30 years (A was 1980 and again 2010), decoders use the 7th VIN character to tell the cycles apart: a number in position 7 indicates 1980–2009, while a letter indicates 2010 or later.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 10th digit of a VIN represent?
The 10th character is the model year of the vehicle.
What year is 'N' in a VIN?
In the current cycle, N in the 10th position means the 2022 model year.
How do I find the year of my car from the VIN?
Read the 10th character and match it to a VIN year chart, or decode the full VIN on VinSpecs to see the model year automatically.
Related Guides
Sources: 49 CFR 565 · NHTSA vPIC.