The Model Year is the Best Indication of Current Production

[dandrewk]

There have been a few posts here indicating the VIN they were assigned is not one of the "newer" ones (535xxx+), indicating the numbers aren't assigned sequentially. Thus, no way to tell when it came off the line.

Since all the current quarter cars seem to have the "L" (MY2020), this should be the new metric. VINs with "K" were produced last quarter. "L" means current quarter.

Make sense?

 

[avalpert]

I recently took delivery of a MY2019 car based on VIN that says on the sticker it came off the line in 10/19 - so this quarter.

 

[dandrewk]

Well, I give up then.

 

[msm859]

There have been a few posts here indicating the VIN they were assigned is not one of the "newer" ones (535xxx+), indicating the numbers aren't assigned sequentially. Thus, no way to tell when it came off the line.

Since all the current quarter cars seem to have the "L" (MY2020), this should be the new metric. VINs with "K" were produced last quarter. "L" means current quarter.

Make sense?

Actually the tenth digit of the "VIN" tells you the model year. K=2019 and L=2020. It is universal among all cars in the US

 

[OCR1]

So what happens after they get to Z?

 

[jjrandorin]

Actually the tenth digit of the "VIN" tells you the model year. K=2019 and L=2020. It is universal among all cars in the US

i am still waiting to see someone with a "L" in the vin take delivery this year, and tell us the paperwork says 2020 model year on it. Has that happened yet?

 

[msm859]

So what happens after they get to Z?

Actually it stops at Y and then goes 1-9

 

[FielderJones]

Actually it stops at Y and then goes 1-9

Yep. Free VIN Decoder | DecodetheVIN.com

 

[dandrewk]

Actually it stops at Y and then goes 1-9

How do they handle cars like Mustang, Corvette etc?

 

[Luso7]

I recently took delivery of a MY2019 car based on VIN that says on the sticker it came off the line in 10/19 - so this quarter.

that tells me you got a car from factory to in your hands in about 2 weeks possibly less. That’s good news, I have a 2020 vin that left the factory a few days ago

 

[XLR82XS]

i am still waiting to see someone with a "L" in the vin take delivery this year, and tell us the paperwork says 2020 model year on it. Has that happened yet?

<--------- 2020MY. 513xxx VIN

 

[XLR82XS]

How do they handle cars like Mustang, Corvette etc?

?

 

[jjrandorin]

<--------- 2020MY. 513xxx VIN

Does that mean you have also taken delivery of that car as of right now (its in your posession) and paperwork says Model year 2020?

 

[FielderJones]

How do they handle cars like Mustang, Corvette etc?

What do you mean? VIN is universal. There are multiple standards for around the world but since 1981 vehicles manufactured in the United States have followed a federally mandated standard.

Vehicle identification number - Wikipedia

 

[dandrewk]

What do you mean? VIN is universal. There are multiple standards for around the world but since 1981 vehicles manufactured in the United States have followed a federally mandated standard.

Vehicle identification number - Wikipedia

Yes, I know they are universal. My question was a direct reply to another post.

The model year's are sequential, A-Y and then 1-9. But that only will count for 35 years, and cars like the Corvette have been around a lot longer than 35 years.

I since determined the answer. VINs have only been universal since 1981. Even so, that's still 38 years. So after "9", the letters/numbers start over again.

 

[vickh]

Yes, I know they are universal. My question was a direct reply to another post.

The model year's are sequential, A-Y and then 1-9. But that only will count for 35 years, and cars like the Corvette have been around a lot longer than 35 years.

I since determined the answer. VINs have only been universal since 1981. Even so, that's still 38 years. So after "9", the letters/numbers start over again.

which means you can't use it to id MY when it starts over? My 2054 Tesla Vin could be similar letter

 

[dandrewk]

which means you can't use it to id MY when it starts over? My 2054 Tesla Vin could be similar letter

Which brings another question: Will there be a Model Z? And what comes next? Model AA? A1? How about Model E, but only after Tesla buys Ford.

 

[KenC]

So what happens after they get to Z?

Ž

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

How do they handle cars like Mustang, Corvette etc?

Theoretically, if you could end up with identical VINs, However, there are a bunch of others codes in there that have meaning about the vehicle:
4-8 are vehicle attributes
(9 check digit)
10 Model Year
11 plant code
12-17 sequence number (13-17 must be numeric).

So in order to be identical to the VIN of a vehicle made 30 years ago, you'd have to have matching vehicle attribute sequences, plant code and sequence numbers.

There's much more overlap likely with commercial trailers than cars.

 

[animorph]

Manufacture date is the best indicator of current production, if you have access to the car and can open the driver's door and read the label.