How to Check and Decode a Fiat VIN
The Fiat VIN can be found on the driver’s side doorjamb, vehicle frame, or windshield. The 17 digits follow a standardized set of codes.
Written by Tiffany Leung
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
The Fiat VIN number is located on the driver’s side doorjamb, the windshield on the driver’s side, or the top left side of the vehicle’s dashboard. These 17 digits encode information about your car such as the country of origin, manufacturer, vehicle information, model year, and assembly plant.
We've all provided our VIN when we’ve renewed a license, updated a vehicle registration, or sold a car. But did you know this number is encoded with information about a car? This is why it can be used to verify the vehicle’s ownership—provided that it’s already registered to someone’s name.
If you’re interested in finding and decoding the VIN of your Fiat, the
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How to check your Fiat’s VIN
The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique sequence of 17 digits that can be used to identify your Fiat.
Your Fiat VIN can be found in several places:
- Your insurance card
- Your DMV-issued registration card
- A sticker on the driver’s side doorjamb
- A sticker on the driver’s side windshield corner
- On the steering wheel column
These are the main areas where your Fiat VIN can be found, but it’s possible to find it printed in other areas as well, such as under the hood or on the engine.
How to decode a Fiat VIN
You are required to provide the DMV with your VIN before your applications for various car-related services can be processed, such as your vehicle registration. Since the number is unique, it can also be used to verify that a car isn’t stolen from someone.
The United States has been issuing VINs to cars since the 1950s. The system then got revamped and streamlined in 1981, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) standardized what the 17 digits represented. As a result, any VIN issued from 1981 onwards reflects the same type of information across all models, makes, and continents.
The VIN can contain any of the ten numerical digits (0 to 9) and the letters of the alphabet, excluding I, O, and Q. The exclusions prevent any confusion with 1, 0, and 9.
First position: country of origin
The world manufacturer identifier (WMI) code is reflected in the first three digits of the VIN. Looking at the first digit will give you the region of where the manufacturer is located.
Fiat VINs with the first digit being 1, 4, 5, or 7 are made in the United States, whereas Z indicates that the car was made in Italy.
Positions 2-3: manufacturer information
You can figure out the vehicle's manufacturer by looking at the second and third digits. In some cases, the third digit can also be used to identify the vehicle class, such as a passenger car, SUV, or truck. The code will be dependent on each automaker. For example, the
Fiat 500 Pop
could have the code FA, which indicates that it is a Fiat passenger car. Positions 4-8: vehicle-specific information
The attributes of the vehicle are encoded in the fourth to eighth digits. This is vehicle-specific information such as the body type, engine type, transmission specifications, and safety features. These digits help indicate the specific Fiat model and trim you’re driving.
Position 9: the VIN check digit
The digit in position 9 is the check digit. It is incorporated as a means to verify the authenticity of the VIN. The number is produced by putting the numbers in the VIN through a series of complex calculations. This digit makes it more difficult to create fake numbers and makes it easier to detect fraud.
Position 10: model year
VIN digits inevitably get re-used when referring to the same model. The tenth digit helps differentiate the car by indicating which year it was produced. You can also use it to verify the car you’re buying is indeed from the year stated. Aside from I, O, and Q, the letters U, Z, and 0 are also not used in this position.
Here’s how the VIN model year codes for the last twenty years break down:
Code | Year |
|---|---|
1 | 2001 |
2 | 2002 |
3 | 2003 |
4 | 2004 |
5 | 2005 |
6 | 2006 |
7 | 2007 |
8 | 2008 |
9 | 2009 |
A | 2010 |
B | 1981 OR 2011 |
C | 1982 OR 2012 |
D | 1983 OR 2013 |
E | 1984 OR 2014 |
F | 1985 OR 2015 |
G | 1986 OR 2016 |
H | 1987 OR 2017 |
J | 1988 OR 2018 |
K | 1989 OR 2019 |
L | 1990 OR 2020 |
M | 1991 OR 2021 |
N | 1992 OR 2022 |
Position 11: assembly plant
You can find out the factory that your Fiat was assembled in by looking at the eleventh digit of your VIN. However, the codes for the factories are specific to each automaker so you may need to ask your dealer. Fiat's production facilities are in the United States, Italy, and a few other locations.
Positions 12-17: vehicle serial number
The serial number of your car takes up the last 6 digits of the VIN and is unique to your car. It doesn’t provide much information, but you could use it to find out the exact date that your car was manufactured if you were curious.
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