How to Check and Decode a Ram VIN
Your Ram VIN number tells you everything you need to know about your vehicle’s manufacturer origin and model configuration through a standardized set of codes.
Written by Sarah Williams
Edited by Pat Roache
Table of Contents
- How to check your Ram’s VIN
- First position: Your Ram’s country of origin
- Positions 2-3: manufacturer information
- Positions 4-8: vehicle-specific information
- Position 9: the VIN check digit
- Position 10: model year
- Position 11: assembly plant
- Positions 12-17: vehicle serial number
Load full table of contents
You can decode your
Dodge Ram’s
17-digit VIN to determine the country where it was built, as well as the manufacturer, information about the vehicle, model year, assembly code, and more. - Your Ram’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is located on your insurance card, your vehicle registration, and the driver’s side windshield and door jamb.
- The first three numbers in your Ram’s VIN tell you its manufacturer origins and vehicle type, while the next five digits detail your model’s trim and powertrain configuration.
- The last six digits in your Ram VIN act as your vehicle’s serial number and can be used to generate detailed car history reports.
- Your Ram’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is located on your insurance card, your vehicle registration, and the driver’s side windshield and door jamb.
- The first three numbers in your Ram’s VIN tell you its manufacturer origins and vehicle type, while the next five digits detail your model’s trim and powertrain configuration.
- The last six digits in your Ram VIN act as your vehicle’s serial number and can be used to generate detailed car history reports.
How to check your Ram’s VIN
Your Ram’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is a distinct set of 17 digits that can be used to identify your Ram. VINs utilize the following characters:
- Each of the ten numerical digits (0–9)
- All the alphabet letters except those that can be confused with number (i.e. I, O, Q)
There are a few places you can find your Ram VIN:
- Yourinsurance card
- Your DMV-issuedvehicle registration card
- On the driver’s side door jamb or a window sticker on your windshield
- Under the passenger’s feet
- Under the headlights
- Under the tires
Fun fact: Ram trucks were introduced in 1981–the same year that the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
standardized VINs. Now, all VINs use the same formatted code to record your vehicle’s information, making Ram VIN decoding a fairly straightforward process.
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now
First position: Your Ram’s country of origin
The first three digits of your Ram VIN are its world manufacturer identifier (WMI) code. The first digit represents the country where the vehicle was produced.
Ram vehicles use the following country codes for the first VIN digit:
- 1: United States
- 2: Canada
- 3: Mexico
MORE:
Who owns RAM?
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”
Patricia W.
Reviewed on 5/28/2023
Positions 2-3: manufacturer information
The second two digits identify the manufacturer:
- The second digit: Tells you the make of your RAM (usually “B” for Dodges before 2002 or C for Chrysler Fiat)
- The third digit: Tells you the type of vehicle (i.e. a truck or multi-purpose passenger vehicle)
Positions 4-8: vehicle-specific information
The next five digits of your VIN represent vehicle-specific information, such as:
- Your Ram model (including trim level)
- Your Ram engine type
- The body style of your Ram pickup
- The safety and airbag configuration in your Ram
Expert tip: This section really gets into the nitty-gritty of the exact vehicle you’re driving, helping you learn about your specific Ram model’s specs in a VIN lookup.
Position 9: the VIN check digit
The check digit is a unique position used to verify the authenticity of your VIN. With all the standardized information used in the previous digits, this digit prevents people from inventing fake VINs.
Position 10: model year
Because manufacturers may have to re-use digits from earlier model years, the digits representing the model year get more complicated as time goes on. The digits that don’t appear here are U, Z, I, O, and Q.
Here’s are the VIN model year codes for the last twenty years of Ram cars:
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 |
MORE: How long do Rams last?
Position 11: assembly plant
The 11th digit indicates the factory that assembled your vehicle. For your Ram, you may see:
- A: Auburn Hills, Michigan
- G: Saltillo Assembly
Positions 12-17: vehicle serial number
The last six digits of your Ram VIN are its serial number. This set of numbers is entirely unique to your Ram and is usually a production sequence number assigned by the assembly plant.
Expert tip: These last six digits allow you to use your Ram VIN to look up a vehicle history report. This is a great tool to check a specific Ram’s car history if you’re thinking about buying a used car from the brand.
MORE: The best used Ram to buy
“A super easy app for great savings. I gave them my information and got quotes fromJerryvery quickly! Now I’m saving $108/month.” —Kiyoshi A.
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
Compare insurance quotes from 50+ carriers with Jerry in under 45 seconds
4.7/5 rating on the App Store | Trusted by 5+ million customers and 7 million cars4.7/5 app rating | Trusted by 5M+ drivers
.webp&w=384&q=75)
