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How to Identify Transmission by VIN
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In 1908, Ford revolutionized the auto industry with the release of the Model T. By using the latest manufacturing techniques, they were able to build the first affordable mass-produced car. Since then, they have expanded their operations across the world, building some of the most popular and influential models in automotive history. Whether you’re looking to buy a Focus for your commute or a classic Mustang for your next restoration, looking up the VIN can help you decide if a vehicle is worth buying.
On most Fords, you can find the VIN printed on a plate on the dashboard, near the bottom left or right corner of the windshield. Ford also puts this code on door sill plates, frames and many other locations. It’s even listed in some of their infotainment systems.
Using our site to get a VIN report can help you determine exactly what type of Ford you have. Here’s where you can find your vehicle information number, and decode that number to find information about the vehicle including the model, engine, frame construction, chassis and engine.
Why should you look up your Ford’s VIN? This factory-issued number is an important inspection tool, allowing you to verify the history of a vehicle before you buy it. This code can tell you the year of manufacture, where the vehicle was built, its trim level, and its original equipment. Inconsistencies can reveal engine swaps and other changes that indicate the vehicle isn’t original. You can also use it to check the vehicle’s history through the DMV and third party record agencies. Unlike a license, the VIN stays with the vehicle, letting you search through records going back to its date of manufacture.
You can find the VIN on 1968 and later Fords in these locations:
The location of the VIN on 1967 and earlier vehicles isn’t standardized. Look in the following locations for a plate with the number printed on it:
There are two ways to find the VIN electronically. If you use the FordPass program, you can find the VIN for your vehicle in the program’s app. To get the VIN, log into the app, select the vehicle, and select “Vehicle Details”. Scroll down and select “Vehicle Details” again. You should now see the VIN.
If your vehicle has Sync 3 or later, you can look up the VIN in your infotainment system. Press “Settings”, then “General” and finally “About SYNC”. Ford started offering Sync 3 for the 2016 model year. It is also offered as an upgrade for earlier vehicles.
Still can’t find the VIN? It’s also printed on some vehicle documentation, including insurance policies, lease agreements and vehicle registrations.
🟡 Basic Report Cost: | Free |
---|---|
🟡 Ford VIN Database: | 60.2M+ |
🟡 Car-on-Sale Photos: | Up to 100 |
🟡 Full Report: | Extensive History |
Here’s a breakdown of what all the digits mean in this number.
This is the World Manufacturer Identifier. The first digit is the country, the second digit is the manufacturer, and the third digit identifies groups of plants.
Code | WMI | Code | WMI |
---|---|---|---|
1F0 | Ford Motor Company USA | 2FM | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. |
1F1 | Ford Motor Company USA | 2FT | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. |
1F6 | Detroit Chassis LLC USA | 3FA | Ford Motor Company Mexico |
1F7 | MSX International Detroit, MI USA | 3FB | Ford Motor Company SA Mexico |
1F8 | American Transportation Corp. USA | 3FD | Ford Motor Company Mexico |
1FA | Ford Motor Company USA | 3FE | Ford Motor Company Mexico |
1FB | Ford Motor Company USA | 3FN | Blue Diamond Trucks S. De RL De CV Mexico |
1FC | Ford Motor Company USA | 3FR | Blue Diamond Trucks S. De RL De CV Mexico |
1FD | Ford Motor Company USA | 3FT | Ford Motor Company Mexico |
1FM | Ford Motor Company USA | 3M9 | Mopesa Motores Power S Mexico |
1FT | Ford Motor Company USA | 6F1 | Ford Motor Company Australia |
1ZV | Ford Motor Company USA | 9BF | Ford Brasil Brazil |
1ZW | AutoAlliance International USA | NM0 | FORD-OTOSAN Turkey |
2FA | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | SBC | Iveco Ford Truck Ltd. United Kingdom |
2FD | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | SFA | FORD-OTOSAN Turkey |
2FM | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | SFA | Ford Motor Company Ltd United Kingdom |
2FT | Ford Motor Company of Canada, Ltd. | TW2 | Ford Lutisania Sarl Portugal |
3FA | Ford Motor Company Mexico | UN1 | Henry Ford and Son Ltd Ireland |
3FB | Ford Motor Company SA Mexico | X9F | LLC Ford Motor Company Russia |
3FD | Ford Motor Company Mexico | XLC | Ford Nederland NV Holland |
VS6 | Ford Espana SA Spain | Y4F | Ford Union, Belarus |
WF0 | Ford Werke AG Germany | WF0 | Ford Motor Company LLC Russia |
WF1 | Ford Werke AG Germany |
This digit is the body type:
Code | Body Type |
---|---|
A | 5 door hatchback or limousine |
B | three door hatchback or limousine |
C | two door coupe |
D | three door station wagon or two door combi (van with passenger seating and cargo space) |
E | two door sedan or three door limousine |
F | four door sedan |
H | 5 door hatchback or combi, used only on the 5thgeneration Fiesta, made from 2001 to 2008, and the Torneo Connect |
L | convertible |
N | 5 door station wagon or 4 or 5 door cargo-passenger van |
P | pickup |
S | minibus or combi |
U | 5 door hatchback or cargo-passenger van, used on 1stgeneration Fusion, produced from 2002 to 2009 |
T | two door sedan or limousine |
V | van |
W | two door combi |
These digits identify equipment specific to the model. This is usually enough information to determine the engine and cylinder head installed at the factory, as well as the trim level. Some VINs use the 7thdigit for equipment information, while others use it for manufacturing location.
This is the location where the vehicle was assembled.
7thand 8thdigit:
Code | Location |
---|---|
BA | Dagenham, England |
BB | Halewood, England |
BC | Langley, England |
BD | Southampton, England |
CE | Cork, Ireland |
CN | Amsterdam, Netherlands |
CP | Azambuja, Portugal |
GA | Cologne, Germany |
GB | Genk, Belgium |
GC | Saarlouis, Germany |
GK | Karmann, Germany |
SH | Hiroshima, Japan |
WG | Barcelona, Spain |
WP | Valencia, Spain |
ZV | Flat Rock, USA |
TT | Kocaeli, Izmit, Tutsia |
8thdigit only:
Code | Location |
---|---|
A | Cologne / Dagenham |
A | Abchak, Belarus |
B | Halewood, UK |
B | San Bernado, Brazil |
C | Saarlouis, Germany / Langley |
E | Genk / Hailwood |
E | Cork |
K | Rhine, Germany |
M | Reine (USA) |
N | Amsterdam |
N | Pacheco, Spain |
R | Valencia, Spain / Azambuya |
This code identifies the model of vehicle. Since it only uses letters, each letter may represent several models. Here are some examples from Ford’s European offerings:
Code | Model |
---|---|
A | Escort. Orion and Focus |
B | Taunus, Sierra, Cortina, Mondeo and Cougar |
D | Focus |
E | Capri, Puma and Probe |
F | Fiesta and Courier |
G | Granada and Scorpio |
J | Fiesta, Courier and Fusion |
R | Ka |
U | Maverick |
V | Transit and Tourneo |
W | Galaxy |
This is the check digit, which helps reduce errors during data entry. It’s always the same as digit 4.
This code alternates between numbers andletters. Some letters, like “O”, are skipped to avoid confusion with similar-shaped characters.
Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | 1986 | T | 1996 | 6 | 2006 | G | 2016 |
H | 1987 | V | 1997 | 7 | 2007 | H | 2017 |
J | 1988 | W | 1998 | 8 | 2008 | J | 2018 |
K | 1989 | X | 1999 | 9 | 2009 | K | 2019 |
L | 1990 | Y | 2000 | A | 2010 | L | 2020 |
M | 1991 | 1 | 2001 | B | 2011 | M | 2021 |
N | 1992 | 2 | 2002 | C | 2012 | N | 2022 |
P | 1993 | 3 | 2003 | D | 2013 | P | 2023 |
R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 | R | 2024 |
S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 | S | 2025 |
Ford uses four letters for each month, rotating through them every four years. These letters are in order for the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 model years.
Month | Code |
---|---|
January | B, J, L, C |
February | R, U, Y, K |
March | A, M, S, D |
April | G, P, T, E |
May | C, B, J, L |
June | K, R, U, Y |
July | D, A, M, S |
August | E, G, P, T |
September | L, C, B, J |
October | Y, K, R, U |
November | S, D, A, M |
December | T, E, G, P |
This serial number is unique to the vehicle. Production numbers are reused, but the same number is never used on two vehicles with the same date code.
Locations vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. However, there are three places you can find the code on most vehicles:
- Look through the windshield at the dashboard. On the driver’s side, you should see a small metal plate with the number stamped into it.
- Open the driver’s door. Look at the front and side of the door pillar for an I.D. sticker. It usually has the manufacturer’s logo on it. The code should be on this sticker.
- Open the hood. You may see a sticker on the firewall or near the passenger’s side strut tower. Some cars have the number engraved in one of these areas.
Since this number is used to identify the vehicle on official documents, you can also find it on the title, the window sticker, and on insurance policies.
We also decode numbers for RVs, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. If you need to decode an RV number, make sure it’s the one issued by the chassis manufacturer, not the RV outfitter.
No. Canadian and Mexican cars usually use the same format. Other countries use their own formats.
It’s up to the manufacturer to determine what they want to include for some parts of the number. For example, some companies don’t include information about transmissions or trim levels.
Usually, no. A few manufacturers stamp the code into the engine. If the VINs on the engine and car match, then it’s the original engine. On most vehicles, there isn’t anything that ties an engine to a specific vehicle. At most, looking up the vehicle on our website will tell you if a different type of engine was installed. For example, if someone swaps a V8 into a Ford Mustang, our site will tell you it originally came with a V6.
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