Check vehicle information with RAM VIN
Looking for the VIN?
Here is there you’ll find it:
Chrysler first added ram hood ornaments to their trucks in 1933, and used the Ram name on their trucks starting in 1981. During restructuring after the Fiat Chrysler merger, Ram became its own brand of trucks and vans, although it is technically still part of Dodge. While the Promaster and Promaster City are popular commercial vans, their trucks remains their biggest sellers. They’re available in a wide range of configurations, from Cummins-powered diesel dualies to the Hellcat-powered 1500 TRX.
Whether you need a work vehicle or something for fun, buying a van or truck is an expensive proposition. Using our VIN check lets you verify the truck matches information issued at the factory, reducing your financial risk. Our VIN decoder deciphers this code, turning it into something you can read. Using this code, you can learn where the vehicle was manufactured, and what equipment it came with. Worried about the vehicle’s history? By ordering a VIN report, you’ll get information collected from insurance and government databases, including accidents, liens, registrations and more.
Making a VIN is part of the manufacturing process. It’s printed or stamped on several places, so it will last through the vehicle’s life. The VIN is used internally by the manufacturer to identify a vehicle’s specifications, and during the vehicle’s life as an ID for official documents. Using this number, you can find out how the vehicle was originally configured, including options for engines, safety equipment and more. This helps you identify major changes that may affect the value of the vehicle.
To decode the VIN, you first need to find it. Ram puts this number in several places, so there’s next to no chance of it being completely removed from the vehicle. You should be able to find the VIN in at least a couple of these locations:
Unlike most manufacturers, Ram usually prints the entire VIN on the engine and transmission. Remember that the VIN is 17 digits long. Shorter codes are either the model number or serial number for that component. You can also find this number on major body components. Adding the VIN to these parts makes them easier to trace if the vehicle is stolen. These parts include the front fenders, bumpers, hood, doors, rear quarter panels. Keep in mind that these numbers won’t match if salvage parts were used to repair your vehicle.
The VIN is also used to identify vehicles on paperwork. You can find the number on the title, insurance card and occasionally service receipts.
The VIN isn’t just a serial number. Here’s a breakdown of what each digit means, and how you can use it to learn more about your truck or van.
The first three digits make up the World Make Identifier (WMI). This tells you where the vehicle was built. If the first digit is a 1, 4 or 5, it was built in America. A “2” is used in this position for Canadian-built vehicles, and a “3” for Mexican vehicles. European-built vehicles use characters S through Z for this position. The second digit is the manufacturer. This is “B” or “D” for Fiat Chrysler, and “C” or “D” for Daimler Chrysler. “C” is also used for Steyr, a supplier to Fiat Chrysler. The last digit is the manufacturing plant. This can cover multiple plants in a region, so it’s better to use the 11th digit to find out where your truck was built.
The fourth digit is the safety system:
| Code | EQUIPMENT |
|---|---|
| E | Driver and passenger airbags |
| J and K | Multistage air bags |
| H and L | Front and side curtain airbags |
The fifth digit is the model:
| Code | MODEL |
|---|---|
| A | Ram 2WD light duty |
| B | Durango 4WD |
| D | Durango 2WD |
| E | Dakota 2WD |
| L and R | Ram 2WD heavy duty |
| N | Chassis cab 2WD |
| S, X | Ram 4WD heavy duty |
| W | Dakota 4WD |
The sixth digit is the equipment level:
| Code | Economy |
|---|---|
| 1 | Economy |
| L | Low |
| M | Medium |
| N | High line |
| 4 | High |
| 5 | Premium |
| S | Sport |
| 7 | Special |
The 7th digit is body type:
| Code | BODY TYPE |
|---|---|
| 8 | Truck |
| D | Van |
The 8th digit is the engine. Here are some codes for common engines found in modern Rams:
| Code | ENGINE |
|---|---|
| G | 3.5l V6 |
| H | 5.7 l HEMI V8 |
| W | 6.1L HEMI V8 |
| Z | 8.3L V10 |
| D | 3.0l turbo diesel |
The 9th digit is a check digit. This verifies the rest of the VIN is correct. It’s chosen by plugging in other characters from the VIN into a mathematical formula.
The 10th digit is the year. It cycles between letters and numbers, with “O”, “Z” and “I” excluded to keep them from being confused with similar-shaped numbers. A 2023 model uses “P” in this position.
| Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country | Code | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1984 | R | 1994 | 4 | 2004 | E | 2014 |
| F | 1985 | S | 1995 | 5 | 2005 | F | 2015 |
| 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 |
The 11th digit is the assembly plant. Most Ram vehicles are built at one of these facilities:
| Code | PLANT |
|---|---|
| A | Auburn Hills, Michigan |
| J | St. Louis, Missouri |
| S | Dodge City, Warren, Michigan |
| D | Belvidere, Illinois |
| T | Toluca, Mexico |
| X | Osnabrueck, Germany |
| Y | Steyr, Austria |
Digits 12-17 are the serial number. Since they’re only 6 digits long, serial numbers are frequently reused. However, no two vehicles will every share the same VIN.
What kind of information can you get when you use our VIN search to look up a vehicle? Here are a few examples:
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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Read moreLooking for the VIN?
Here is there you’ll find it:
