ATV Vin Number: Check and Decode Your VIN
The ATV VIN number charts and information to help you search for and decode your ATV’s VIN. Every sport ATV has a 17 digit VIN (vehicle identification number), even if you need to search for the ATV VIN location a little. You’ll find the VIN plate mounted to the frame of the ATV, usually on the bottom left side. This information guide will help you with ATV VIN identification.
Kawasaki for example has the VIN mounted on the left side of the frame below the engine. If you have nerf bars installed it’s possible that part of the VIN will be hard to see. Don’t mistake the engine number, which is mounted on the engine, as a VIN number because they are different.
A VIN or Vehicle Identification Number is standardized. Whether your ride a Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Polaris, Yamaha or other ATV all will contain 17 characters that can include capital letters from A through Z and numbers 1 through 0. The letters I, O and Q are never used within a VIN in order to avoid mistakes made by misreading them. No signs or spaces are allowed in the Vehicle Identification Number.
The position of each letter and/or number in the VIN code reveals important information about where and when your ATV was made, the type of engine it has, the model or series of ATV, various equipment/attributes and its production sequence.
Contact the vehicles manufacturer with specific VIN related questions. Contact your local DMV, department of motor vehicles, if you need to replace your VIN plate (if it broke off or you installed a new frame etc). Here is a general breakdown of what your ATV VINs number means.
ATV VIN Breakdown By Digit – What Each Digit Means
- 1st digit : represents the country in which it was made. 1 or 4 is for the U.S., 2 is for Canada, J is for Japan, K is for Korea.
- 2nd digit : represents the manufacturer. H is for Honda, K is for Kawasaki etc.
- 3rd digit : this position represents the vehicle type or manufacturing division which can vary by make of vehicle.
- 4th to 8th digits : these positions represent vehicle attributes such as body style and engine type (not to be confused with an engine code, every vehicle has one of those mounted on the engine). Honda ATV owners visit the Honda ATV Model Codes list for model information.
- 9th digit : this is called a check digit and it exists for security reasons. This letter or number is derived mathematically depending on the previous 8 digits. It’s used to confirm that a VIN isn’t being fabricated.
- 10th digit vin : The vehicle year.
| 1971 | 1 |
| 1972 | 2 |
| 1973 | 3 |
| 1974 | 4 |
| 1975 | 5 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1977 | 7 |
| 1978 | 8 |
| 1979 | 9 |
| 1980 | A |
| 1981 | B |
| 1982 | C |
| 1983 | D |
| 1984 | E |
| 1985 | F |
| 1986 | G |
| 1987 | H |
| 1988 | J |
| 1989 | K |
| 1990 | L |
| 1991 | M |
| 1992 | N |
| 1993 | P |
| 1994 | R |
| 1995 | S |
| 1996 | T |
| 1997 | V |
| 1998 | W |
| 1999 | X |
| 2000 | Y |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 7 |
| 2008 | 8 |
| 2009 | 9 |
| 2010 | A |
| 2011 | B |
| 2012 | C |
| 2013 | D |
| 2014 | E |
| 2015 | F |
| 2016 | G |
| 2017 | H |
| 2018 | J |
| 2019 | K |
| 2020 | L |
MODEL YEAR CODES
– VIN Number Year Chart and it continues year by year: 2011 = B, 2012 = C, 2013 = D, 2014 = E, 2015 = F, 2016 = G etc. 2018 = J, 2019 = K, 2020 = L, you get the idea. Important: The letters i,q, u and o are never used so skip them accordingly. Also important: To tell the difference between an older and newer ATV the 7th digit is referenced. Example, the letter A in 10th position could mean a 1980 or a 2010 ATV. To know which it is look to the 7th digit, if the 7th digit is a number the earlier year is accurate. If the 7th digit is a letter the later year is accurate.
– 11th digit : Assembly plant
– 12th to 17th digits : These ATV vin numbers increase by one for each unit that rolls off the assembly line, the last four are always numbers.
It’s very helpful to know your ATV VIN when purchasing aftermarket parts. Here is a chart of what your Honda ATV VIN may look like, it’s useful information to have when doing a VIN check.
Honda VIN Chart
To do a free ATV VIN search visit the ATV VIN Check page.