What character of the vehicle identification number (VIN) identifies the model year?

The character in the vehicle identification number (VIN) that identifies the model year is the 10th character. This specific character corresponds to a letter or a numeral that indicates the model year of the vehicle, as defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) guidelines.

For example, the letter 'A' might represent the year 1980, while 'B' would signify 1981, and this pattern continues through the alphabet with some letters skipped to avoid confusion. After 2000, the coding becomes numerical again, with the number '1' representing the year 2001, '2' for 2002, and so on, up to the current years.

This information is crucial for vehicle registration, sales, and providing accurate historical context about the vehicle. Recognizing the model year helps buyers assess the age and potential value of a vehicle. The other characters in the VIN do not provide this specific information about the model year, making the 10th character essential for determining the age of the vehicle.