We had a client that needed to breakdown a vehicle identification number (VIN) and wanted to avoid paying a monthly fee to decode the basic information. This unique code assigned to every motor vehicle when it's manufactured is a standardized format (since 1981). There requirement was for automobiles for 2000 and later so this routine works perfectly for them. The VIN is a 17-character string of letters and numbers without intervening spaces or the letters Q (q), I (i), and O (o); these are omitted to avoid confusion with the numerals 0 and 1. Each section of the VIN provides a specific piece of information about the vehicle, including the year, country, and factory of manufacture; the make and model; and the serial number. VINs are usually printed in a single line.
