The 1st character in a car's vehicle identification number indicates the country in which it was manufactured. Model Year & Country CodesĪs shown above, the 10th character of the VIN indicates its model year. Keep in mind that vehicles manufactured before 1981 might have fewer characters than today's standard VIN of 17 characters. The infographic below provides a simplified look at a sample VIN. Knowing how to read the VIN could help you make an informed decision before you buy. The serial number and manufacturers number for these E-Z-GO golf cart models can be found on a plate located in. When you're considering purchasing a pre-owned vehicle, it's always a good idea to obtain a vehicle history report (VHR) or VIN check. E-Z-GO Medalist & TXT models (1994 to present). The engine serial number is the complete number shown. For example, a full engine serial number could be PJ12345U123456P.

In fact, deciphering these codes is a hobby for some car enthusiasts, including collectors who want to own one of the first or last cars to come off an assembly line. The engine serial number is made up of several components. Actually, each character in this highly structured code has its own meaning. If you're like most people, you probably think a vehicle identification number (VIN) is just a series of random characters.

Decoding engine serial numbers