What Country Code Is Hidden in Your Car’s VIN?

Have you ever wondered what country your car was manufactured in just by looking at its VIN? The first three characters of your vehicle’s VIN, known as the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), can answer that. These three characters form a globally recognized code that provides details about the country of origin, manufacturer, and vehicle type.

If you’ve been searching terms like vin country codes, vin number country, or vin decoder country of origin, you’re in the right place. This guide will walk you through how to identify your vehicle’s country code VIN and explain how it’s used during a vin decoder lookup.

How the VIN Country Code Works

The first character of the VIN is the vin number country code, which indicates the country where the vehicle was assembled. The second character identifies the vehicle manufacturer, and the third provides more specific information about the type or division of the manufacturer.

Together, these three characters help pinpoint the vin country of origin and are essential when running a car history report or vehicle lookup. These codes are assigned by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in the United States and are used internationally.

VIN Country Codes by Region

Below is a breakdown of VIN country codes grouped by region. These codes are often referenced in a VIN country decoder tool or VIN country lookup.

Africa

Asia

Europe

North America, South America, and Oceania codes

Unassigned VIN Ranges

There are still some vin number country code ranges currently unassigned and available for future manufacturers:

• Africa: FL–F0, GA–G0, HA–H0
• Asia: NS–N0, PS–P0
• Europe: S5–S0, T2–T0, UA–UG, U1–U4, U8–U0, ZS–ZW, Z6–Z0
• North America: 30
• South America: 90

If your VIN starts with one of these combinations, it may be from a newly registered automaker or a region that is not yet formally assigned.

How to Use a VIN Decoder Country Code Tool

The fastest way to find your vin country is by using an online vin decoder country code service. These tools analyze the first three characters of your VIN and tell you the vin country of origin, manufacturer, and additional specs.

This is especially useful if you’re researching a used car or trying to verify vehicle details for import/export compliance.

Decode Your Vehicle’s History With ClearVIN

Knowing what country is VIN assigned to gives you an added layer of confidence when purchasing or inspecting a vehicle. At ClearVIN, our vin decoder country of origin tool allows you to run a complete lookup on any car using the VIN or even a license plate.

We make it easy to reveal the full history, from the vin country to past owners, title records, accident history, and more. You can even view a sample report before you order.

If you’re ready to learn more about your vehicle’s VIN number country or check the accuracy of the information provided by the seller, use ClearVIN to stay safe and informed.

For assistance, contact us online or call +1 (844) 268-5991 (8:00 AM–3:00 PM EST, Monday to Friday).