Originally posted by NetViper:
That is what he gave me: JH4NA1156N1000463
Everything seems correct in the format, so it is either the check didget "6" or the serial # "463". If the serial number is correct, then the check didget should be 8. Unfortunately, I don't have access to carfax.
What is a Check Digit and how is it calculated?
Regulations both in the United States of America and Canada require that on the 9th position of the Vehicle Identification Number a check digit is used. In North America, the check digit is considered to be the third section of the VIN. Its purpose is to provide a means for verifying the accuracy of the VIN transcription. It is calculated as specified below, using the other 16 characters of the VIN.
1. A numerical value is assigned to letters in the VIN. I, O and Q are not allowed so their positions are skipped. A=1, B=2, C=3, D=4, E=5, F=6, G=7, H=8, J=1, K=2, L=3, M=4, N=5, P=7, R=9, S=2, T=3, U=4, V=5, W=6, X=7, Y=8, Z=9
2. A weight factor is assigned to all positions of the VIN, except of course to the 9th position (the check digit itself), as follows: 1=8, 2=7, 3=6, 4=5, 5=4, 6=3, 7=2, 8=10, 10=9, 11=8, 12=7, 13=6, 14=5, 15=4, 16=3, 17=2
3. The numerical values of the letters in the VIN are multiplied by their assigned weight factor.
4. The resulting products from step 3 are added up.
5. The sum of the products is divided by 11. The numerical remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is 10, the check digit is the letter X. So the 9th position of the VIN will be a number 0-9 or the letter X.
Example Check Digit calculation
VIN Digits J H 4 N A 1 1 5 * N 1 0 0 0 4 6 3
Numeric Value (NV) 1 8 4 5 1 1 1 5 * 4 3 0 0 0 4 6 3
Weight Factor (WF) 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 * 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
Product (NV * WF) 8 56 24 25 4 3 2 50 * 36 24 0 0 0 16 18 6
=272/11
24 and remainder 8 for the 9th position check didget
[This message has been edited by Slingshot (edited 07 March 2002).]
