Digits 1-3: These usually tell you where the car was assembled, the manufacturer, and the vehicle type. Digits 4-8: These describe your particular vehicle, like its model, body style, engine type, and transmission. Digit 9: This is the check digit, used simply to tell whether there is an error in the VIN, like if you input it incorrectly. Digits 10-11: Used to tell the year and the factory where it was assembled. Digits 12-17: Typically these make up the factory’s production sequence number, which identify the vehicle itself as a unique product.