[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 206 (Wednesday, October 25, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54657-54663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-26499]



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[[Page 54658]]


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 541, 565, 567, 571

[Docket No. 95-85; Notice 1]
RIN 2127-AF69


Vehicle Identification Number Requirements

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: At present, NHTSA's vehicle identification number (VIN) 
requirements are established in two regulations, Federal Motor Vehicle 
Safety Standard No. 115 and Part 565. In this NPRM, NHTSA proposes to 
incorporate Standard No. 115 in Part 565. This proposed action is part 
of the President's Regulatory Reinvention Initiative and seeks to make 
NHTSA's VIN requirements easier to understand and to apply. In 
accordance with Federal metrication policy, NHTSA also proposes to 
convert English measurements specified in part 565 to metric 
measurements. No substantive changes in existing regulatory text are 
proposed.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 26, 1995.

ADDRESSES: All comments must refer to the docket number and notice 
number of this notice and be submitted, preferably in ten copies, to: 
Docket Section, Room 5109, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Docket 
hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Leon Delarm, Office of Vehicle 
Safety Standards, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 
Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590. Telephone number 202-366-
4920.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background and Regulatory Reinvention Initiative

    Pursuant to the March 4, 1994 directive from the President to the 
heads of departments and agencies, ``Regulatory Reinvention 
Initiative,'' NHTSA has undertaken a review of all its regulations and 
directives. During the course of this review, the agency has taken the 
opportunity not only to identify those rules or portions of rules that 
might be deleted or rescinded but also to identify rules that could be 
consolidated to avoid duplication or be redrafted to make them easier 
to read.
    To further the President's goals, the agency proposes in this 
rulemaking to incorporate the text of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard No. 115 (49 CFR 571.115) Vehicle identification number--basic 
requirements in Part 565 Vehicle identification number--content 
requirements. 
    A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a seventeen character 
series of Arabic numbers and Roman letters which is assigned to a 
vehicle for identification purposes. At present, Standard No. 115 
specifies general physical requirements for a VIN and its installation 
and Part 565 specifies VIN content and format.
    NHTSA believes that consolidation into one regulation will make it 
easier for motor vehicle manufacturers to understand and to apply VIN 
requirements. In particular, many small businesses that manufacture 
motor vehicles (including trailers), appear to find two separate VIN 
requirements (i.e., in Standard No. 115 and Part 565) confusing. NHTSA 
believes that consolidating all VIN requirements into one regulation 
will lessen any confusion. NHTSA does not intend any substantive 
changes to its VIN requirements as a result of the proposed 
consolidation.
    Since the VIN requirements are referenced in other NHTSA 
regulations, such as Part 541 Federal Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention 
Standard and Part 567 Certification, NHTSA proposes to make 
nonsubstantive changes so the parts would meet the proposed 
consolidated VIN requirements. NHTSA may, at a future date, also 
propose to make changes to Part 591 Importation of Vehicles and 
Equipment Subject to Federal Safety, Bumper, and Theft Prevention 
Standards and Part 592 Registered Importers of Vehicles Not Originally 
Manufactured to Conform to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 
to conform these parts to the new VIN requirements.

Metrication of VIN Regulation

    NHTSA also proposes to continue to implement the Federal policy 
that the metric system of measurement is the preferred system of 
weights and measures for United States trade and commerce. In this 
NPRM, NHTSA proposes to convert part 565 measurements stated in the 
English system of measurement to the metric system. NHTSA began its 
metrication efforts with an NPRM published March 15, 1994 (59 FR 11962) 
that proposed to convert selected Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standards to the metric system. In the March 1994 NPRM, NHTSA stated 
its intent not to use equivalent conversions when there is a specific 
safety need or other reason to make an exact conversion. (To illustrate 
equivalent and exact conversions, an equivalent conversion of two 
inches would be 50 millimeters, while an exact conversion would be 50.8 
millimeters). In the March 1994 NPRM, NHTSA identified conversions of 
vehicles' gross vehicle weight ratings (GVWRs) as an example of when it 
would convert measurements to exact conversions.
    NHTSA proposes that in Table II of part 565, English unit 
measurements of vehicles' GVWRs be converted to the metric system, to 
exact conversions. Thus, a vehicle with a GVWR of 10,000 pounds is 
proposed to be converted to the exact conversion of 4536 kilograms 
(kg.), not the equivalent conversion of 4500 kg.
    As it believes that those unfamiliar with the metric system may be 
burdened by the agency's stating GVWRs in metric units only, NHTSA 
proposes that for an indefinite time, part 565 continue to present the 
English measurement as well. NHTSA seeks public comment on this 
proposal to set forth both the English and metric measurements for 
GVWRs.

Proposed Effective Date

    Because the proposed incorporation of Standard No. 115 into Part 
565 would make vehicle identification number requirements easier to 
understand and to apply, without compromising safety, and would not 
make any substantive change in the requirements. NHTSA has tentatively 
determined that there is good cause shown that an effective date 
earlier than 180 days after issuance is in the public interest. 
Accordingly, the agency proposes that, if adopted, the effective date 
for the final rule be 30 days after its publication in the Federal 
Register.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

1. Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This proposed rule was not reviewed under E. O. 12866 (Regulatory 
Planning and Review). NHTSA has analyzed the impact of this rulemaking 
action and determined that it is not ``significant'' within the meaning 
of the Department of Transportation's regulatory policies and 
procedures. The proposed rule would not impose any costs or yield any 
savings. It would instead, consolidate the agency's requirements for 
manufacturers to assign vehicle identification numbers (VINs) to motor 
vehicles. The changes would make it easier for manufacturers to 
understand 

[[Page 54659]]
and apply the VIN requirements. The impacts would be so minimal that 
they would not warrant preparation of a full regulatory evaluation.

2. Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The agency has considered the effects of this regulatory action 
under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that the 
proposed rule would not have a significant economic impact on a 
substantial number of small entities. As explained above, the proposed 
rule would not impose any new requirements, but may have a slight 
beneficial impact since the changes would make it easier for motor 
vehicle manufacturers, many of which are small businesses, to 
understand and apply the agency's requirements for vehicle 
identification numbers. For these reasons, small businesses, small 
governmental organizations, and small organizations which purchase 
motor vehicles or rely on VINs for other recordkeeping or 
administrative matters, would not be significantly affected by the 
proposed rule. Accordingly, an initial regulatory flexibility analysis 
has not been prepared.

3. Paperwork Reduction Act

    The information collection requirements in this proposed rule have 
been submitted to and approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) pursuant to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq). This collection of information has been assigned 
OMB Control Number 2127-0510 (``Consolidated VIN Requirements and Motor 
Vehicle Theft Prevention Standard'') and has been approved for use 
through June 30, 1996.

4. Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

    This proposed rule has been analyzed in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612. The agency 
has determined that the proposed rule does not have sufficient 
Federalism implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism 
Assessment. No State laws would be affected.

5. National Environmental Policy Act

    The agency has considered the environmental implications of this 
proposed rule in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
of 1969 and determined that the proposed rule would not have any 
significant impact on the quality of the human environment.

6. Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice Reform)

    This proposed rule would not have any retroactive effect. Under 49 
U.S.C. 30103, whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in 
effect, a State may not adopt or maintain a safety standard applicable 
to the same aspect of performance which is not identical to the Federal 
standard, except to the extent that State requirement imposes a higher 
level of performance and applies only to vehicles procured for the 
State's use. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial review 
of final rules establishing, amending or revoking Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards. This section does not require submission of a 
petition for reconsideration or other administrative procedures before 
parties may file suit in court.

Procedures for Filing Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the proposal. 
It is requested but not required that 10 copies be submitted.
    Comments must not exceed 15 pages in length. (49 CFR 553.21). 
Necessary attachments may be appended to these submissions without 
regard to the 15 page limit. This limitation is intended to encourage 
commenters to detail their primary arguments in a concise fashion.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, three copies of the complete submission, including 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and seven 
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for 
confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth 
the information specified in the agency's confidential business 
information regulation, 49 CFR Part 512.
    All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated above for the proposal will be considered and 
will be available for examination in the docket at the above address 
both before and after the closing date. To the extent possible, 
comments filed after the closing date also will be considered. Comments 
received too late for consideration in regard to the final rule will be 
considered as suggestions for further rulemaking action. The agency 
will continue to file relevant information as it becomes available in 
the docket after the closing date, and it is recommended that 
interested persons continue to examine the docket for new material.
    Persons who want to be notified upon receipt of their comments in 
the rules docket should enclose a self-addressed, stamped postcard in 
the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving the comments, the 
docket supervisor will return the postcard by mail.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 541

    Administrative practice and procedure, Labeling, Motor vehicle 
safety, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR Part 565

    Imports, Labeling, Motor vehicles, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements.

49 CFR Part 567

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles.

49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicles, Motor vehicle safety, Rubber and rubber 
products, Tires.

    In consideration of the foregoing, NHTSA proposes to amend 49 CFR 
Parts 541, 565, 567, and 571 as set forth below.

PART 541--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 541 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 33101, 33102, 33103, 33105; delegation of 
authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    2. In section 541.4, paragraph (b)(7) would be revised to read as 
follows:


Sec. 541.4  Definitions.

* * * * *
    (b) Other definitions.
* * * * *
    (7) VIN means the vehicle identification number required by Part 
565 of this chapter.
* * * * *

PART 565--[AMENDED]

    3. Part 565 would be revised to read as follows:

PART 565--VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REQUIREMENTS

Sec.
565.1  Purpose and scope.
565.2  Applicability.
565.3  Definitions.
565.4  General requirements.
565.5  Motor vehicles imported into the United States.
565.6  Content requirements.
565.7  Reporting requirements.

 
[[Page 54660]]

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30141, 30146, 
30166, and 30168; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


Sec. 565.1  Purpose and scope.

    This part specifies the format, content and physical requirements 
for a vehicle identification number (VIN) system and its installation 
to simplify vehicle identification information retrieval and to 
increase the accuracy and efficiency of vehicle recall campaigns.


Sec. 565.2  Applicability.

    This part applies to passenger cars, multipurpose passenger 
vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers (including trailer kits), incomplete 
vehicles, and motorcycles. Vehicles imported into the United States 
under 49 CFR 591.5(f), other than by the corporation responsible for 
the assembly of that vehicle or a subsidiary of such a corporation, are 
exempt from requirements of Sec. 565.4(b), Sec. 565.4(c), 
Sec. 565.4(g), Sec. 565.4(h), Sec. 565.5 and Sec. 565.6.


Sec. 565.3  Definitions.

    (a) Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Definitions. Unless 
otherwise indicated, all terms used in this part that are defined in 49 
CFR 571.3 are used as defined in 49 CFR 571.3.
    (b) Body type means the general configuration or shape of a vehicle 
distinguished by such characteristics as the number of doors or 
windows, cargo-carrying features and the roofline (e.g., sedan, 
fastback, hatchback).
    (c) Check digit means a single number or the letter X used to 
verify the accuracy of the transcription of the vehicle identification 
number.
    (d) Engine type means a power source with defined characteristics 
such as fuel utilized, number of cylinders, displacement, and net brake 
horsepower. The specific manufacturer and make shall be represented if 
the engine powers a passenger car or a multipurpose passenger vehicle, 
or truck with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4536 kg. or less.
    (e) Incomplete vehicle means an assemblage consisting, as a 
minimum, of frame and chassis structure, power train, steering system, 
suspension system and braking system, to the extent that those systems 
are to be part of the completed vehicle, that requires further 
manufacturing operations, other than the addition of readily attachable 
components, such as mirrors or tire and rim assemblies, or minor 
finishing operations such as painting, to become a completed vehicle.
    (f) Line means a name that a manufacturer applies to a family of 
vehicles within a make which have a degree of commonality in 
construction, such as body, chassis or cab type.
    (g) Make means a name that a manufacturer applies to a group of 
vehicles or engines.
    (h) Manufacturer means a person--
    (1) Manufacturing or assembling motor vehicles or motor vehicle 
equipment; or
    (2) Importing motor vehicles or motor vehicle equipment for resale.
    (i) Model means a name that a manufacturer applies to a family of 
vehicles of the same type, make, line, series and body type.
    (j) Model Year means the year used to designate a discrete vehicle 
model, irrespective of the calendar year in which the vehicle was 
actually produced, so long as the actual period is less than two 
calendar years.
    (k) Plant of manufacture means the plant where the manufacturer 
affixes the VIN.
    (l) Series means a name that a manufacturer applies to a 
subdivision of a ``line'' denoting price, size or weight identification 
and that is used by the manufacturer for marketing purposes.
    (m) Trailer kit means a trailer that is fabricated and delivered in 
complete but unassembled form and that is designed to be assembled 
without special machinery or tools.
    (n) Type means a class of vehicle distinguished by common traits, 
including design and purpose. Passenger cars, multipurpose passenger 
vehicles, trucks, buses, trailers, incomplete vehicles and motorcycles 
are separate types.
    (o) VIN means a series of Arabic numbers and Roman letters that is 
assigned to a motor vehicle for identification purposes.


Sec. 565.4  General requirements.

    (a) Each vehicle manufactured in one stage shall have a VIN that is 
assigned by the manufacturer. Each vehicle manufactured in more than 
one stage shall have a VIN assigned by the incomplete vehicle 
manufacturer. Vehicle alterers, as specified in 49 CFR 567.7, shall 
utilize the VIN assigned by the original manufacturer of the vehicle.
    (b) Each VIN shall consist of seventeen (17) characters.
    (c) A check digit shall be part of each VIN. The check digit shall 
appear in position nine (9) of the VIN, on the vehicle and on any 
transfer documents containing the VIN prepared by the manufacturer to 
be given to the first owner for purposes other than resale.
    (d) The VINs of any two vehicles manufactured within a 30-year 
period shall not be identical.
    (e) The VIN of each vehicle shall appear clearly and indelibly upon 
either a part of the vehicle, other than the glazing, that is not 
designed to be removed except for repair or upon a separate plate or 
label that is permanently affixed to such a part.
    (f) The VIN for passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles and 
trucks of 4536 kg or less GVWR shall be located inside the passenger 
compartment. It shall be readable, without moving any part of the 
vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions 
by an observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen) whose eye-point is located 
outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar. Each 
character in the VIN subject to this paragraph shall have a minimum 
height of 4 mm.
    (g) Each character in each VIN shall be one of the letters in the 
set: (ABCDEFGHJKLMNPRSTUVWXYZ) or a numeral in the set: (0123456789) 
assigned according to the method given in Sec. 565.5.
    (h) All spaces provided for in the VIN must be occupied by a 
character specified in paragraph (g) of this section.
    (i) The type face utilized for each VIN shall consist of capital, 
sanserif characters.


Sec. 565.5  Motor vehicles imported into the United States.

    (a) Importers shall utilize the VIN assigned by the original 
manufacturer of the motor vehicle.
    (b) A passenger car certified by a Registered Importer under 49 CFR 
part 592 shall have a plate or label that contains the following 
statement, in characters with a minimum height of 4 mm, with the 
identification number assigned by the original manufacturer provided in 
the blank: SUBSTITUTE FOR U.S. VIN: __________ SEE PART 565. The plate 
or label shall conform to Sec. 565.4 (h) and (i). The plate or label 
shall be permanently affixed inside the passenger compartment. The 
plate or label shall be readable, without moving any part of the 
vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions 
by an observer having 20/20 vision (Snellen) whose eye-point is located 
outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar. It shall be 
located in such a manner as not to cover, obscure, or overlay any part 
of any identification number affixed by the original manufacturer. 
Passenger cars conforming to Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 115 
are exempt from this paragraph. 

[[Page 54661]]



Sec. 565.6  Content requirements.

    The VIN shall consist of four sections of characters which shall be 
grouped accordingly:
    (a) The first section shall consist of three characters that occupy 
positions one through three (1-3) in the VIN. This section shall 
uniquely identify the manufacturer, make and type of the motor vehicle 
if its manufacturer produces 500 or more motor vehicles of its type 
annually. If the manufacturer produces less than 500 motor vehicles of 
its type annually, these characters along with the third, fourth and 
fifth characters of the fourth section shall uniquely identify the 
manufacturer, make and type of the motor vehicle. These characters are 
assigned in accordance with paragraph (c) of this section.
    (b) The second section shall consist of five characters, which 
occupy positions four through eight (4-8) in the VIN. This section 
shall uniquely identify the attributes of the vehicle as specified in 
Table I. For passenger cars, and for multipurpose passenger vehicles 
and trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 4536 kg. or less, the 
first and second characters shall be alphabetic and the third and 
fourth characters shall be numeric. The fifth character may be either 
alphabetic or numeric. The characters utilized and their placement 
within the section may be determined by the manufacturer, but the 
specified attributes must be decipherable with information supplied by 
the manufacturer in accordance with paragraph (d) of this section. In 
submitting the required information to NHTSA relating to gross vehicle 
weight rating, the designations in Table II shall be used. The use of 
these designations within the VIN itself is not required. Tables I and 
II follow:

         Table I.--Type of Vehicle and Information Decipherable         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passenger car: Line, series, body type, engine type and restraint system
 type.                                                                  
Multipurpose passenger vehicle: Line, series, body type, engine type,   
 gross vehicle weight rating.                                           
Truck: Model or line, series, chassis, cab type, engine type, brake     
 system and gross vehicle weight rating.                                
Bus: Model or line, series, body type, engine type, and brake system    
Trailer, including trailer kits and incomplete trailer: Type of trailer,
 body type, length and axle configuration.                              
Motorcycle: Type of motorcycle, line, engine type, and net brake        
 horsepower.                                                            
Incomplete Vehicle other than a trailer: Model or line, series, cab     
 type, engine type and brake system.                                    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note to Table I: Engine net brake horsepower when encoded in the VIN    
  shall differ by no more than 10 percent from the actual net brake     
  horsepower; shall in the case of motorcycle with an actual net brake  
  horsepower of 2 or less, be not more than 2; and shall be greater than
  2 in the case of a motorcycle with an actual brake horsepower greater 
  than 2.                                                               


                                 Table II.--Gross Vehicle Weight Rating Classes                                 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Class A................................................  Not greater than 1360 kg. (3,000 lbs.).                
Class B................................................  Greater than 1360 kg. to 1814 kg. (3,001-4,000 lbs.).  
Class C................................................  Greater than 1814 kg. to 2268 kg. (4,001-5,000 lbs.).  
Class D................................................  Greater than 2268 kg. to 2722 kg. (5,001-6,000 lbs.).  
Class E................................................  Greater than 2722 kg. to 3175 kg. (6,001-7 000 lbs.).  
Class F................................................  Greater than 3175 kg. to 3629 kg. (7,001-8 000 lbs.).  
Class G................................................  Greater than 3629 kg. to 4082 kg. (8,001-9,000 lbs.).  
Class H................................................  Greater than 4082 kg. to 4536 kg (9,001-10,000 lbs.).  
Class 3................................................  Greater than 4536 kg. to 6350 kg (10 001-14,000 lbs.). 
Class 4................................................  Greater than 6350 kg. to 7257 kg. (14 001-16,000 lbs.).
Class 5................................................  Greater than 7257 kg. to 8845 kg. (16,001-19,500 lbs.).
Class 6................................................  Greater than 8845 kg. to 11793 kg.(19,501-26,000 lbs.).
Class 7................................................  Greater than 11793 kg. to 14968 kg.(26,001-33,000      
                                                          lbs.).                                                
Class 8................................................  Greater than 14968 kg. (33,001 lbs. and over ).        
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (c) The third section shall consist of one character, which 
occupies position nine (9) in the VIN. This section shall be the check 
digit whose purpose is to provide a means for verifying the accuracy of 
any VIN transcription. After all other characters in VIN have been 
determined by the manufacturer, the check digit shall be calculated by 
carrying out the mathematical computation specified in paragraphs (c) 
(1) through (4) of this section.
    (1) Assign to each number in the VIN its actual mathematical value 
and assign to each letter the value specified for it in Table III, as 
follows:

                       Table III.--Assigned Values                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
A = 1                    J = 1                    T = 3                 
B = 2                    K = 2                    U = 4                 
C = 3                    L = 3                    V = 5                 
D = 4                    M = 4                    W = 6                 
E = 5                    N = 5                    X = 7                 
F = 6                    P = 7                    Y = 8                 
G = 7                    R = 9                    Z = 9                 
H = 8                    S = 2                                          
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Multiply the assigned value for each character in the VIN by 
the position weight factor specified in Table IV, as follows:

                Table IV.--VIN Position and Weight Factor               
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                        
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1st..............................................................      8
2d...............................................................      7
3d...............................................................      6
4th..............................................................      5
5th..............................................................      4
6th..............................................................      3
7th..............................................................      2
8th..............................................................     10
9th..............................................................  (\1\)
10th.............................................................      9
11th.............................................................      8
12th.............................................................      7
13th.............................................................      6
14th.............................................................      5
15th.............................................................      4
16th.............................................................      3
17th.............................................................     2 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\(Check digit.)                                                       

    (3) Add the resulting products and divide the total by 11.
    (4) The numerical remainder is the check digit. If the remainder is 
10 the letter ``X'' shall be used to designate the check digit. The 
correct numeric remainder, zero through nine (0-9) or 

[[Page 54662]]
the letter ``X,'' shall appear in VIN position nine (9).
    (5) A sample check digit calculation is shown in Table V as 
follows:

                                                         Table V.--Calculation of a Check Digit                                                         
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIN Position.....................      1      2      3      4      5      6      7      8      9     10     11     12     13     14     15     16     17
Sample VIN.......................      1      G      4      A      H      5      9      H  .....      5      G      1      1      8      3      4      1
Assigned Value...................      1      7      4      1      8      5      9      8  .....      5      7      1      1      8      3      4      1
Weight Factor....................      8      7      6      5      4      3      2     10      0      9      8      7      6      5      4      3      2
Multiply Assigned value times                                                                                                                           
 weight factor...................      8     49     24      5     32     15     18     80      0     45     56      7      6     40     12     12      2
                                                                                                                                                        
                                             Add products: 8+49+24+5+32+15+18+80+0+45+56+7+6+40+12+12+2 = 411                                           
                                                                                                                                                        
                                                              Divide by 11: 411/11 = 37 4/11                                                            
                                                                                                                                                        
                                The remainder is 4; this is the check digit to be inserted in position nine (9) of the VIN                              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) The fourth section shall consist of eight characters, which 
occupy positions ten through seventeen (10-17) of the VIN. The last 
five (5) characters of this section shall be numeric for passenger cars 
and for multipurpose passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle 
weight rating of 4536 kg. or less, and the last four (4) characters 
shall be numeric for all other vehicles.
    (1) The first character of the fourth section shall represent the 
vehicle model year. The year shall be designated as indicated in Table 
VI as follows:

                      Table VI.--Year Codes for VIN                     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                      Year                                 Code         
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1980...........................................  A                      
1981...........................................  B                      
1982...........................................  C                      
1983...........................................  D                      
1984...........................................  E                      
1985...........................................  F                      
1986...........................................  G                      
1987...........................................  H                      
1988...........................................  J                      
1989...........................................  K                      
1990...........................................  L                      
1991...........................................  M                      
1992...........................................  N                      
1993...........................................  P                      
1994...........................................  R                      
1995...........................................  S                      
1996...........................................  T                      
1997...........................................  V                      
1998...........................................  W                      
1999...........................................  X                      
2000...........................................  Y                      
2001...........................................  1                      
2002...........................................  2                      
2003...........................................  3                      
2004...........................................  4                      
2005...........................................  5                      
2006...........................................  6                      
2007...........................................  7                      
2008...........................................  8                      
2009...........................................  9                      
2010...........................................  A                      
2011...........................................  B                      
2012...........................................  C                      
2013...........................................  D                      
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) The second character of the fourth section shall represent the 
plant of manufacture.
    (3) The third through the eighth characters of the fourth section 
shall represent the number sequentially assigned by the manufacturer in 
the production process if the manufacturer produces 500 or more 
vehicles of its type annually. If the manufacturer produces less than 
500 motor vehicles of its type annually, the third, fourth and fifth 
characters of the fourth section, combined with the three characters of 
the first section, shall uniquely identify the manufacturer, make and 
type of the motor vehicle and the sixth, seventh, and eighth characters 
of the fourth section shall represent the number sequentially assigned 
by the manufacturer in the production process.


Sec. 565.7  Reporting requirements.

    The information collection requirements contained in this part have 
been approved by the Office of Management and Budget under the 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.) and 
have been assigned OMB Control Number 2127-0510.
    (a) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has 
contracted with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) to coordinate 
the assignment of manufacturer identifiers. Manufacturer identifiers 
will be supplied by SAE at no charge. All requests for assignments of 
manufacturer identifiers should be forwarded directly to: Society of 
Automotive Engineers, 400 Commonwealth Avenue, Warrendale, Pennsylvania 
15096, Attention: WMI Coordinator. Any requests for identifiers 
submitted to NHTSA will be forwarded to SAE. Manufacturers may request 
a specific identifier or may request only assignment of an 
identifier(s). SAE will review requests for specific identifiers to 
determine that they do not conflict with an identifier already assigned 
or block of identifiers already reserved. SAE will confirm the 
assignments in writing to the requester. Once confirmed by SAE, the 
identifier need not be resubmitted to NHTSA.
    (b) Manufacturers of vehicles subject to this part shall submit, 
either directly or through an agent, the unique identifier for each 
make and type of vehicle it manufactures at least 60 days before 
affixing the first VIN using the identifier. Manufacturers whose unique 
identifier appears in the fourth section of the VIN shall also submit 
the three characters of the first section that constitutes a part of 
their identifier.
    (c) Manufacturers of vehicles subject to the requirements of this 
part shall submit to NHTSA the information necessary to decipher the 
characters contained in its VINs. Amendments to this information shall 
be submitted to the agency for VINs containing an amended coding. The 
agency will not routinely provide written approvals of these 
submissions, but will contact the manufacturer should any corrections 
to these submissions be necessary.
    (d) The information required under paragraphs (b) and (c) of this 
section shall be submitted at least 60 days prior to offering for sale 
the first vehicle identified by a VIN containing that information, or 
if information concerning vehicle characteristics sufficient to specify 
the VIN code is unavailable to the manufacturer by that date, then 
within one week after that information first becomes available. The 
information shall be addressed to: Administrator, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 
20590, Attention: VIN Coordinator.

PART 567--[AMENDED]

    4. The authority citation for part 567 would be revised to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, 30166, 32502, 
32504, 33101-33014, 

[[Page 54663]]
and 33109; delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    5. In part 567.4, paragraphs (k) introductory text and (l) would be 
revised to read as follows:


Sec. 567.4  Requirements for manufacturers of motor vehicles.

* * * * *
    (k) In the case of passenger cars admitted to the United States 
under 49 CFR part 592 to which the label required by this section has 
not been affixed by the original producer or assembler of the passenger 
car, a label meeting the requirements of this paragraph shall be 
affixed by the importer before the vehicle is imported into the United 
States, if the car is from a line listed in Appendix A of 49 CFR Part 
541. This label shall be in addition to, and not in place of, the label 
required by paragraphs (a) through (j), inclusive, of this section.
* * * * *
    (l)(1) In the case of a passenger car imported into the United 
States under 49 CFR 591.5(f) which does not have an identification 
number that complies with 49 CFR 565.4 (b), (c), and (g) at the time of 
importation, the Registered Importer shall permanently affix a label to 
the vehicle in such a manner that, unless the label is riveted, it 
cannot be removed without being destroyed or defaced. The label shall 
be in addition to the label required by paragraph (a) of this section, 
and shall be affixed to the vehicle in a location specified in 
paragraph (c) of this section.
    (2) The label shall contain the following statement, in the English 
language, lettered in block capitals and numerals not less than 4 mm 
high, with the location on the vehicle of the original manufacturer's 
identification number provided in the blank: ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER'S 
IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SUBSTITUTING FOR U.S. VIN IS LOCATED __________.

PART 571--[AMENDED]

    6. The authority citation for part 571 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


Sec. 571.115  [Removed]

    7. Section 571.115 would be removed.

    Issued on: October 17, 1995.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 95-26499 Filed 10-24-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P