Dodge VIN Number Decoder

Forget the frustration of decoding a Dodge VIN with unreliable tools. Whether it’s a modern 17-digit VIN or a classic 5–14 digit one, our top-tier Dodge VIN lookup makes it easy. Instantly access factory features, history, and more—just enter your VIN and get the details right away!


What is a Dodge VIN Number?

Every Dodge has a unique VIN that tells its story. Modern models have 17-character VINs, while classic Dodges can have anywhere from 5 to 14 digits. This code holds key details—like make, model, engine type, and production year—making it essential for checking history, verifying authenticity, ordering parts, or tracking recalls. Whether you’re buying a used Dodge or restoring a classic, decoding the VIN helps you get the full picture.

Dodge VIN Number Breakdown: How to Read a Dodge VIN Number

Dodge VIN Number Breakdown_ How to Read a Dodge VIN Number

Note that the letters I, O, and Q are not included in a VIN to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 (One), 0 (Zero) and 9 (Nine)

Now, let’s break down what all those characters in a Dodge’s VIN mean. A VIN is made up of 17 characters (except in classic vehicles), and each one gives you a clue about your Dodge’s specific details. These characters are also grouped into three sections to make decoding easier, they are:

  • World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): This includes the first three characters (characters 1 – 3) and signifies the vehicle’s country of origin and manufacturer.
  • Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): This section includes the 4th to 8th characters (characters 4 – 8) and contains information about the vehicle’s make, engine specs, model, and more.
  • Vehicle Identifier Section: Here, you will find the 9th to 17th characters (characters 9 – 17), which encode details like the model year, manufacturing plant code, and a serial number unique to each vehicle. 

What Does Each Character of the VIN Mean?

In this section, we will explain what each character of the Dodge VIN number means. The structure for the 17-digit VIN has been the same since the 1980s.

1st Character (Country of Origin):

The first character indicates the Dodge country of origin – where it was manufactured. This helps identify the country of production. Vehicles built in the US have the first character represented by 1 and 4, while the ones manufactured in Canada will have 2.

2nd Character:

They represent the vehicle brand. For example, “B” represents Dodge.

3rd Character:

They represent the vehicle type or division. It’s represented by “4” for passenger cars and “D” for Dodge trucks.

4th Character:

This provides information about the body type or engine type.

5th Character:

This represents the model of the vehicle. While “L” represents Charger, “R” represents Ram.

6th Character:

This represents the vehicle’s restraint or security features. This may include “1” for manual belts and “A” for airbags.

7th Character:

This represents the specific body type. Sedan and SUV are represented by “4” and “5” respectively.

8th character:

This provides details about the engine. “H” indicates a 5.7L Hemi V8 and “K” represents a 3.6L V6 engine.

9th Character:

This is the check digit which verifies that the VIN is authentic and not a fake string of random characters. It is calculated using a specific algorithm developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

10th Character:

The tenth character indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters.

Here’s a table that can help you quickly identify any car’s model year:

Code/YearCode/YearCode/YearCode/YearCode/Year
A 1980
B 1981
C 1982
D 1983
E 1984
F 1985
G 1986
H 1987
J 1988
K  1989
L 1990
M 1991
N 1992
P 1993
R 1994
S 1995
T 1996
V 1997
W 1998
X 1999
Y 2000
1 2001
2 2002
3 2003
4 2004
5 2005
6 2006
7 2007
8 2008
9 2009
A 2010
B 2011
C 2012
D 2013
E 2014
F 2015
G 2016
H 2017
J 2018
K 2019
L 2020
M 2021
N 2022
P 2023
R 2024
S 2025
T 2026
V 2027
W 2028
X 2029

11th Character:

The eleventh character shows the manufacturing plant. For instance, “D” indicates Detroit, MI, while “J” indicates Jefferson, MI.

12th to 17th Characters:

These characters make up the unique sequential number (serial number) of the Dodge.

You can spend the whole time trying to decode a VIN manually, and this is usually prone to errors. To get accurate information as quickly as possible, we recommend you use a reliable VIN decoder.

Dodge VIN Number Location

So, where is the VIN on Dodge cars? The various Dodge VIN locations include the following:

  • On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield.
  • On the driver’s side door jamb.
  • On the engine block, check under the hood.
  • Stamped to the front fender and bumper
  • Affixed to the rear quarter panels, the trunk, or the rear bumper.
  • On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
DODGE VIN LOCATION

Now that you’ve found the VIN, it’s time to retrieve all the information available from the VIN.

What Information Can I Get from Decoding a Dodge VIN Number?

A Dodge VIN number lookup tool can help you access everything about a new or used Dodge, including vehicle specifications, features, build sheets, and past history records.

Here are some Dodge specifications you can access when you use a Dodge VIN decoder:

  • Year
  • Make
  • Exterior dimensions
  • Number of doors
  • Ground clearance
  • Standard seating
  • Transmission style
  • Fuel type
  • Braking
  • Range extender
  • Engine Description
  • Front airbag information
  • Emissions
  • Cargo dimensions
  • Model
  • Valve train design
  • Interior dimensions
  • Suspension
  • Traction battery
  • Engine Size and specs
  • Drive Type
  • Tank capacity
  • Trailering
  • Displacement
  • Mileage
  • Tire pressure and size
  • Wheels
  • Electrical powertrain
  • Trim
  • Country
  • Delivery charges
  • Steering
  • Weight
  • MSRP
  • Body type
  • Seating
  • EPA Class
  • Engine model
  • Engine configuration
  • Seat belt type
  • Off-road attributes
  • Electrical specifications
  • Year
  • Make
  • Exterior dimensions
  • Number of doors
  • Ground clearance
  • Standard seating
  • Transmission style
  • Fuel type
  • Braking
  • Range extender
  • Engine Description
  • Front airbag information
  • Emissions
  • Cargo dimensions
  • Model
  • Valve train design
  • Interior dimensions
  • Suspension
  • Traction battery
  • Engine Size and specs
  • Drive Type
  • Tank capacity
  • Trailering
  • Displacement
  • Mileage
  • Tire pressure and size
  • Wheels
  • Electrical powertrain
  • Trim
  • Country
  • Delivery charges
  • Steering
  • Weight
  • MSRP
  • Body type
  • Seating
  • EPA Class
  • Engine model
  • Engine configuration
  • Seat belt type
  • Off-road attributes
  • Electrical specifications

Buying a Used Dodge? Look Beyond a VIN Decoder or  a Window Sticker Lookup Tool

The VIN number is like your car’s personal ID—it’s key to verifying important details like where the vehicle was made and its specific features. But there’s more to it than just that. When you’re thinking about buying a used Dodge, whether it’s a car or a truck, you should dig deeper. By using our reliable Dodge VIN lookup tool, you can uncover important past records, such as accident reports, previous ownership, and maintenance history. This helps you make a smart and confident buying decision.

By conducting a Dodge VIN number lookup, you can track the vehicle history records from when the vehicle first left the factory. Below are the records you can uncover:

  • Mileage
  • Odometer Readings
  • Sales History
  • Auction History
  • Accident History
  • Title Brand
  • Salvage Title
  • Hail Damage
  • Flood Damage
  • Structural Damage
  • Ownership History
  • Usage History
  • Ownership Duration
  • Lien & Loans
  • Maintenance Schedule
  • Warranty Status
  • Repair Cost
  • Recalls History
  • Mileage
  • Odometer Readings
  • Sales History
  • Auction History
  • Accident History
  • Title Brand
  • Salvage Title
  • Hail Damage
  • Flood Damage
  • Structural Damage
  • Ownership History
  • Usage History
  • Ownership Duration
  • Lien & Loans
  • Maintenance Schedule
  • Warranty Status
  • Repair Cost
  • Recalls History

How to Decode a Dodge VIN Number For Detailed Vehicle Information

While a free VIN decoder can give you some basic details, it often doesn’t tell the whole story. To get a complete picture of a Dodge, including specs, features, options, MSRP, fuel economy, safety ratings, warranty, color, and more, we recommend using our Dodge window sticker lookup by VIN. You can also search using the car’s US license plate or by entering its year, make, and model.

If you’re buying a used Dodge for sale and want to check its history and condition, use our Dodge VIN number check tool to uncover any hidden records and get a clearer picture before making a decision.

Follow these simple steps to get your Dodge vehicle history reports within seconds:

  • In the form above, enter the Dodge VIN, email, and phone (optional) in the above form. Our tool can decode standard VINs (17 characters) and classic VINs (5 – 14 characters).
  • Click on ‘Search VIN’ to preview the vehicle specs and some records.
  • Complete the payment process to generate and view your vehicle history report. You can download or print the report as a PDF for future reference.
  • To get the window sticker, click “Get window sticker” in the form above to get redirected to the Dodge window sticker lookup page. Follow the instructions that follow.

Common Uses of the Dodge VIN Number

The VIN can serve different purposes depending on what you’re searching for – basic specs, detailed specs, and features, or the vehicle history. Some of the common uses of the Dodge VIN are:

Vehicle Verification

The VIN can be decoded to reveal the vehicle profile like a year, make, model, engine etc. This help ensure the vehicle matches its factory description and is as advertised by the seller.

Vehicle Registration

A vehicle registration is only possible by providing the unique VIN. This is mandatory before you can legally drive the vehicle on the road. Documents like ownership papers, bills of sale, and titles usually have the VIN for proper identification.

Insurance Purposes

The VIN helps insurance firms to obtain accurate vehicle information for insurance and registration purposes.

Vehicle History Checks

This is one of the main reasons why the VIN is important. A VIN check tool can decode the Dodge VIN to reveal any used Dodge history and condition. You can uncover records, including ownership history, theft, sales records, lien accidents, salvage brands, rebuilt titles, warranty coverage, and more. This helps you avoid car scams like buying a stolen car or detecting a car with an odometer rollback. The rule of thumb is never to purchase a used car without checking its history.

Safety Recalls

Since manufacturers have VINs in their database, they can easily identify specific vehicle models that get recalled and notify the owners to get them fixed as soon as possible. Before purchasing, car buyers can also run a recall check by VIN for pending recalls on any used car.

Police Checks

If a vehicle is reported stolen, the police can track it using its VIN. They can even place police markers on those VINs and receive alerts at checkpoints.

Popular Dodge Models to Explore with our Dodge VIN Decoder

You can easily decode any Dodge VIN format – standard 17-digit or classic car VINs ( 5- 14 digits long) using our Dodge VIN number decoder. Here are some Dodge models you may be interested in:

ChargerPolara DiplomatNeon
ChallengerLancerIntrepid
DartRamStratus
CoronetDurangoAvenger
Super BeeViperJourney
DaytonaMagnum
MonacoStealth

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you read a Dodge VIN number?

To read a Dodge VIN number:

  • Find the 17-digit characters on the car or document..
  • Positions 1-3: Manufacturer info.
  • Positions 4-8: Vehicle details (engine, body).
  • Position 9: Check digit.
  • Position 10: Model year.
  • Position 11: Assembly plant.
  • Positions 12-17: Unique serial number.

How to get a Dodge window sticker from VIN number?

Simply use our Dodge window sticker lookup tool to assess Basic information including detailed features, fuel economy, colors, MSRP, factory installed options and packages, warranty info, and more.

What does a Dodge VIN check provide?

By conducting a Dodge VIN number check, you can uncover hidden truth about the history of any used Dodge. These include the ownership history, mileage history, lien, recall information, maintenance history, theft records and more. With this revelation, you can easily make an informed decision and buy with confidence.

Where is the VIN number on a Dodge charger?

Check from outside the car by looking at the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side or on the driver-side doorframe label. The VIN can also be found on the vehicle registration, title, and insurance card.