Ford VIN Decoder
Use our Ford VIN decoder to find any Ford vehicle’s specs, features, MSRP, options, and more. Just enter the VIN below and get instant information — it’s that simple!
What is a Ford VIN Number?
A Ford VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique code assigned to each Ford vehicle at production. It typically has 17 characters, though older classic models may have 5 to 14 digits.
The VIN provides valuable details like the car’s year, model, engine type, and assembly plant. It’s essential for tracking recalls, verifying vehicle history, ensuring accurate repairs, and confirming specifications before buying or selling a vehicle.
Ford VIN Breakdown: How to Read a Ford 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 Ford’s VIN mean. A VIN is made up of 17 characters (except in classic vehicles), and each one gives you a clue about your Ford’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 break down what each character of the Ford VIN means using a 2012 Ford F150 VIN: 1FTFX1CT9CFD06231 as an example.
| Position | Number | Position | Number |
| 1st | 1 | 10th | C |
| 2nd | F | 11th | F |
| 3rd | T | 12th | D |
| 4th | F | 13th | 0 |
| 5th | X | 14th | 6 |
| 6th | 1 | 15th | 2 |
| 7th | C | 16th | 3 |
| 8th | T | 17th | 1 |
| 9th | 9 |
1st Character (Country of Origin):
The first character(1) indicates where the Ford was manufactured. This helps identify the country of production. From the characters below, the sample VIN starting with “1” means the truck was built in the U.S.
- 1, 4, 5 = United States
- 2 = Canada
- 3 = Mexico
- J = Japan
- K = Korea
- W = Germany
- Z = Italy
2nd Character (Manufacturer):
The second character (F) in the VIN identifies the vehicle’s manufacturer. For Fords, this is typically represented by “F,” as in the sample VIN.
3rd Character (Vehicle type or Manufacturing division):
The third character(T) shows the vehicle type or the division. From the characters below, the sample VIN with “T” as the third character means we are dealing with a Ford truck:
- A = Passenger car
- B = Bus
- E = Incomplete vehicle
- F = Ford Motor Company basic (except Mustang)
- M = Mercury passenger car or SUV
- P = Ford Motor Company (Mustang)
- T = Truck
4th Character:
This represents the restraint system type and GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) class for trucks.
5th Character:
This represents the body type, e.g., sedan, coupe, SUV.
6th and 7th Characters:
These represent the series, body, style, and model. The eighth digit represents the engine type. The specific codes for the 5th, 6th and 7th characters can vary based on the model year and vehicle type. You can check the 2019 VIN guide and 2022 VIN guide of the Ford decoding charts to decipher these characters and other characters of the Ford VIN.
8th Characters:
For the sample VIN with “X1C” as the 5th, 6th, and 7th characters, respectively, the chassis type is 4 x 2, the body type is Supercab, and the vehicle type is Truck.
9th Character:
This is the check digit(9), 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 (C) indicates the model year and alternates between numbers and letters. Each letter represents a specific year; ‘C,’ from the VIN example, signifies the Ford truck is a 2012 model.
Here’s a table that can help you quickly identify any car’s model year:
| Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/Year | Code/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 (F) shows the vehicle’s assembly or manufacturing plant. For instance, the sample VIN has “F” as the 11th character, depicting the Ford truck was assembled in Dearborn: Dearborn, Michigan. Refer to the 2019 VIN guide above for other VIN codes and the plant locations.
12th to 17th Characters:
These characters (D06231) make up the unique sequential number (serial number) of the Ford. This distinguishes it uniquely from other Fords with the same model, trim, etc., manufactured in the same plant.
Where can I find My Ford’s Vehicle Identification Number?
Your Ford VIN location can be traced to the following places:
- On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield
- On the driver’s side door jamb
- On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
- For 1967 and older Ford vehicles, the VIN location varies by model and can be found in the following places:
- On the driver’s side doorjamb
- Inside the glove compartment
- On the right-hand dash panel
- The top left-hand side of the frame is between the steering gearbox and firewall.
- You can also locate the VIN in the FordPass®* App, your Ford Account, and your vehicle’s SYNC®** screen.
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 Ford VIN Number?
A Ford VIN decoder can help you access everything about a new or used Ford, including vehicle specifications, features, build sheets, and past history records.
Here are some Ford specifications you can access when you use a Ford 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 Ford? Look Beyond a Ford VIN Decoder
While the VIN number is crucial in verifying a vehicle’s specifications and origin, it doesn’t end there. When buying a used Ford car or truck, you can subject the VIN to our reliable Ford VIN decoder to uncover the past records and history of the car.
By conducting a Ford 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 Ford VIN Number For Detailed Vehicle Information
When searching for vehicle info, using a free VIN decoder is a good start but the information provided is usually limited. To have a complete overview of a vehicle specs, features, options, MSRP, fuel economy, safety ratings, warranty, paint color and more, we recommend you get the Ford window sticker lookup by VIN. You can also search using the US license plate or the year, make and mode of the car.
If you’re buying a used Ford and want to check its history and condition, use our Honda 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 Ford vehicle history reports within seconds.
- In the form above, enter the Ford VIN, your email, and phone (optional). Our tool can decode standard VINs (17 characters) and classic VINs (5 – 14 characters).
- Click on ‘Search’ to preview the vehicle specs and some records.
- Complete the payment process to generate and view your Ford 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 Ford window sticker lookup page. Follow the instructions that follow.
Using our GM VIN decoder, you can also break down all the characters of a VIN to access the specifications and build data, whether for classic or modern vehicles.
Common Uses of the Ford VIN Number
The VIN can serve different purposes depending on what you’re searching for – basic specs, detailed specs, features, or the vehicle history. Some of the common uses of the Ford VIN are:
Vehicle Verification
The VIN can be decoded to reveal the vehicle profile like year, make, model, engine etc. This help ensures the vehicle matches its factory description and is as advertised by the seller.
Vehicle Registration
A vehicle registration is only possible by providing a 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 Ford VIN to reveal any used Ford 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 Ford Models to Explore with our Ford VIN Decoder
You can easily decode any Ford VIN format – standard 17-digit or classic car VINs ( 5- 14 digits long) using our Ford VIN number decoder. Here are some Ford models you may be interested in:
| F-150 | Ranger | GT |
| Mustang | Edge | Taurus |
| Explorer | Super Duty | Flex |
| Bronco | Fusion | Fiesta |
| Maverick | Focus | Lightning |
| Expedition | EcoSport | C-Max |
| Escape | Transit |
Other Available Ford VIN Tools
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I get when I lookup Ford VIN number?
Yes, you can look up any Ford VIN using our Ford VIN decoder. The following information can be retrieved based on different VIN tools like:
- Free VIN decoder: Basic information like the year, make, model, engine, transmission and more
- Window Sticker Lookup Tool: Basic information plus detailed features, fuel economy, colors, MSRP, factory installed options and packages, warranty info etc
- VIN Check Tool: Basic information plus vehicle history and condition – verify ownership, mileage, theft records, lien and loan, recall information, service and maintenance history and more
Where can I find the VIN on a Ford?
You can find the VIN on any Ford by checking the following locations:
- On the dashboard of the vehicle, near the windshield
- On the driver’s side door jamb
- On the car’s title, registration, maintenance book, or the auto insurance policy
How do I get a Ford VIN number build sheet?
You can easily find out any Ford build sheet by VIN with our instant VIN decoder. View vehicle details within seconds. Simply fill out the form above to access your Ford build sheet or window sticker. You can also use the license plate number or year, make and model if the VIN is unavailable.
How do you read a Ford VIN number?
A Ford VIN is a 17-character code that identifies your vehicle. Here’s how to read the VIN number: 1st character is the country, 2nd is the manufacturer, 3rd is the vehicle type, 4th-8th are vehicle features, 9th is the security code, 10th is the model year, 11th is the assembly plant, and 12th-17th are the serial number.