National foreword

This British Standard is the UK implementation of ISO 3779:2009. It supersedes BS AU 175‑1b:1983 which is withdrawn.

The UK participation in its preparation was entrusted to Technical Committee AUE/15, Safety related to vehicles.

A list of organizations represented on this committee can be obtained on request to its secretary.

This publication does not purport to include all the necessary provisions of a contract. Users are responsible for its correct application.

Compliance with a British Standard cannot confer immunity from legal obligations.

This British Standard was published under the authority of the Standards Policy and Strategy Committee on 28 February 2010

Foreword

ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.

International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.

The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.

Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.

ISO 3779 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 22, Road vehicles.

This fourth edition cancels and replaces the third edition (ISO 3779:1983), which has been technically revised.

Introduction

In the course of revising this International Standard, the following significant modifications have been made with respect to the previous edition:

the separate clauses “Scope” and “Field of application” have been combined into a single Clause 1, and the subsequent clauses have been renumbered accordingly;
the definition of manufacturer (3.5) has been revised in accordance with the state of the art;
the content of 4.3 [“Vehicle descriptor section (VDS)”] has been clarified;
Table 1 (“Characters used for designating the year”) has been amended.

1 Scope

This International Standard specifies the content and structure of a vehicle identification number (VIN) in order to establish, on a world-wide basis, a uniform identification numbering system for road vehicles.

This International Standard applies to motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds as defined in ISO 3833.

2 Normative references

3 Terms and definitions

4 Requirements

4.1 Basic content of the VIN

4.2 World manufacturer identifier (WMI)

4.3 Vehicle descriptor section (VDS)

4.4 Vehicle indicator section (VIS)

4.5 Characters

4.6 Dividers

4.7 VIN display

Bibliography

BS ISO 3779:2009

Road vehicles. Vehicle identification number (VIN). Content and structure

Current, Under Review

Published:

28 Feb 2010