Vehicle Identification Number Decoding Chart
Knowing how to decode the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a Peterbilt can be important to those in the market for purchasing a used truck. The unique, 17-character alpha-numeric VIN number offers a considerable amount of information about the vehicle, like manufacturer, model year, engine type, assembly location and country of origin. That information can be used to confirm the accuracy of important details claimed by a seller.
Since 1981, all road vehicles manufactured, as noted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, have been required by The National Highway Safety Administration to have an assigned VIN. Compare the actual VIN recorded from the vehicle with the decoding information. Each of the 17 positions contains specific information. The first position records country of origin. The numeral '1,' for example, indicates that a vehicle was manufactured in the United States. The first three positions together identify the vehicle manufacturer.
The identifier for Peterbilt, a U.S. Manufacturer, is 1XP. Positions 5 through 8 identify characteristics like body style and engine type. This information can be double-checked in the vehicle owner's manual.
1979 Vehicle Identification Number
Vehicle Identification Number Decoding Charts
Position 9 is known as a 'check digit' used to determine if a VIN is valid to prevent VIN fraud. The tenth position indicates model year and may be a number or letter; for example, the letter 'A' in position 10 indicates model year 2010. The 11th character contains the code for actual assembly location.