Your rig’s got a birthplace—maybe a Canadian plant off the 401 or a factory halfway around the globe. That origin is locked in its VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), and car VIN country codes spill the dirt on its vehicle country of origin. It all hinges on the first digit, a global market standard since 1980. Wondering if your truck’s a Canuck build or a flood-dodged import? Here’s the deepest dive from VIN Number Check—shop-floor smarts with a Canadian edge.
Car VIN Location: Where the Story Begins
To decode your ride, find the VIN—it’s your car’s DNA stamped at birth. Check the dash near the windshield (driver’s side, peek from outside), the driver’s door jamb (sticker’s there, salt-faded or not), the engine block (etched deep, hood up), or your ownership papers (handy when a blizzard’s howling). That car’s VIN location holds the country code; the first digit’s your window to the vehicle’s country of origin.
VIN 1st Digit: The Country Marker
The VIN 1st digit—first of the WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier)—pins down where your car was built. Set by ISO 3779 since 1980, it’s a letter or number tied to a country, not provinces or states. The WMI’s three digits (e.g., “2C3” for Chrysler Canada) tag the maker, but the 1st digit sets the nation. A VIN 5 first digit? Still, USA—codes 1, 4, and 5 split their plants. Pre-1980 VINs—11 or 13 digits—skip the system; crack ‘em with a shop manual and a prayer.
Africa VIN Country Codes (A-H)
Africa’s a patchwork—South Africa’s a heavy hitter with VW and BMW, while smaller nations like Benin or Madagascar churn out rare builds you’d be lucky to spot on a Canadian lot. These car VIN country codes cover the continent’s output, from export champs to niche players:
| AA-AH | South Africa | BA-BE | Angola | BF-BK | Kenya |
| BL-BR | Tanzania | CA-CE | Benin | CF-CK | Madagascar |
| CL-CR | Tunisia | DA-DE | Egypt | DF-DK | Morocco |
| EA-EE | Ethiopia | FA-FE | Ghana |
Asia VIN Country Codes (J-R)
Asia’s a powerhouse—Japan and South Korea lead with global giants, while China’s output surges. From India’s budget rigs to Thailand’s pickup plants, these car VIN country codes flood our roads as imports, dodging our salt-crusted winters. Here’s the lineup:
| JA-JE | Japan | KA-KE | Sri Lanka | KF-KK | Israel |
| KL-KR | South Korea | LA-LE | China | LF-LK | Taiwan |
| LL-LR | Vietnam | MA-ME | India | MF-MK | Indonesia |
| ML-MR | Thailand | NA-NE | Iran | NF-NK | Pakistan |
| NL-NR | Turkey | PA-PE | Philippines | PF-PK | Singapore |
| PL-PR | Malaysia | RA-RE | UAE |
Europe VIN Country Codes (S-Z)
Europe’s a mosaic—Germany and France dish out precision, Eastern hubs like Poland and Czechia crank budget rides, and the UK brings class.
| SA-SM | United Kingdom | SN-ST | Germany | SU-SZ | Poland |
| TA-TH | Switzerland | TJ-TP | Czech Republic | TR-TV | Hungary |
| TW-T1 | Portugal | UA-UG | Serbia | UH-UM | Denmark |
| UN-UT | Ireland | UU-UZ | Romania | VA-VE | Austria |
| VF-VR | France | VS-VW | Spain | VX-V2 | Yugoslavia (old) |
| V3-V5 | Croatia | V6-V0 | Estonia | WA-W0 | West Germany (old) |
| WF-WK | Finland | WL-WR | Netherlands | WS-WW | Belgium |
| WX-W2 | Bulgaria | X3-X0 | Russia | XA-XE | Bulgaria (alt) |
| XF-XK | Greece | XL-XR | Luxembourg | XS-XW | USSR (old) |
| XX-X2 | Latvia | X7-X0 | Lithuania | YA-YE | Belgium (alt) |
| YF-YK | Finland (alt) | YL-YR | Malta | YS-YW | Sweden |
| YX-Y2 | Norway | ZA-ZR | Italy | ZS-ZW | Slovenia |
| ZX-Z2 | Slovakia | Z3-Z5 | Lithuania (alt) |
North America VIN Country Codes (1-5)
North America’s our backyard—Canada’s “2” holds pride, but the USA’s “1,” “4,” and “5” dominate our lots, with Mexico’s “3” hauling in pickups.
| 1A-10 | USA | 2A-20 | Canada | 3A-30 | Mexico |
| 4A-40 | USA | 5A-50 | USA |
Oceania VIN Country Codes (6-7)
Oceania’s lean—Australia’s “6” once roared with Holden, now it’s Toyota ghosts, while New Zealand’s “7” stays small.
| 6A-6W | Australia | 7A-7E | New Zealand |
South America VIN Country Codes (8-9)
South America’s scrappy—Brazil’s “9” leads with Fiat and VW, while Argentina’s “8” churns classics.
| 8A-8E | Argentina | 8F-8K | Chile | 8L-8R | Ecuador |
| 8X-82 | Venezuela | 9A-9E | Brazil | 9F-9K | Colombia |
| 9L-9R | Paraguay | 9S-9W | Uruguay | 9X-92 | Trinidad & Tobago |
| 93-99 | Brazil (alt) |
Why Car VIN Country Codes Matter Up Here
These codes ain’t just geekbait—they’re gold on Canadian highways. A “1” or “4” VIN flags a U.S. rig—flood cars sneak north, and rust hides under our salt scars. Canada’s “2” might skip U.S.-only recalls—check the history. Japan’s “J” uses metric bolts; Mexico’s “3” might mix imperial—saves a stripped thread. And “2” cars know our winters—U.S. builds might lack block heaters. Flood imports sting us hard—VIN Number Check spots ‘em before you tow a dud off the 97.
Canada’s “2”: Our VIN Backbone
That first digit “2” is Canadian DNA—Windsor Chryslers, Oshawa GMs, now Toyota Cambridge and Honda Alliston. But our lots brim with “1,” “4,” “5” (USA) and “J” (Japan)—imports rule the Trans-Canada. A car country code check catches border-hoppers dodging duties or hiding flood scars.
Beyond the VIN 1st Digit: The Fine Print
A VIN 5 first digit or any first code is step one. Digits 2-3 in the WMI tag the maker—”2C” is Chrysler Canada, and “1G” is GM USA. Digit 11 names the plant—Ingersoll or Ohio? Pre-1980 VINs—say, 13 digits—skip the system; decode ‘em with a shop manual and grit.
Wrap-Up: Your Car’s Global Passport
From the car VIN location to the car VIN country codes, your VIN’s a passport—every VIN’s first digit maps its birth. Whether it’s a “2” rolling off our lines or a “3” hauled up from Mexico, know the story. Next time you’re eyeing a used Tacoma or Civic, decode it—save yourself a tow on the 416.
Run your VIN through VIN Number Check—faster than a double-double pit stop.