The 17-Character VIN is the One Document You Must Verify
Every single VIN mismatch dispute we have seen in ten years of Chinese used-car export came from a buyer who did not physically verify the chassis plate VIN against the quoted invoice before paying deposit. This guide explains how to read a Chinese VIN, what to check, and how to spot VIN alteration.
Structure of a Chinese VIN
Every VIN is 17 characters: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI, positions 1-3), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS, positions 4-9), and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS, positions 10-17).
- Position 1-3 (WMI): Manufacturer and country. Chinese VINs typically start with L. Example: LGX = BYD passenger vehicles.
- Position 4-8 (VDS): Model, body type, engine, restraint system.
- Position 9: Check digit — calculated from other positions.
- Position 10: Model year. Chinese domestic follows global convention (A=2010, B=2011... M=2021, N=2022, P=2023, R=2024, S=2025, T=2026).
- Position 11: Plant / assembly location.
- Position 12-17: Sequential production serial.
Common Chinese Manufacturer WMI Codes
- LGX / LGH — BYD.
- LSV / LSJ — Volkswagen China (SAIC-VW, FAW-VW joint venture).
- LFV — FAW.
- LNB — Chery.
- LFM — Great Wall / Haval / Wey / Tank.
- LGW — Geely.
- LDC — Dongfeng.
- LSU / LVS — SAIC (MG, Maxus).
- LZW — Wuling.
How to Verify VIN Before Paying Deposit
- Chassis plate photograph — high resolution, full VIN visible in a single continuous frame. This is the primary document.
- Engine bay VIN stamp — secondary location, typically on firewall or strut tower. This must match the chassis plate.
- Ownership certificate (机动车登记证书) — the paper title. VIN on this must match plate.
- Vehicle Registration Certificate (行驶证) — daily-use registration document, VIN must match.
- Walk-around video — 30 seconds continuous take, VIN plate visible in single sweep. This defeats digital alteration.
Signs of VIN Alteration to Watch
- Chassis plate with rivets that look repainted or non-original.
- VIN characters with slightly different spacing or depth from adjacent characters.
- Different fonts between chassis plate and engine bay stamp.
- Check-digit mismatch (position 9) — a legitimate VIN passes the ISO check-digit formula.
- Model year character (position 10) inconsistent with production date on ownership certificate.
Documentation We Provide With Every VIN
- Full VIN photograph (chassis plate).
- Engine-bay VIN stamp photograph.
- Ownership certificate scan (机动车登记证书).
- Vehicle Registration Certificate scan (行驶证).
- Continuous walk-around video showing plate.
- Vehicle Export Certificate matching VIN.
When to Walk Away
If a seller cannot provide the four VIN documents plus the walk-around video within 24 hours of request, that alone is enough reason to walk away regardless of price. It takes an honest exporter under one business day.
Talk to Us
We ship every vehicle with the full VIN documentation package described above, standard, not on request.