<Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards . The specific problem is: Do we need examples of a checksum validator in four different languages? Please help improve this article if you can . (August 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) </Td> </Tr> <P> A vehicle identification number (VIN), also called a chassis number, is a unique code, including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, as defined in ISO 3833 . </P> <P> VINs were first used in 1954 . From 1954 to 1981, there was no accepted standard for these numbers, so different manufacturers used different formats . </P> <P> In 1981, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States standardized the format . It required all on - road vehicles sold to contain a 17 - character VIN, which does not include the letters I (i), O (o), and Q (q) (to avoid confusion with numerals 1 and 0). </P>

When did they start putting vin numbers on cars