title: VIN Vehicle Identification Number, how to figure out the WMI part?
body: <p>I am trying to figure out how to breakdown a vehicle vin number.<br>
  There is an explanation of how a VIN is build (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Number#Components_of_the_VIN" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_Identification_Number#Components_of_the_VIN</a>) but it fails to explain what to do with manufacturers that only have 2 digits assigned instead of 3 digits.  </p>
  
  <p>If I understand correct what is written there then every VIN number must be 17 characters long, and the first 3 characters are the WMI (World Manufaturer Identification).  </p>
  
  <p>Then there is a list of WMI on the same page, but some manufacturers only have 2 characters in that list, not 3.<br>
  How to read such a VIN number ? Will it be only 16 characters long or how do I regognize that a WMI is 2 or 3 characters ?</p>
  
  <p>for example nissan has WMI = JN which is only 2 characters.
  2 VIN numbers for Nissan that I know that are valid are :<br>
  JN1UC4E26F9001391 and JNKCP0106TT541680
  How can I know that for these 2 VIn numbers only the first 2 digits are to be read and used for the WMI ?</p>