Lincoln VIN decoder for USA

Free Lincoln VIN Decoder to check car history and specifications for Lincoln USA

What is a Lincoln VIN?

VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character combination that makes every vehicle unique. It’s necessary to register a vehicle, pass an MOT, or check its history.

Like many other car makers, Lincoln has used different serial or chassis numbers to identify vehicles. However, the NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) standardized the current VIN format in 1981, forcing most car manufacturers to implement it and make vehicle identification easier.

The Lincoln Motor Company, founded in 1917 by Henry M. Leland and his son Wilfred, has a rich history as an American luxury vehicle manufacturer. Initially, Lincoln aimed to build Liberty aircraft engines during World War I, but they transitioned to producing luxury automobiles after the war.

Their first car, the Lincoln Model L, was introduced in 1920, but Ford Motor Company acquired the Lincoln Motor Company in 1922. Since then, Lincoln started introducing such iconic models as the Zephyr in 1936 and the Continental in 1939. Throughout the 20th and into the 21st century, Lincoln has remained a symbol of American luxury, known for its sophisticated and elegant designs.

Where to search for the VIN on your Lincoln?

A vehicle’s VIN number is located in multiple areas and can depend on the brand. However, there are specific common places where the VIN is usually found in most vehicles.

Where to find VIN - location Lincoln USA

Here’s where you can find it in Lincoln cars:

  • On the dashboard near the windshield
  • Driver’s side door jamb
  • Inside the glove box
  • In the engine bay, on the firewall

Remember that a VIN plays an important role in a car’s ownership. A VIN should be printed on a sticker or stamped into metal. Make sure the numbers in each location match, and there are no signs of tampering.

What is Lincoln VIN decoder?

One of the most important things about VIN numbers is that they can provide essential information about the car’s past. Once you have the VIN number of your vehicle or a car you want to buy, you can use a VIN decoder to perform a VIN lookup and find out more about its historical facts, including mileage rollbacks, damage records, and changes of ownership.

Our Lincoln VIN decoder is very easy to use – just enter a car’s VIN, and you’ll find specifications, historical facts, and other information about the car.

How accurate is the information provided by the Lincoln VIN decoder?

carVertical’s Lincoln VIN decoder USA collects information from various reliable sources, such as governmental registries, vehicle inspection centers, law enforcement databases, dealerships, and insurance companies. Information provided in vehicle history reports is always up-to-date and legitimate, therefore, it’s a great way to evaluate a car when buying it or provide more information when selling.

When there’s no data in our partners’ databases, vehicle history reports may appear a bit scarce. In such cases, you’ll get your spent credits back automatically.

How to decode a VIN number - Lincoln VIN breakdown

VIN numbers are divided into four main sections: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), Security Check Digit, and Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS).

While the Check Digit section consists of a single number and is used for security reasons, characters in other sections hold particular vehicle-related information, such as model, body style, year of manufacture, etc. Different car makers typically choose different meanings for each letter and number.

VIN breakdown (Lincoln USA)

In theory, you can decode an entire VIN manually if you know what each character means, but it’s very inconvenient compared to the Lincoln VIN decoder. However, knowing what a few characters mean can help you reveal essential information about the car at a glance.

World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

The first 3 characters of a VIN create a WMI section. While you can find out the meaning of each individual character, in the case of a Lincoln, it’s much easier to identify the car’s country of origin by checking the first 3 characters together.

Here are a few common Lincoln WMIs:

Characters 1, 2, and 3Country of manufacture
1L1, 1LJ, 1LN, 5L1, 5LM, 5LTUnited States
2L1, 2LJ, 2LN, 2LMCanada
3LNMexico

Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)

The second section (VDS) consists of 5 characters and provides information about the car’s model, engine, body style, and safety features. For instance, each engine has its own representing character in a VIN number, helping you understand if the engine was replaced at some point.

Security Check Digit

The 9th character in a VIN is a Security Check Digit, which helps verify that the VIN is valid. This digit varies in different VINs because it’s a result of the special U.S. Department of Transportation formula that uses all of the remaining VIN characters.

The Check Digit won’t be the same if one or more characters of the VIN are changed.

Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)

The last section has 8 characters, but only 2 of them can be useful when decoding VIN manually.

The 10th character of VIN always reveals the model year:

CodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYearCodeYear
A1980L1990Y2000A2010L2020Y2030
B1981M199112001B2011M202112031
C1982N199222002C2012N202222032
D1983P199332003D2013P202332033
E1984R199442004E2014R202442034
F1985S199552005F2015S202552035
G1986T199662006G2016T202662036
H1987V199772007H2017V202772037
J1988W199882008J2018W202882038
K1989X199992009K2019X202992039

You can also check where the Lincoln was manufactured as the 11th character reveals the assembly plant:

11th characterAssembly plant
0Detroit, Michigan, USA
5Flat Rock, Michigan, USA
AHapeville, Georgia, United States
B, COakville, Ontario, Canada
ELouisville, Kentucky, USA
FDearborn, Michigan, USA
GChicago, Illinois, USA
HLorain, Ohio, USA
JMonterrey, Mexico
KKansas, Missouri, United States
LWayne, Michigan, United States
MCuautitlán, Mexico
NNorfolk, Virginia, US
PSt. Paul, Minnesota, USA
RHermosa, Mexico
TEdison, New Jersey, USA
ULouisville, Kentucky, USA
VEscobedo, Mexico
WWayne, Michigan, USA
XSaint Thomas, Ontario, Canada
ZHazelwoodd, Missouri, USA

The last 6 characters in a VIN are always digits that form a sequential production number.

Is a Lincoln VIN decoder available for a free VIN check in the USA?

Lincoln VIN decoder is free if you want to reveal a car’s model, specs, and other basic information. However, if you want to learn about a car’s history, you’ll have to buy a full history report.

They aren’t free because raw data is taken from various sources, processed, and provided in a simple and easy-to-understand way.

List of Lincoln models in the USA

Current Lincoln models include:

  • Lincoln Navigator
  • Lincoln Aviator
  • Lincoln Nautilus
  • Lincoln Corsair
  • Lincoln Z

Some of the most popular discontinued models include:

  • Lincoln Continental
  • Lincoln LS
  • Lincoln Mark LT
  • Lincoln MKC
  • Lincoln MKS
  • Lincoln MKT
  • Lincoln MKX
  • Lincoln MKZ
  • Lincoln Town Car
  • Lincoln Zephyr

FAQ

Can the VIN decoder tell me about the car's previous accidents or damage history?

While the Lincoln VIN decoder can only provide a brief check, you can buy a full history report, which reveals data about previous damage, mileage, ownership changes, and legal status.

How does the Lincoln VIN decoder provide information about recalls or service bulletins on the vehicle?

Once you enter a car’s VIN number into our VIN decoder, our system gathers information from various relevant sources.

Can I use the VIN decoder to determine the model, engine type, and other specification details of the Lincoln vehicle?

Yes, you can put a Lincoln’s VIN into our VIN decoder and reveal its model, engine type, country of manufacture, and other details.

Can a VIN decoder tell me if the Lincoln vehicle has ever been stolen or salvaged?

Yes, the Lincoln VIN decoder can tell you if the car has ever been stolen or salvaged.