International VIN Decoder

Decode any International VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your truck into the decoder above and get the model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and recall status instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.

This page is the International VIN hub: WMI codes, a position-by-position guide to reading the VIN, where to find it on the truck itself, and how to check recalls for the LT, RH, MV, and CV Series.

About International

International is the truck brand built today by International Motors, LLC, the manufacturer formerly known as Navistar. The brand traces back to International Harvester Company, formed in 1902 from a merger of McCormick Harvester, Deering Harvester, and several smaller farm-equipment makers. International Harvester entered truck production in 1907 with the Auto Wagon, built for farm use, and trucks grew alongside its tractor and combine business for most of the 20th century. The company exited farm equipment in 1985 (that side became Case IH) and renamed itself Navistar International Corporation in 1986, keeping “International” as the truck brand name. Germany’s Traton Group, the truck holding company controlled by Volkswagen and also the parent of Scania and MAN, acquired Navistar in a deal that closed July 1, 2021. Navistar Inc. dropped the Navistar name in October 2024, rebranding as International Motors, LLC, so the corporate name matches the brand on the hood.

International’s current lineup centers on the LT Series (Class 8 long-haul tractor, introduced for model year 2017 as the ProStar’s replacement) and the RH Series (Class 8 regional-haul tractor, introduced alongside the LT as the Transtar’s replacement). Medium-duty work is covered by the MV Series (Class 6/7 vocational, built since 2018) and the CV Series (Class 4/5, a joint program with GM sharing architecture with the medium-duty Chevrolet Silverado). International also builds the HV and HX severe-duty lines for construction, refuse, and fire-apparatus chassis. Final assembly for International’s Class 8 trucks runs through San Antonio, Texas (opened 2022) and Escobedo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico (building trucks for the North American market since 1998).

International WMI codes (positions 1-3)

The first three characters of your VIN, the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), identify the manufacturer, country, and vehicle type. Here are the WMIs currently assigned to International Motors, LLC, per NHTSA’s vPIC database:

If your VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine International. An “incomplete vehicle” WMI (1HT or 3HT) means the truck left the factory as a cab and chassis, finished later by a second-stage manufacturer, common for vocational bodies like dump beds, refuse packers, and fire apparatus. Older International trucks may decode to the legacy Navistar name in some databases even though the WMI itself hasn’t changed.

How to read an International VIN: position by position

Every International VIN built since the early 1980s follows the ISO 3779 17-character standard. The 17 characters split into three blocks:

Here is what each position means specifically on an International.

Positions 4-8: Chassis, model series, engine, and brakes

As with any heavy-truck VIN, International dedicates most of the VDS block to how the chassis is configured rather than to body style, since axle count, GVWR class, cab type, and engine are what a fleet buyer specs. This is where the LT, RH, MV, CV, HV, and HX lines are distinguished from one another, along with GVWR class (Class 4 through Class 8), cab configuration (day cab or sleeper on the LT and RH), and axle arrangement. International has paired its trucks with its own A26 engine, Cummins (the X15 and L9 are common on the RH and MV lines), and, on the discontinued CV Series, GM-sourced Duramax diesel and gasoline options. Brake system (air or hydraulic) is also encoded here.

Position 9: Check digit

The check digit is the most important single character in any VIN, calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. If even one character is mistyped, the check digit won’t match, and any compliant decoder or fleet-management system will flag it as invalid.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to a model year on a repeating cycle used across the North American VIN standard, including International. Skim the chart below to translate yours:

The letters I, O, and Q are never used in any VIN, including International, because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.

Position 11: Assembly plant

The single character at position 11 identifies the specific factory. International’s current Class 8 output runs primarily through San Antonio, Texas (opened 2022) and Escobedo, Mexico (since 1998), with medium-duty models historically built at Springfield, Ohio, before its 2025 sale. The letter-to-plant mapping isn’t published in a source we can independently verify, so decode the VIN with the tool above to get the confirmed plant of origin for your specific truck.

Positions 12-17: Serial number

The final six characters are the production sequence number assigned to your truck as it rolled off the line, making every International VIN globally unique.

Where to find the VIN on an International

International builds heavy and medium commercial trucks, and federal VIN-placement rules treat them differently from cars. Under 49 CFR 565.15, the windshield-visibility requirement applies only to vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less. Every International LT, RH, MV, HV, and HX model is built above that threshold, so there’s no windshield VIN plate to look for. Instead, look here:

• The certification/compliance label on the driver’s side door frame or hinge pillar, visible when the door is open. It lists the VIN, GVWR, GAWR, and date of manufacture
• The VIN stamped into the top flange of the left frame rail, typically over or near the front axle
• The vehicle’s title, registration, and dealer service records

If your International truck predates the 17-character standard, use our classic car VIN decoder guide for pre-1981 chassis-number formats; International Harvester built trucks under shorter serial-number schemes going back to 1907.

Check International recalls and safety information

International recalls, like all US motor vehicle recalls, are tracked by NHTSA. Fleet owners should also know FMCSA’s separate role in roadside inspection and maintenance compliance. The fastest way to check a specific International:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model, model year, and GVWR class
2. Look it up at International’s official recall lookup page or NHTSA’s recall database; NHTSA holds recall authority, while FMCSA governs how carriers maintain and inspect vehicles in service
3. Contact your nearest International Motors-authorized dealer for the free recall repair, or call International’s Recalls & Campaigns line at 1-800-448-7825

Recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of vehicle age, mileage, or ownership history.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my International VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your International’s door-frame certification label, frame rail stamp, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include model series, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and open recalls. No registration is required.

Where is the VIN on my International truck?

Unlike a car, an International’s VIN isn’t required to be visible through the windshield; that rule only applies under 10,000 lbs GVWR. Check the certification label on the driver’s door frame or hinge pillar, and the VIN stamped into the left frame rail near the front axle.

Is the International VIN decoder free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every International VIN free, with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports, including title records, accident history, and odometer history, are available as an optional paid upgrade.

What does the VIN tell me about my International?

A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration: model series (LT, RH, MV, CV, HV, HX), GVWR class, engine and brake type, model year, assembly plant, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain. For those, you need a paid vehicle history report.

Is International the same company as Navistar?

They’re connected but not identical. Navistar International Corporation was the parent company name from 1986 until it rebranded as International Motors, LLC in October 2024, after Traton Group’s 2021 acquisition of the business. “International” has been the truck brand name the whole time. For the corporate ownership history, see our separate Navistar page.

Can an International VIN be faked?

The 17 characters can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible: one changed character breaks the math. The VIN is also independently stamped into the frame rail, so a cloned door label won’t match the frame. If you suspect a cloned VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.

Decode any International VIN free

Type your 17-character International VIN into the decoder at the top of this page and get a full breakdown instantly. To learn more about VIN structure in general, see our guides:

• How to read a VIN number
• What every character in a VIN means
• Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981)
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report