Decoding a HIN
A typical hull identification number consists of 12 letters and numbers, as in ABC12345D404.
Here's what the letters and numbers mean:
- ABC: This is the Coast Guard-assigned manufacturer identification code (MIC). Go to the U.S. Coast Guard Manufacturers Identification page online to access the MIC database.
- 12345: This is the serial number assigned to the hull by the manufacturer and may be a combination of letters and numbers. The letters "I," "O," and "Q" are excluded because they could be mistaken for numbers.
- D: This is the month of certification, indicating the month in which construction began. "A" represents January, and "L" represents December. In our example, "D" means April.
- 4: This is the year of certification. The number is the last digit of the year in which the boat was built. "4" would designate 2004 for example.
- 04: This indicates the boat's model year.