How to get VINs for the trailers you build in Canada

If you build trailers in Canada and sell them for road use, every trailer needs a 17-character VIN, a compliance label and an NVIS for its first registration. You issue the VINs yourself. Here’s what to have in place before the first one, in the order most builders do it.

1. Get your world manufacturer identifier (WMI) from Transport Canada

The first three characters of every VIN you issue are your WMI. Transport Canada issues it, along with your National Safety Mark authorization; Canadian manufacturers’ WMIs start with 2.

• If you build fewer than 1,000 vehicles a year, you’ll get a WMI whose third character is 9, plus a three-character manufacturer identifier that goes in positions 12–14 of every VIN. Your serial numbers then use positions 15–17 (up to 999 per model year).
• Larger manufacturers get a WMI of their own and use positions 12–17 for the serial number.

2. Apply for National Safety Mark authorization

The National Safety Mark (NSM) on your compliance label says the trailer meets the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standards that apply to it. Transport Canada issues the authorization after reviewing your company and how you’ll make sure each trailer complies. Once approved, you get an authorization number that’s printed with the NSM on every label.

Keep your compliance records from day one: what each model is rated for and why, and the VIN, date built and buyer of every trailer. Transport Canada can ask for them, and you’ll need them if there’s ever a recall.

3. Design your VIN chart

Positions 4–8 of the VIN are yours to define. For trailers they normally describe the trailer’s type, body, length and axle setup. Write the chart down: each position, the codes you use and what each means. That chart is how anyone can decode one of your VINs later. See the trailer VIN format, position by position.

• Never use the letters I, O or Q anywhere in a VIN.
• Pick a plant code for position 11 (often 1 for your first plant).
• Decide each model’s ratings (GVWR, GAWR per axle, tires and rims) before you issue VINs for it.

4. Issue each VIN correctly

For every trailer:

1. Put together positions 1–8 from your WMI and the trailer’s options.
2. Choose the model year code for position 10 and your plant code for 11.
3. Take the next serial number for that model year. A serial is never issued twice.
4. Work out the check digit for position 9 from the other 16 characters.
5. Record it in your VIN log with the date built and options.

5. Label it and hand over the NVIS

Each trailer gets a permanent, bilingual compliance label with the VIN, ratings, date of manufacture and your NSM. The buyer or dealer gets an NVIS to register it.

That’s the job VINready was built for: set up your WMI, plant code and VIN chart once, then pick a trailer’s options and it issues the VIN with the right check digit, model year and next serial and prints the label and NVIS from the same details.