VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), a structured combination of characters assigned to a vehicle by manufacturer for identification purposes.
The VIN code consists of three parts:
- WMI world manufacturer identifier;
- VDS vehicle description section;
- VIS vehicle identification section.
The VIN code is a unique identification code of every vehicle manufactured worldwide. In order to ensure such marking of the vehicle, the WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) has been introduced as part of the VIN for each manufacturer in the world as an integral part of the VIN code, which allows for direct reading of the VIN by the state and the vehicle manufacturer. The manufacturer of the vehicle or vehicle parts may only have one WMI or WPMI approval.
The application of the following international standards ensures a unique system of marking vehicles manufactured worldwide:
BAS ISO 3779:2012
BAS ISO 3780:2012
BAS ISO 4030:2002
BAS ISO 4100:2002
BAS ISO/TR 8357:2002
The Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina is authorized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) to manage uniform identification system for vehicle manufacturers (WMI-World Manufacturer Identifier) for the assignment of VIN codes and international codes for manufacturers of vehicle parts (WPMI-World Parts Manufacturer Identifier) on the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The request for the assignment of WMI or WPMI codes is submitted by the manufacturers of vehicles or vehicle parts to the Institute for Standardization of BiH along with the following information:
- Name and address of the manufacturer;
- Planned volume of annual production and description of capacities on which the planned production is based;
- Proof that the manufacturer is registered for the production of vehicles or vehicle parts.
The applicant is provided with a response to the request, forms for submitting information (form for submitting information on the manufacturer and production program, form for assignment of the VIN number) and instructions for payment of administrative fees.
The applicant is obliged to pay the administrative fees of tariff number 1 and tariff number 79 in accordance with the applicable law on administrative fees of BiH.
After submitting the required documentation and information by the manufacturer and after processing the said documentation at the Institute, the director of the Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina issues a decision on the assignment of the VIN code to the vehicle manufacturer.
Information on the assigned WMI code is provided by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International).
The manufacturer is obliged to keep the decision on the assigned VIN code as a permanent document and proof that manufacturer can, in accordance with the requirements of the standard, place VIN codes on the manufactured vehicles. The vehicle manufacturer is responsible for the correct use of the VIN code and the unique identification of the vehicle in accordance with the given standards and the issued decision.
At the beginning of the year, the vehicle manufacturer is obliged to submit a report on the number of used VIN codes for the previous year.
The Institute for Standardization of Bosnia and Herzegovina keeps records on assigned WMI and WPMI codes: