Data Masking Components: VIN

VIN

Purpose

This component masks Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) while preserving their valid structure, format, and character rules.

VIN Format Rules Enforced:

VIN must be exactly 17 characters long
Disallows letters I, O, and Q to avoid confusion with digits 1 and 0
Follows the standard structure defined by ISO 3779

Masking Logic:

The component preserves the first 12 characters of the VIN:

Positions 1–3: Manufacturer identifier (WMI)
Positions 4–8: Vehicle descriptor section (VDS)
Position 9: Check digit (not validated)
Positions 10–11: Model year and plant code
Position 12: Start of production sequence

Characters 13–17 (last 5 digits) are masked using a numeric substitution algorithm.

The last 5 digits are replaced with random numeric values each time the process is run. Referential integrity is not preserved, making it suitable for fully anonymized testing or analysis.

Algorithm

Random Substitution

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Data Masking Components: VIN

1. VIN
1.1 Purpose
1.2 Algorithm

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