{"id":14977,"date":"2020-04-15T15:43:33","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T22:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/vessels\/hull-identification-numbers-hins\/"},"modified":"2024-03-25T12:03:13","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T19:03:13","slug":"hull-identification-numbers-hins","status":"publish","type":"dmv_handbook","link":"https:\/\/www.dmv.ca.gov\/portal\/es\/handbook\/vehicle-industry-registration-procedures-manual-2\/vessels\/hull-identification-numbers-hins\/","title":{"rendered":"24.075 Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) (VC \u00a7\u00a79857, 9871, 9871.5)"},"content":{"rendered":"

The HIN is a unique combination of letters and\/or numbers affixed to the vessel. California law requires all registered vessels to have a HIN. Federal regulations effective November 1, 1972, require vessel manufacturers to assign a HIN to each vessel the manufacturer builds. Noncomplying manufacturers will be investigated by the U.S. Coast Guard. In 1978, DMV assigned HINs to the vessels without a HIN on DMV records. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Current Manufacturer HIN Format<\/strong>\u2014Since August 1984, a manufacturer\u2019s HIN must consist of a combination of 12 letters and numbers as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n

XXX<\/th>12345<\/th>A3<\/th>93<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
XXX<\/span>3 letters identify the manufacturer\u2019s identification code<\/td>12345<\/span>5 letters or numbers (serial #)<\/td>A3<\/span>Month represented by a letter and year of manufacture or date of certification<\/td>93<\/span>Last 2 numbers of model year<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/body>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1972 to 1984 Manufacturer HIN Formats<\/strong>\u2014HINs were formatted as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n

XXX<\/th>12345<\/th>1280<\/th>X<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
XXX<\/span>3 letters identify the manufacturer\u2019s identification code<\/td>12345<\/span>5 letters or numbers (serial #)<\/td>1280<\/span>Month and year of manufacture or date of certification<\/td>X<\/span>Additional optional characters for builder\u2019s purpose<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/body>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n
XXX<\/th>12345<\/th>M<\/th>73E<\/th>X<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
XXX<\/span>3 letters identify the manufacturers\u2019 identification code<\/td>12345<\/span>5 letters or numbers (serial #)<\/td>M<\/span>Letter code indicates information to follow<\/td>73E<\/span>Month and year of certification<\/td>X<\/span>Additional optional characters for builder\u2019s purpose<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/body>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Homemade Vessels\/Vessels without a Valid HIN (CFZ) Format<\/strong>\u2014The U.S. Coast Guard assigned California a HIN format to use when assigning a HIN to homemade vessels and vessels without a valid number. The HIN must <\/strong>be:<\/p>\n\n\n

CFZ<\/th>1234A<\/th>H1<\/th>91<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
CFZ<\/span>Always CFZ for California<\/td>1234A<\/span>First 5 characters of the vessel CF number<\/td>H1<\/span>Letter code for month and year of manufacture or year fees paid if year of manufacture is unknown<\/td>91<\/span>Last 2 digits of the year model or year fees paid if year model is unknown<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/body>\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

If DMV records do not<\/strong> show a HIN but the vessel has a HIN, the following must be submitted<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n