WMI Code Registration for Vehicle Manufacturers
A World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) is the three-character code at the start of every vehicle identification number. In India, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) issues it to manufacturers for a fee of ₹5,000 plus taxes. We prepare the application and VIN write-up, and follow up with BIS until the code is issued.
What it is
Every motor vehicle carries a vehicle identification number (VIN), a 17-character code that identifies who made it and which unit it is. The first three characters, the World Manufacturer Identifier, show the manufacturer. The WMI stays the same for that manufacturer; the remaining 14 characters change model by model and vehicle by vehicle.
WMI codes are assigned internationally by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International), USA. BIS acts as the WMI coordinator in India and issues the code to Indian manufacturers once SAE assigns it. The VIN itself follows ISO 3779 and ISO 4030. In Indian law, Rule 122 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 makes the identification number compulsory.
Who it applies to
You are starting to build vehicles
Makers of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, cars, buses and goods vehicles: the L, M and N categories under Rule 122. That includes electric vehicle start-ups building their first model.
You make tractors, trailers or special vehicles
Rule 122 also requires an identification number on agricultural tractors, construction equipment vehicles, hydraulic modular trailers and combine harvesters, under their own AIS standards.
You already hold a WMI and are expanding
A manufacturer that already has a WMI files a separate modification application when it adds a new vehicle variety or a new plant, or when the plant’s name or address changes.
Why it matters
The VIN cannot exist without it
Rule 122 requires every L, M and N category vehicle made on or after 1 April 2009 to carry an identification number, including month and year of manufacture, embossed, etched or punched as per AIS 065:2005. Your WMI is the first part of that number.
It comes before type approval
Under Rule 126, a prototype goes to a testing agency such as ARAI or ICAT for type approval and ARAI certification. Have the WMI and your VIN scheme ready before you get there.
It identifies you worldwide
Anyone reading the VIN, from a financier to an overseas buyer, can trace the vehicle back to you.
Documents required
About the company
- Certificate of incorporation or other proof of the legal entity
- PAN and GST registration
- Authorisation letter for the person signing the application
About the plant and vehicles
- Address of each manufacturing plant
- Types and categories of vehicles you will make
- Expected production volumes
About the VIN
- Proposed VIN structure, explaining each position
- BIS application form and its checklist, signed
- Proof of payment of ₹5,000 plus applicable taxes
How a 17-character VIN is built
| Positions | Section | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI) | The manufacturer, issued once by BIS |
| 4–9 | Vehicle descriptor section (VDS) | Model attributes such as body type, engine or motor, and variant, as coded by you |
| 10–17 | Vehicle indicator section (VIS) | The individual vehicle, including its serial number, as coded by you |
Here is the catch: BIS issues only the first three characters. Positions 4 to 17 are your design. Fix the scheme in advance and apply it the same way on every vehicle. Rule 122 also needs the month and year of manufacture on the vehicle, so your VIN scheme and your marking plan should agree on how that is shown.
How it works
Confirm the entity and the vehicle plan
We check that the applicant is the company that will manufacture, and list the vehicle categories and plants your WMI code registration must cover. Say two partners in Faridabad plan to assemble electric three-wheelers. If the company is not yet formed, we start with private limited company registration, so the WMI is issued in the right name from day one.
Draft the VIN scheme
We work with your engineering team to map positions 4 to 17 and document the logic in the format BIS expects.
File the application with BIS
We fill the WMI application form, tick off the BIS checklist, arrange payment of ₹5,000 plus taxes and submit to the International Relations & Technical Information Services Department of BIS, Manak Bhawan, New Delhi.
Answer queries and receive the code
BIS obtains the assignment from SAE International and issues the code. We handle any queries in between.
Update BIS when you grow
When you add a model, open a plant or change the plant’s name or address, we file the BIS modification application. In practice, this comes up when a unit in Ballabgarh opens a second assembly line elsewhere in Haryana.
Timelines
Apply before homologation
Start WMI code registration once the company is formed and the design is frozen. BIS publishes no fixed processing time, so keep a margin in your launch plan.
VIN on every vehicle since 1 April 2009
All L, M and N category vehicles made on or after 1 April 2009 must carry the identification number under Rule 122.
Modify when the facts change
A new variety, a new plant, or a change in the plant’s name or address needs BIS’s modification application.
What happens if you sell without a valid VIN
Penalty per vehicle
Section 182A(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 punishes a manufacturer or dealer who sells vehicles that breach the construction and equipment rules, which include the identification number rule, with up to one year in prison or a fine of up to ₹1 lakh per vehicle, or both.
Type approval stalls
Rule 122 sits in the construction and equipment chapter of the CMVR. A vehicle without a compliant identification number does not meet the standards it is tested against.
Rework after launch
Changing a VIN scheme after vehicles are already marked means fresh paperwork with BIS and the testing agency.
Frequently asked questions
Who issues the WMI code in India?
The Bureau of Indian Standards issues it. Internationally, WMI codes are assigned by SAE International in the USA; BIS is the WMI coordinator for India and passes the code to the Indian manufacturer once SAE assigns it. Applications go to the International Relations & Technical Information Services Department of BIS at Manak Bhawan, New Delhi. We prepare and track the application for you.
What is the government fee for a WMI code?
BIS charges ₹5,000 plus applicable taxes for issuing a WMI code. That is the only government fee for WMI code registration itself. Type approval at ARAI, ICAT or another testing agency is a separate cost, and so are the company and tax registrations you need before you apply. We give you the full picture before you start.
Is a WMI code mandatory?
Yes, if you manufacture motor vehicles for sale in India. Rule 122 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 requires every L, M and N category vehicle made on or after 1 April 2009 to carry an identification number as per AIS 065:2005. The WMI forms the first three characters of that 17-character number, so you cannot build a valid VIN without it.
What is the difference between a WMI and a VIN?
The WMI identifies the manufacturer; the VIN identifies one vehicle. The VIN has 17 characters: positions 1 to 3 are the WMI, 4 to 9 are the vehicle descriptor section and 10 to 17 are the vehicle indicator section. BIS issues the WMI once. You design and apply positions 4 to 17 yourself, and we help document that scheme properly.
Do electric two-wheeler and e-rickshaw makers need a WMI?
Yes, if the vehicle is a motor vehicle in the L, M or N category, because Rule 122 applies to every such vehicle made on or after 1 April 2009. Most electric two-wheelers and three-wheelers that need registration fall in category L. Low-speed models outside the definition of a motor vehicle are a separate question; we check that first.
Can we use one WMI for several plants or models?
Yes, one manufacturer can use its WMI across models, with the differences coded in positions 4 to 17. BIS does, however, need to know about changes. Its separate modification application covers a new vehicle variety, a new manufacturing plant, and a change in a plant’s address or name. File it before the new vehicles carry the VIN.
Which standards govern the VIN in India?
BIS refers to ISO 3779 and ISO 4030 for the vehicle identification number. Rule 122 of the CMVR requires the marking as per AIS 065:2005 for L, M and N category vehicles. Tractors and construction equipment vehicles have their own AIS standards under the same rule. We line up your VIN scheme with the applicable standard before filing.
Does Taxhint test vehicles or issue the code itself?
No. BIS issues the WMI, and testing and type approval are done by the testing agencies listed in Rule 126, such as ARAI and ICAT. We handle the application, documents, VIN write-up, filing and follow-up. We can also keep your company, GST and other registrations in order alongside it, so the paperwork does not hold up the launch.
What it costs
Our fee plus the government fee that applies to your case, quoted before you commit. Tell us the situation and we will price it exactly.
The BIS fee for issuing a WMI code is ₹5,000 plus applicable taxes. Testing and type approval fees are charged separately by the testing agency.
Ready to begin?
Share your vehicle categories and plant details, and we will get your WMI application to BIS.