The Danish bicycle VIN-system is a system introduced in 1942 by the Danish government, providing all bicycles in Denmark with a unique code. The code is a combination of letters and digits embedded into the bicycle frame and consists of a manufacturer code, a serial number, and construction year code.
Since 1948, it has been illegal[1] to sell bicycle frames in Denmark without an embedded VIN. Because of this, insurance companies in Denmark will not pay indemnities for stolen bicycles without a VIN.[2]
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By default, the VIN is to be engraved into the seat tube or the down tube, but if these are made of such a material that hinders this, it may alternately be put on the bottom bracket shell. In very special instances, and only with the approval of the Danish National Police Commissioner’s Office, it may be applied by other means and on other locations.[1]
The bicycle VIN is constructed of three elements: a letter-block, a digit-block and a letter-block:
The first part (WXX) is the manufacturers-code, which is a 1, 2 or 3-letter block. If the code starts with a W, it is an imported bicycle frame. The second part (1234) is the frame serial number from that manufacturer. This can have any number of digits. The third block (Z) is a single letter code that identifies the production year. Certain limits regarding letters are instated for the VIN[3]:
This table shows examples of manufacturer codes, but is in no way to be considered a complete listing.
| Code | Manufacturer name | Code | Manufacturer name | Code | Manufacturer name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A-G | H-P | R-Å | |||
| AK | Centurion (previously Åge Krøll) | HN | Hede Nielsens Fabrikker A/S | RD | Scandinavia Racing Discount |
| AR | Raleigh (previously Vilhelm Nellemann A/S) | IA1 | Ivan A Hansen | REC | Recykel ApS |
| AV | Winther cykler (alias Anders Winther A/S) | IC2 | Ebsen Danmark A/S | SI1 | Søgreni cykler |
| AZ | Jørgensø Import | JE | Jupiter | S | SCO (alias Smith & Co) |
| BA | Banani (previosly Bent A Nielsen) | JKH | Jyde-Kompagniet A/S | SS | SCO (alias Smith & Co) |
| BL | SCO bicycles sold in the Bilka supermarket chain (see also S) | JWG3 | Cykelbanditten | STE | Stangerup Efterfølgere |
| BK | Kildemoes (alias Børge Kildemoes) | KM | Motobecane | SX | Saxil cykler (also see BN) |
| BN | Saxil Bicycles (SX until approx. 2000) | LL | Sorte Jernhest | TU | Trek |
| BT | Taarnby a/s | MB | MBK | TV | Batavus |
| CC | Christiania Bicycles (also Pedersen-cyklen) | MR | Ritter Import | UR | Urania cykler |
| CGE | Cykelgear.dk | N | Nordisk Cykelfabrik A/S | VI | VIVA bikes |
| CK | Jensen cykler (alias C K Jensen) | NH | Nihola Cykler ApS | VEL | Velorbis |
| CM | Mosquito | PA | Pedal-atleten | VG | Grebart cykler |
| CS | Christiania Bicycles | PD | Styer-Puch A/S | ||
| DA | FDB | PF | Peter From | ||
| DB | Rocky | POL | VIN provided by the police - usually for private import | ||
| DI1 | Dibbern Cykler | PL | CREATE | ||
| EE | Egedesø (alias Everton) | PR | Pro Movec | ||
| FAK | Falcon | PS | Schrøder cykler | ||
| GD | Titania Cykler | PY | Python Pro | ||
| GW3 | G&W Cykler | ||||
1: Even though I in general is not used, it appears that some brands are using it.
2: Even though I in general is not used, Ebsen Danmark A/S bicycles are in fact using it in their manufacturercode (verified).
3: Even though W in general is not used, it appears that some brands are using it.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | J | K | L | M | N | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | X | Z |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 |
| 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | - | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 |
| 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | |
| 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
Example:
This is a Danish made bicycle frame from the company Kildemoes, where the frame is serial no. 12345 and made in either 2006, 1985, 1964, or in 1942.