Vehicle numbering

[Controller]

What numbering system are you using for vehicles? We have to change ours to accomodate 2010 units.

[JustBob]

Can you explain your present numbering system please?

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Have a tremendous day
Bob Britting

[texaslp]

Hadn't thought about it yet but we use a 4 digit number with 8 as the leading number for 2008, 9 for 2009 etc. so I guess we'll use 0 for 2010. We have an alpha as the first character so the 0 will work.

[JustBob]

Some dealerships use last 6 of the VIN but that has some limitations and does not tell you too much. Probably the most common is:
New 9P001
9 = 2009 model
P = Pontiac
001 = first 2009 stocked in

Trade in - 9P001A
The sold stock number with a letter added A,B,C etc. until there is no trade in.

Purchased used cars: U0001 P0001, C0001
U = used P = Program C = Certified

There are variations on this and if but it should accomodate the 2010 models (0P001) with no problem.

Note that since this is an alpha/numeric field your DMS most likely sort it "alphabetically". This will be consistent if you always use the same number of digits 9P001 not 9P1 or 9P01.

Obviously if you have stock in over 999 2009 Pontiacs this would be an additonal challenge.

Whatever the numbering scheme chosen it is imperative that a stock number get assigned to a unit immediately and a stock number log is helpful. Have witnessed some royal messes when 2 units get the same stock number or a unit gets a stock number late.

Have a great weekend - go sell something today hopefully at a profit!

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Have a tremendous day
Bob Britting

[This message has been edited by JustBob (edited 03-20-2009).]

[Controller]

Thanks for the input. I may have come up with something that works. I think we will start with 0 for 2010, 1 for 2011, etc. The next character will be C or T, then four digits to designate order. We use a log, which is essential. This system should work for eleven years. Talk to you again in 2020.

[JustBob]

"Talk to you again in 2020"

I like your optimism!!!

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Have a tremendous day
Bob Britting

[helpers]

hmmmm...hadn't thought of this yet, but glad someone else brought it up. We have the same numbering system as mentioned above, but I'm concerned some systems won't recognize a "0" at the beginning of a number?? Any thoughts?

[texaslp]

I don't think ADP would. We use P9001 for 09 models, so a 2010 would be P0001.

Or if you're used to the number leading as 9P001 then P001 would indicate 2010, if you don't mind the 3 digit # instead of 4.

[helpers]

you were right - ADP doesn't recognize "0" as a beginning number. We've decided to go with "10001" for 2010, and "11001" for 2011, and so forth. We have multiple stores, and all stores except one have prefixed accounts, and we try to keep everything prefixed the same as their g/l accounts. So the prefixed stores will be "J10001","D10001", etc.