AIAG damage codes are a standardized system used in finished-vehicle logistics to record vehicle transport damage as a five-digit code. Each code identifies the damaged area, the type of damage, and how severe it is, as set out in the AIAG-ECG global damage code standard.
If you haul new or finished vehicles on OEM programs that use AIAG codes, reading and recording these codes correctly is part of the job. This guide breaks down how the five-digit code works, gives you a reference you can trust, shows how the codes get recorded in a digital inspection, and points out the mistakes that cost carriers on damage claims.
Key Takeaways
- AIAG codes use five digits: The first two digits show where the damage is, the next two show the type of damage, and the last digit shows how severe it is.
- Use the current code list: Area and damage-type codes have changed over time. Use the current code list for the OEM or program you are hauling for instead of an old chart found online.
- Severity is based on size: Severity levels 1 through 5 are based on the size of the damage, from up to 1 inch to more than 12 inches. Severity 6 is used for missing items or major damage.
- Good documentation matters for claims: Toyota requires damage on live deliveries to be recorded on the delivery document or EPOD. Damage that is not properly recorded may not qualify for repair-cost reimbursement. Toyota also has a 48-hour reporting rule for concealed damage, with stated exceptions for weekends and holidays.
- Follow the rules for each program: OEM and transportation programs may have their own inspection and coding requirements. Always follow the current instructions for the program you are hauling for.
What Are AIAG Damage Codes?
AIAG damage codes, sometimes called vehicle damage codes, are a shared language for describing damage on a vehicle in transit, one more entry in the vocabulary of auto transport that every hauler learns. Instead of writing “small scratch on the left front door,” an inspector records a short numeric code that everyone else in the shipping chain reads the same way. The system exists so railroads, haul-away carriers, manufacturers, and inspection companies can record and transmit damage in one consistent, mostly electronic format.
The codes are maintained by AIAG, a not-for-profit automotive standards group, under a standard called M-22, now in its sixth edition. They did not appear overnight. The core code set traces back to the American Association of Railroads in the 1970s, and the modern framework took shape during a 2003 industry effort involving manufacturers, carriers, railroads, and inspection companies. Since then, AIAG and its European counterpart, ECG, have worked to broaden adoption across finished-vehicle logistics. The standard also covers more than cosmetic dents and scratches. It includes codes for issues like chock securement on rail and haul-away equipment.
How the 5-Digit AIAG Damage Code Works: Area, Type, and Severity
Every AIAG damage code uses five digits, and each part answers a specific question: where the damage is, what kind it is, and how big it is. Read left to right, the first two digits give the area, the next two give the type, and the last digit gives the severity.
| Code position | What it means | Super Dispatch example |
|---|---|---|
| Digits 1 to 2 | Damage area | 20 = Windshield |
| Digits 3 to 4 | Damage type | 06 = Cracked |
| Digit 5 | Severity | 5 = Over 12 in / 30 cm |
Exact area and type values can change by edition or program, so use the current code set supplied by your OEM or program rather than an older web chart.
Digits 1 and 2: the damage area
The first pair of digits identifies the section of the vehicle. Areas are grouped across the exterior, glass, wheels, interior, and structural points, so an inspector can pin damage to a specific part like a door, a bumper, the hood, or the windshield rather than a vague region.
Digits 3 and 4: the damage type
The next pair describes what happened to that area: a dent, a scratch, a chip, a crack, a gouge, a missing item, and so on. These type codes have been revised across editions, so the exact number for a given kind of damage should come from your current OEM or program list, not an old chart.
Digit 5: the severity
The final digit records severity. Codes 1–5 use size bands based on the damage’s length or diameter, while severity 6 is used for missing or major damage (Toyota Transportation Manual). A tiny chip and a foot-long scratch can share the same area and type codes but carry a different severity digit. You will find the full severity scale in the next section.
Reading a full code: an example
Put together, a cracked windshield over 12 inches long is recorded in the Super Dispatch Driver App as area 20 for the windshield, type 06 for cracked, and severity 5 for over 12 inches. That single code tells everyone downstream exactly where, what, and how big.
One note on length: Super Dispatch’s current AIAG inspection and current public guidance use a five-digit damage code. Earlier M-22 guidance also documented a sixth grid-location digit to pinpoint damage within major panels, and some OEM programs have used or required additional grid information. Always follow the current requirements for the OEM or program you are hauling for. There are many things that are universal, but OEMs have and will continue to change their guidance.
A Quick Reference for Reading a Code
Because the sixth edition of M-22 revised and reassigned many of the area and type codes, the safest values to reproduce here are the severity bands. Publicly available finished-vehicle damage-code references use the following severity bands, and the current Super Dispatch workflow confirms severity 5 as over 12 inches:
- Severity 1: damage up to 1 inch (under 2.5 cm)
- Severity 2: over 1 inch up to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5 cm)
- Severity 3: over 3 inches up to 6 inches (7.5 to 15 cm)
- Severity 4: over 6 inches up to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm)
- Severity 5: over 12 inches (30 cm and over)
- Severity 6: missing or major damage
Please note that these inch values were converted from centimeters. For the area and type codes, do not rely on a chart you found online. Because those listings have been revised and individual OEM requirements take priority, an old chart can point you to the wrong number. Use the current code set from your OEM or program, or the official AIAG M-22 material and its printed DMG-1 reference cards. The Super Dispatch Driver App presents selectable area, type, and severity options during the inspection, so drivers do not have to memorize the numeric codes.
Why AIAG Codes Matter for Car Haulers
For carriers on OEM and new-vehicle programs, AIAG codes are not busywork. They are how a vehicle’s condition gets documented at each handoff, and that record can matter a great deal if a claim comes up later.
Who requires AIAG codes
AIAG inspections are a standardized process used when moving new vehicles for original equipment manufacturers. Some OEM logistics programs require them outright. Hyundai GLOVIS, for example, states that the AIAG coding system is its inspection standard and requires its contractors to use it. Just as important, individual OEM requirements always take priority over the general standard, so your program’s rules are the final word.
How accurate codes support a damage claim
Recording damage accurately at pickup and delivery creates a clear record of the condition observed when the vehicle changed hands. That record does not prevent claims, and it does not by itself decide who pays. Liability depends on chain of custody, program rules, and the surrounding evidence. Hyundai GLOVIS, for instance, says its claims department determines responsibility based on the transportation damage guidelines and the evidence presented. Still, that record can be decisive evidence. Toyota, for example, states that damage not noted on the delivery document is not eligible for repair-cost reimbursement, subject to its concealed and STI damage procedures. That makes an accurate bill of lading at each stop worth the extra minute. Its concealed-damage window is tight as well, requiring a report within two business days of delivery. A companion AIAG-ECG standard even helps inspectors decide whether a problem is transport-related in the first place.
Recording AIAG Codes in a Digital Inspection
Paper condition reports get lost, smudged, and argued over. Toyota’s February 2026 transportation-claims procedures require damage on live deliveries to be recorded electronically on the signed delivery receipt/EPOD and strongly recommend digital photos to support damage documentation.
Think of it as the digital version of a strong car hauler inspection report. Here is how it works in the Super Dispatch Driver App.
Confirm the right vehicle
When a driver starts an AIAG inspection, the app shows the vehicle’s year, make, model, and VIN so the driver can confirm they are inspecting the correct unit. Vehicles can also be added to an order by scanning the VIN, though that scan is a separate step, not part of the AIAG inspection itself.
Mark the damage
For each damage, the driver records the five-digit AIAG code by choosing the area, the type, and the severity, then completes the photo requirements shown for that load.
Compare pickup and delivery
A Damage Tracker marks every recorded damage on a vehicle diagram with its code and photos, and a pickup and delivery toggle lets the driver compare before-and-after condition in one tap. Inspections also work offline and sync once the phone is back online, so a dead zone at a pickup lot does not stop the job.
Common AIAG Coding Mistakes to Avoid
Most AIAG problems are avoidable. Watch for these:
- Using an outdated code chart. Area and type codes have been revised, so a chart from a few years ago can send you to the wrong number. Work from your program’s current set.
- Recording the wrong severity. The severity digit is tied to size, so measure before you pick a 3, 4, or 5.
- Ignoring program-specific rules. Your OEM’s requirements override the general standard, every time.
- Not documenting at the handoff. Damage that is not recorded when the vehicle changes hands is the hardest kind to claim later. Capturing it in digital paperwork like an eBOL makes that far less likely.
AIAG Damage Codes FAQ
Are AIAG damage codes required for every vehicle shipment?
No. AIAG damage codes are used mainly in finished-vehicle and OEM logistics, not for every car move. Whether they are required depends on the specific OEM or program you are hauling for.
Are AIAG damage codes five or six digits?
AIAG damage reporting is generally based on a five-digit code: two digits for area, two for damage type, and one for severity. Earlier M-22 guidance also documented a sixth grid-location digit for pinpointing damage within certain major panels. OEM and program requirements can vary, so follow the current instructions for the load you are handling.
Can I use an AIAG code chart I find online?
It is risky. The sixth edition of the standard revised and reassigned many area and type codes, so an old chart can be wrong. Use your OEM or program’s current official code set, or the official AIAG M-22 material.
What should I do if my OEM’s code list differs from a general chart?
Follow your OEM or program’s requirement. Individual OEM rules always take priority over the general AIAG standard.
Bringing It Together
AIAG damage codes give everyone in finished-vehicle logistics one clear way to record damage: area, type, and severity in five digits. Follow your program’s current code set, measure before you pick a severity, and document every exception at the handoff. Doing it in a digital inspection, like the AIAG flow in the Super Dispatch Driver App, keeps your codes, photos, and timestamps together and easier to defend if a claim ever comes.
