The　capabilities　of　some　commonly　used　single-degree-of-freedom　(SDOF)　VIV　models　for　bridge　decks　are　examined　through　wind　tunnel　experiment.　The　VIV　responses　of　a　sectional　deck　model　at　different　Scruton　numbers　are　measured.　An　instantaneous　identification　method　is　adopted　for　obtaining　the　properties　of　aeroelastic　damping　and　stiffness　of　the　VIV　system.　The　simulated　aeroelastic　damping　by　these　models　as　well　as　the　predicted　VIV　responses　of　the　deck　at　different　Scruton　numbers　are　compared　with　experiments.　The　results　indicate　that　the　more　accurate　the　simulated　aeroelastic　damping　by　an　empirical　model,　the　smaller　the　prediction　errors　by　this　model　will　be.　Through　directly　fitting　the　aeroelastic　damping,　the　prediction　errors　by　an　empirical　model　can　be　further　reduced.