![]() For example, you can determine whether a car has been in an accident before you buy it. Knowing how to read a VIN unlocks a ton of information about a vehicle. If you’ve got your car or any of these documents nearby, finding your VIN should be a breeze. Some documents that will contain your VIN are: ![]() ![]() Driver’s Side Door Post - If you open the driver’s side door and look toward the vehicle’s rear, you should find the VIN and other information about your car.Rear-Wheel Well - There’s going to be an easier way to find the VIN than this, but you can sometimes find it above the tire in your rear wheel wells. ![]() Front of the Frame - Look near the container that holds your wiper fluid.Engine Block - Pop the hood and look toward the front of the engine block.Here are a few other possible places you can find the VIN: You should be able to read it from outside the car by looking through the windshield on the driver’s side. The most common is on the lower right corner of the dashboard in front of the steering wheel. There are multiple locations on your car where you might find the VIN. Here’s what you need to know about the process: On the Car Now that you can read your VIN it’s important to go over how to find it on your vehicle. An automotive professional can also assist you throughout the process. It takes a little bit of practice, but it’s easy to read a VIN once you know what you’re looking for. The production number is like a serial number for the car.ĭon’t worry if the numbers are confusing the first time you’re viewing them. In North America and China, the 11th and 12th to 17th digits identify the plant that made the vehicle and that vehicle’s production number, respectively. The 7th character in our example is “9,” and the 10th character is “T,” which makes our car’s model year 1996. If it’s alphabetic, the model year is 2010-2039. If the character in position 7 is numeric, the model year is 1980-2009. Notably, every manufacturer uses the 10th digit to identify the model year, according to the chart below. The manufacturer uses it to identify that particular vehicle. The next eight characters are called the Vehicle Identifier Section. Every manufacturer uses its own system for this segment, but it will usually include the vehicle’s weight, platform, model, trim, engine size, and horsepower. The following six characters are collectively called the Vehicle Descriptor Section and provide a lot of information about the car. In the above example, the W designates the vehicle was made in Germany, while P0 identifies it as a Porsche. The first three characters, called the World Manufacturer Identifier, show the vehicle’s manufacturer and the region where it was made. The VIN of a 1996 Porsche 993 GT2 - WP0ZZZ99ZTS392124 - is going to be the example. Here’s how to follow each section of the VIN, what information it provides, and how to read it. Your VIN contains a wealth of information about your car. The following steps will assist you in being able to track your car’s status. It’s important to know where to find your vehicle’s VIN as well as how to use it. Using your VIN, you can use the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s Recall Tool to see if your vehicle has had any recalls in the last 15 years. ![]() Occasionally, vehicle manufacturers issue safety recalls to replace or repair faulty parts that could pose a safety hazard to drivers. Use the same decoder to easily pull such a report. Law enforcement officers and consumers can check the VIN to ensure it is as it’s presented. The same thing that helps defend against theft also prevents dealers or private sellers from misrepresenting a car or its history before a sale. If your car is stolen, you’ll want to have the VIN handy to give law enforcement the best shot at recovering your vehicle. If you’d like to conduct a VIN search for a vehicle you’re considering buying, use a VIN Decoder to quickly and easily pull a report. Law enforcement officers and consumers alike can access detailed reports about a vehicle’s history just by using the VIN. The first benefit of having a VIN is that it provides a defense against stolen vehicles. This system has plenty of benefits, including: Preventing Theft Just like your SSN, every single VIN is unique to that specific car. You could think of your VIN as a Social Security number for your car. Why Vehicles Have VINsįirst used in 1954 in the United States, VINs created a standardized system to identify each vehicle manufactured. This guide will cover everything you need to know about VINs, including why they exist, how to read them, and answers to some frequently asked questions. This post will discuss why vehicles have VINs, what information your VIN contains, how to read it, and show you how to locate your VIN. Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-digit code used to identify your vehicle that includes a serial number and a bunch of other information about the car. ![]()
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