Everything You Wanted to Know About Your Car's VIN Number

2021-03-29

So, you have a new or new-to-you car. Maybe it's your first car. Perhaps you never really paid attention to the little details before. But what in the world is that VIN everyone from your insurance company to the DMV is asking for? Where do you find it? Why is it even important? Well, you can relax. Just keep reading our easy-to-understand VIN number guide. We'll have you navigating insurance, registration, and more like a pro in no time!

What is a VIN Number?

The VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, is a unique identifier for your car. The VIN is a string of 17 letters and numbers that provides all the information you need about your vehicle. Knowing how to decode a VIN can tell you when and where your car was made, along with the make, model, and serial number.

Where Is It in My Car?

Most newer-model passenger vehicles like cars and trucks have the VIN on the driver's side windshield. If you can't find it there by looking at the windshield from outside the car, then check the following:

• Under the hood at the front of the engine block

• Inside the driver's side door pillar

• In an older car, you might find the VIN on the front end of the frame.

If you have a motorcycle, look below the handlebars, on the motor, or the frame near the motor.

If you can't find the VIN on your vehicle, check the title or your insurance documents.

Why is it Important?

The VIN is the most crucial piece of information about your vehicle. Using a vehicle identification number checker to check your VIN can tell you all kinds of information about your car.

Ownership history

Ownership history lets you know how many owners your car has had and how long they owned it. You can find out where and when it was registered. It will include a title report from every state DMV where it was registered. If your car is stolen and found, the police can run a vehicle check using the VIN and get your car returned to you.

Technical checklist

A technical checklist will tell you the service and maintenance history of your vehicle. Any repairs or service performed, or insurance salvage or total loss history is essential for your vehicle's safety and value. Some buyers won't disclose if a car has water damage or decreased structural integrity. A technical checklist will also tell you if you're in danger of buying a lemon.

Sales history

The sales history will let you know if there are liens on the vehicle. It will list the financial institutions that held any financing, who purchased the vehicle, and how they paid for it.

Accident history

The accident history goes hand-in-hand with the technical checklist. This tells you how many accidents your car has been in. You'll see dates and locations, as well as any reported damage. You will be able to see if the car was only mildly damaged or if it was totaled and rebuilt.

Recall history

Does your car have any open recalls, or have they all been taken care of? Recalls can be cosmetic, such as issues with the paint's appearance, or much more severe. Airbag recalls are the most recent in the news, but sometimes small but important safety recalls get overlooked.

A VIN check gives you all the information necessary to be a smart consumer. Having a vehicle report will let you make sure you aren't buying a hidden problem when you buy your car and that you aren't paying too much for what you're getting.

What Do All the Numbers and Letters Mean?

You can use a VIN decoder to tell you what each character in the VIN means. But if you want to know how to decipher a VIN yourself, here you go!

Remember that the VIN is a string of 17 numbers and letters. The VIN has no spaces, and it doesn't use the letters I, Q, or O to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. Before 1981, cars had 11-digit VIN numbers.

Character 1 tells you the vehicle's region and country of origin. Numbers 1, 4, and 5 are the United States, 2 is Canada, and 3 is Mexico. Characters 2 and 3 tell you who the manufacturer is. Characters 4 through 8 are the vehicle's brand, engine size, and type. Character 9 is the vehicle security code. Character 10 is the production year of your vehicle. Character 11 tells you what assembly plant made your vehicle. Finally, characters 12 through 17 are the vehicle's serial number.

Final Thoughts

The VIN number can tell you all kinds of information about your car. You don't have to memorize it, but you do need to know where to find it and what it does. If you don't want to run a formal VIN check, there are many places where you can run an informal one. With our online VIN checker, you'll be all set!