What is a VIN number?
Checking the VIN number is usually something you do when you buy a car before signing the contract. You need to know what it is, what it consists of, how to check it, and where in the car it is found. This information is fundamental for every person buying a new or old car.
What is a VIN?
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. The manufacturer assigns the number to its vehicle. Note that standards may differ between countries, but all VIN numbers in the world have a 17-character format. Also, note that no single standard existed before 1981. The implication of this is that manufacturers used different VIN formats, which in turn made it difficult or impossible to check a vehicle's history using the VIN number
What is in a VIN number?
A VIN consists of 17 characters. Among these, you will find both letters and numbers. Letters such as "O" or "I" are not used, as they are easily mistaken for the numbers "0" and "1". Each number is unique and assigned to a specific vehicle, which facilitates identification. So, how do you read a VIN? In accordance with the current ISO standard, a VIN number consists of three parts.
WMI – First we have the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI). These are the first three characters that describe the car manufacturer's global symbol. Please note that this code is assigned to a vehicle manufacturer by a competent national authority. However, it is done according to an agreement with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or its national representative.
VDS The second part consists of the section with the vehicle descriptor (VDS). There are five or six characters here. These contain information about technical data and vehicle parameters and are encoded by the manufacturer.
VIS The last part is the section with vehicle identifiers (VIS). This is the car's serial number. It is usually eight characters if you count from the end of the VIN number. This information includes the year of production and the location where the vehicle was assembled. It is encoded as the 10th and 11th characters. The remaining digits constitute the subsequent vehicle batch number.
So, WMI + VDS + VIS is the VIN chassis number which always consists of 17 characters. How To Find My Old Car Without The VIN?
Where can I find a VIN number?
A VIN is often found on the top of the hood on the driver's side, on the engine, or near the door. Another place you can find your VIN is on the driver's side door pillar. In addition, there is a car label with all manufacturer data, technical data, and of course, the VIN number. In passenger cars, the VIN is located on the front end of the frame or on the floor next to the passenger seat or wheel arch. It may also be on the floor of the trunk. The easiest way to find this number is to check your registration documents.
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