Where is the VIN code located and what is it used for? from Jeff Jackson's blog

What is a car VIN code?

VIN is an abbreviation for Vehicle Identification Number. The VIN code cannot be changed. It cannot be deformed during repair work. Any visible signs of changes on the number plate lead to serious consequences when the car is checked by traffic police officers.

The chassis number contains detailed information about a specific car, its configuration, country of manufacture and much more. If you break down the VIN code with a special program, you can find the number of any part installed on the car. This is enough to understand what a car VIN code is and how important it is.

Where is the VIN code located in a car

There is no standard place for the plate with the chassis number in the car. It is located on different parts for different models and manufacturers. But in most cases it is duplicated on the windshield.

Let's look at the most popular places where the VIN code can be located in a car:

• The VIN code can be stamped on the front glass. For example, in most older BMWs.
• The driver's feet are already covered by the newer BMW models.
• Also, the plate in modern cars is often hidden under the carpet in the cabin. New Mazda 3s have a viewing window at the front passenger's feet, through which the VIN on the body can be seen.
• The most popular location is the front panel under the hood. That's where the VIN is found in most older cars. For example, in Honda. In the case of the Japanese brand, the last digits of the chassis number are also sometimes duplicated on each window.
• Also you can to do VIN check before buy a car.

• Please note that the easiest way to find the VIN on a car is to open the driver's door and look at the pillar. An information sticker about the car is attached to it at the factory during assembly. American brands, such as Jeep, apply duplicate stickers to each door.

Where is the VIN code on the registration certificate?

If it is not easy to find the number on the body. Then in the registration certificate everything is much more elementary, but not without its own peculiarities. Due to the fact that over the past few decades, documents for cars have been of different types, therefore, the VIN in them is designated differently. In any case, it is necessary to look for a line of 17 characters. It can be called - body number, chassis number, frame number.

Some cars have several VIN numbers in their registration documents. This is possible if the VIN code has changed. There are a number of possible reasons for this. For example, natural wear and tear of the body parts to which it is applied. In this case, both numbers are indicated in the documents: the old body that rotted/broke, and the new one that was used during restoration.

Decoding the VIN code: how to read

The VIN code consists of 17 symbols. Each of them contains specific information. Regardless of the car manufacturer, in order to decipher the VIN code, it is important to know only what information is encrypted in each of the letters.

The first three are WMI. They encode the country of manufacture or country of assembly of the car.

The next six describe the car itself. This is the Vehicle Description Section. This section contains information about the body type:

• station wagon, sedan, hatchback, van, convertible, coupe;
• engine capacity, its marking, power;
• make and model of the car.

Each manufacturer has its own unique information encrypted in the letters.

The last part of eight characters contains the year of production of the car and the serial number of the car on the conveyor. For this part, it is necessary that the last 6 characters are numbers. The first character is a letter and indicates the year of production.

This information is relevant for most cars. But it is worth remembering that the number of symbols is limited and their meanings can be changed by the manufacturer.

You can easily read the VIN code. It is enough to find a decoder of body numbers for a separate brand through a search engine. All the meanings of each symbol are collected in tables.

Selection of spare parts by VIN code

Selecting spare parts by VIN code is the easiest and most accurate way to quickly and accurately find the necessary parts for your car. Because the manufacturer has included all the detailed information about the car in the VIN. It is enough to be a little familiar with the structure of the car and then you can select the necessary spare part using the schematic image of the unit.

To find the original part number, also use the VIN code. To do this, use any third-party site for decoding VIN codes. Enter the characters and find the required section. In it, hover over the image and click on the part. Its number will light up in the list. You can copy it and enter it in the search bar on the auto store website. Our robot will select and display on the screen only those parts that match the original number.

As a result, the VIN code is a summary of information about the car. With its help, you can find out the complete set, time and place of assembly of the car. Also, select spare parts in our auto shop.