You must have heard of car VIN ´s. But do you know what the 17-digit alphanumeric code is, and its purpose?
Vehicle VINs, commonly known as a car’s chassis or frame number, allow you to access a vehicle’s entire history, including manufacturer and year of manufacture, among other characteristics.
To find out what it is and what the number’s for, keep reading.
What is a car VIN?
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number.
The number works as the vehicle’s ID and is made up of 17 letters and numbers.
What is the purpose of a car VIN?
Car VINs provide information, such as the country in which the car was manufactured. In addition, it informs you of the type of body and engine, the year and model of manufacture, among other characteristics.
Manufacturers are required to assign this code to all vehicles they produce, as without it, vehicles are not permitted on the roads.
How important is a car’s VIN?
As stated previously, a car’s VIN gives you access to its history, ranging from manufacturer details to its characteristics. In fact, manufacturers are required to assign this code to all vehicles they produce, as without it, vehicles are not permitted on the roads.
Therefore, you must check the number before purchasing a car, especially if it is an imported car. Why? To find out the car’s previous owners, for example.
You’ll also need to provide your car’s VIN to take out car insurance.
Where can I find my car’s VIN?
You can find your car’s VIN through any of the following options:
- Check the VIN in your vehicle’s logbook or vehicle title;
- Engraved on the engine or in the lower corner of the windscreen.
In some cases, a car’s VIN can be found on the inside of the car’s pillars or the driver’s door.
How can you decode a car’s VIN?
Although the alphanumeric code looks as if it has been randomly generated, the numbers and letters correspond to various vehicle characteristics and are divided into three distinct parts:
1. First three characters of the VIN number
The combination of the first three characters is called the WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier), which identifies the vehicle manufacturer, in which:
- The first indicates the place of manufacture;
- The second is the country of origin of the brand;
- The third refers to the body style of the car. Alternatively, two other numbers can be used to identify the vehicle’s brand.
2. From the 4th to the 11th character of the car’s VIN
The characters between positions 4 and 11 comprise a car’s DVS, which identifies the characteristics of the vehicle:
- 4 – Represents its weight and power;
- 5 – Platform Type;
- 6 – Model;
- 7 – Body;
- 8 – Engine (number of cylinders or cylinder power);
- 9 – Brand confirmation code;
- 10 – Year of manufacture;
- 11 – Factory in which it was produced.
3. Last 6 characters
These characters are called the VIS and are used as a unique vehicle identifier.
How can you find out your car’s characteristics by means of its VIN?
- In addition to decoding the code, it is possible to find out a car’s model, for example, by its VIN;
- You can get a report of the road accidents the car has been in or serious repairs it has undergone, as well as emergency callbacks issued by the manufacturer relating to the car, which is common in potentially serious cases;
- You can find out whether the car you want to purchase has ever been reported stolen;
- You can check the actual vehicle mileage;
- You can view pictures of the car;
- You can check its technical data and equipment.
This way, you can find out how many kilometres the car has logged by each annual inspection.
If you are considering buying a car, especially a used one, and you want to gain access to the information relating to it, there are several ways to do so. How? Via websites or applications.
Can you check a car’s VIN for free?
Access to this data is free in some cases, while in others, you’ll need to pay. In addition, certain platforms provide more or less detailed information. It all depends, of course, on which you choose.
As you can see, checking a car’s VIN is extremely useful, especially when buying a used car. As such, you can gain access to all the information you need, ensuring that you are not being deceived during negotiations.
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