A Vehicle Identification Number is a 17-character unique code assigned by an auto manufacturer, which can be used to track and identify motor vehicles. The VIN does not contain the letters I, O (o), and Q (q) to avoid confusion with numerals 1 and 0.
VIN decoder reveals a detailed vehicle specification information providing a complete overview of the vehicle’s characteristics:
Year, make, and model
Country of manufacture
Trim Level
Body style
Engine type
Tank size
City/highway mileage
Car Warranty
Turning Diameter
Electronic Parking Aid
Vehicle Anti-Theft System
Anti brake system
Front/rear brake type
Transmission
Wheel drive
Steering type
Suspension type
Spring type
Electronic Brake Assistance
Vehicle Stability Control
Heated Steering Wheel
Climate Controls
Front/rear track size
Airbag availability
Overall height/width/length
Tire type and size
All headroom/legroom/shoulder room dimensions
Loading capacity and cargo volume
Air Conditioning
Navigation Aid
Remote Ignition
Tire Pressure Monitor
Information on vehicles manufactured before 1981 is limited because VINs had not been standardized prior to that year.
A VIN is like a fingerprint for a car and is widely used by the police and many other institutions for investigating and preventing VIN tampering, detecting theft, etc. A VIN is also useful for those looking to buy a pre-owned vehicle, as it provides detailed vehicle specifications and helps to search for vehicle history data. If you want to get a comprehensive and detailed overview of a used car’s background, VIN decoding can provide you with relevant and valuable data. Additionally, you also have an opportunity to check some important aspects concerning vehicle specifications and elements. For example, VIN number decoding allows you to compare the originally installed equipment with the current one, find the reason for replacement, if any, and reveal possible causes of various issues that led to it. It can be breakage, car accidents, automobile part replacements, etc. Aside from that, a VIN decoder solution like ClearVin is a great option if you want to find out whether a vehicle has ever been stolen. One more advantage is that by using a VIN number lookup, you can identify the falsified VIN code if the number in databases is not the same one you see on the automobile. It is a useful free VIN decoder feature because thousands of vehicles are being sold with disproved VINs.
A VIN is usually located somewhere on the body of the vehicle, and you can easily find it if you know where to look.
List of places where you can find the VIN in a car:
Front of the engine block
Driver’s side dashboard (viewable through the windshield)
Rear-wheel well (directly above the tire)
On the driver-side doorpost
Inside the driver-side door jamb
Underneath the spare tire
List of places where you can find the VIN on a motorcycle:
On the steering neck
On the motor near the bottom of the cylinders
You can also find the VIN on any documentation you have for the vehicle such as:
Vehicle title
Registration card
The Owner's manual
Insurance card/Insurance policy
Body shop records
Though it is easy to locate a VIN, decoding the information contained in every VIN might be a challenge. The 17 digits of the VIN are divided into segments and each represents some relevant information about the vehicle including the year, make and model, country, and factory of manufacture, serial number, etc.
However, you’ll need to use the character description from the image below:
Sign up today , free of cost, to enter as many VINs as you wish, and get instant reports.
Get more vehicle information in our full VIN check report. To see a sample report, click here.
If you have any questions, feel free to call +1 (844) 268 – 5991