How to Search for Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is best described as the unique code (up to 17 digits which can be mixed with alphabets), including a serial number, that must be used by the automotive industry to identify each particular motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds, as reportedly defined in ISO 3779:2009.

The first time VINs were introduced to vehicles was in 1954 in the United States of America when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began requiring them for all road vehicles and one can locate it different places both within a car and outside it.

To find the VIN outside the car, one has to check the vehicle documents including the vehicle title, registration card, insurance documents, owner’s manual, body shop repair records, and possibly, the police reports.

On the vehicle, it is also easy to locate the VIN and here, it can be easily found on the lower-left corner of the dashboard, in front of the steering wheel. In some vehicles, it is possible to read the number by looking through the windshield.

Apart from this place, the VIN can also appear in the front of the engine block, the front of the car frame, which is near the container that holds windshield washer fluid, the rear wheel well just directly above the tyre.

You can also find it inside the driver-side doorjamb. In this case, you would need to open the door, and look underneath where the side-view mirror would be located if the door was shut. Again, one can see the number at the driver-side doorpost just after opening the door and looking near the latch close to the seatbelt.

If the number cannot be found in those places, the next place to check is underneath the spare tire. If not found, then it is time to consult the vehicle manual or calling the dealer.

Importance of the VIN

The VIN is important in various ways and these include the fact that it helps security agencies to recover it if stolen. It is also important when one wants to sell a car and fill out the bill of sale. Furthermore, it is important to find it for the purpose of registering new cars.

With the VIN, one can easily check a vehicle’s background, including the manufacturer, the model year, where it was built.

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