What is a VIN number?
A VIN number is a unique 17-digit code to identify each individual vehicle. It contains information about the manufacturer and the main exterior and interior features of the vehicle. Identification numbers may not contain characters such as I, O (o) and Q, due to their similarity to the numbers 0, 1 and 9, and are usually applied to fixed parts of the body or chassis and to specially made license plates. With VIN lookup you can check the main factory characteristics of your automobile encoded by the manufacturer in the identification number.
What information is hidden in the VIN number?
The VIN lookup is used to extract information about the external and technical characteristics of the vehicle, and provides the following information:
Make/model/year of manufacture
Country of manufacture
Trim level
Body type
Engine model and power
Gas tank volume
Consumption on the freeway / city
Car warranty
Turning circle
Parktronic
Car anti-theft system
Anti-lock system
Brake type front/rear
Transmission
Drive
Steering Control Type
Suspension
Type of springs
Emergency braking assistance system
Vehicle stability control system
Heated steering wheel
Climate control
Wheelbase and ground clearance
Location of airbags
Standard/additional number of seats
Type and size of tires
Exterior dimensions and measurement of interior space
Load capacity/towing weight
Air conditioning
Navigation
Remote ignition
Tire pressure monitor
Since there was no unified format of VIN before 1981, each manufacturer used different systems of identification and data encryption, that is why the information on cars manufactured before 1981 is limited.
Why check the VIN number with the decoder?
When buying a used car, the data provided by the VIN decoder is very important. In particular, they allow you to compare the originally installed equipment with the current one, identify differences and find out the possible causes (e.g., accident, parts replacement, breakdown, and so on).
Also the difference in the car characteristics with the data encoded in the VIN number can help to identify a fake VIN. Every year thousands of stolen cars are put up for sale under different VIN numbers.
In addition, since the VIN number serves as a tool to identify each individual vehicle and is often used by law enforcement and various government agencies, it is the VIN number that can be used to trace a vehicle’s history, for example, by ordering a complete vehicle history report on our website.
Where is the VIN number located?
Usually the VIN number is located somewhere on the body of the car, and you can easily find it if you know where to look.
How does the VIN decoder work?
The structure of the code is based on the ISO 3779-1983 and ISO 3780 standards, so any 17-character VIN number can be divided into three parts: WMI (manufacturer index) – 3 values, VDS (descriptive section) – 6 values and VIS (distinctive section) – 8 symbols.
