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.