7 Quick Facts About Your Car's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)

A VIN, which stands for “Vehicle Identification Number,” is a serial number used by auto manufacturers to identify each individual motor vehicle. Towed vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, and scooters also have their own unique VIN. First introduced in 1954, the standard VIN we see today didn’t come into effect until 1981; after that, all on-road vehicles had to have a 17-character vehicle identification number, and there are certain rules associated with what can and cannot be in a vehicle’s ID number. Here are some more facts about your car’s VIN that you might not know.

ðŸš— 1. Uniqueness

Each VIN is unique and acts pretty much like your car’s fingerprint. No other motor vehicle will have the same one.

ðŸš— 2. 17 Digits

The VIN has to have 17 digits made up of different characters (capital letters and digits) that identify features about your car.

ðŸš— 3. Forbidden Letters

A VIN cannot use the letters Q (q), O (o), or I (i). This is to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0.

ðŸš— 4. Details

Each section of a motor vehicles ID number will tell you specific things about the car, truck, or motorcycle. If you know what to look for, you can learn where the vehicle was built; if it is a flexible fuel vehicle; the brand, engine size, and type; verification that the VIN was authorized by the manufacturer; the model; which plant assembled the vehicle; and the serial numbers of that motor vehicle. The sections of a VIN are called the World Manufacturer Identifier, the Vehicle Descriptor Section, and the Vehicle Identifier Section.

ðŸš— 5. VIN Location

There are different places to find a car’s VIN. The most obvious one is on the dashboard on the driver’s side. Stand outside the car on the driver’s side and look down at the corner of the dashboard, right where it meets the window. A second place to see the VON is on the door post on the driver’s side. You will also see your VIN on your ownership/registration, and probably on your insurance slip. A VIN might also be etched somewhere on the engine block, part of the car frame, on one of the bumpers, on the steering column, or under the spare tire.

ðŸš— 6. Used Cars

A VIN can be very useful, particularly if you are buying a used car. You can run the VIN through a search and see the vehicle’s history. You can also look up all of the features your car should have, so you know if what the dealer is telling you is correct.

ðŸš— 7. Boats

Boats do not have VINs; they have HINs instead. These are Hull Identification Numbers, and are only 12 characters long.