How To Find The VIN Code In Your Car
No matter if you prefer manual or automatic gearboxes, seven-seater or two-seater cars, every vehicle you drive will have a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It is like having a fingerprint for your vehicle, as each car will have a different VIN code that can be used to identify it.
What is a Vehicle Registration Number (VIN)?
The VIN program was initiated in 1980 by the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) as a method of standardising all car serial numbers. It was designed to make sure that no car make, model or production could ever be passed off as another.
All cars built before 1981 do not have the standard VIN numbers that we use today, they will instead require manufacturer specific information in order to decode them.
The structure of a VIN code is very specific and structured in a way so that every vehicle will have a completely unique number. VIN codes cannot include the letters Q, O or I so as not to cause confusion with numbers 0 and 1.
Once you know the VIN code of a car, you can track its history and features, including model, manufacturer, year, and all technical specifications, such as if it is a manual or automatic transmission.
How to find the VIN code in your car
A VIN code is a 17-digit string of numbers and letters that will be on your vehicle somewhere. Depending on your vehicle, there are a number of different places that your VIN could be found:
The Dashboard: The easiest and most common place to find a VIN code on any car is on the dashboard on the driver’s side. It is usually right at the front under the windscreen and is visible from outside the car looking in. With tinted windscreens, there is often a small, clear square to allow you to read the VIN easily. Alternatively, in some cars, the VIN code is in front of the steering wheel on the dashboard.
The Engine Block: Your VIN code could also be found under the hood, on the front of the engine. Some manufacturers will fix the VIN, or part of the VIN, to the firewall inside the engine compartment.
The Car Frame: On some cars, the VIN code can be found on the car frame, close to the windscreen washer container. The easiest way to find this is to look down in front of the car on the driver’s side.