HOW TO READ A VIN NUMBER
Locate The (VIN)
- Your Vehicle Paperwork: The easiest way to get your VIN is to check your auto insurance card, title, or registration.
- Driver’s Side Dash: If you don’t have your paperwork, you’ll find your VIN on the dashboard facing up toward the windshield on the driver’s side.
- Driver’s Side Door: All vehicles should have information about the vehicle, including the VIN, on an information plaque on the driver’s door or frame.
- Engine Block: The engine block is stamped with a lot of information as well. If you’re sure the engine has not been changed out, you may be able to find a full or partial VIN there.
What Each Digit Means?
- Make/Model: (Digits 1-3) This breaks out the vehicle's make, model, and manufacturer.
- Vehicle Features: (Digits 4-8) These digits identify the various features of the specific model — trim specifications, drive-line options, etc.
- Verifying #: (Digit 9) Determined through a complex mathematical formula that relates to the other numbers in the VIN; used to verify that the VIN itself is not fake.
- Model Year: (Digit 10) Represents the vehicle's model year, which is not to be confused with the year it was sold or delivered.
- Assembly Plant: (Digit 11) An internal digit that shows where the car was built.
- Sequence Of Model Production: (Digit 12-17) These digits indicate the order in which the vehicle left the assembly line. This is effectively the serial number.