VIN, short for English Vehicle Identification Number, is a unique identification number assigned to each motor vehicle. It has 17 characters that allow for the identification of a specific vehicle. It is useful, among other things, when buying a used car, checking the history of the vehicle or in situations related to insurance .
Understanding the VIN number and knowing how to read it can prevent many problems and misunderstandings. This is extremely valuable information, containing data such as the manufacturer, model or year of production of the vehicle . So it’s worth learning how to read this number correctly and what each of its sections mean.
VIN location on a vehicle
Before we can analyze the VIN, we need to find it . In most cars, it is located on a data plate located in various parts of the car. It can usually be found on the windshield, in the lower left corner, near the dashboard. Other common locations include the driver’s door pillar or the engine compartment .
In newer cars, the VIN can often also be found in vehicle documents, such as the registration certificate . In older models, it can also be written on a plate located in the trunk or on the chassis . It is recommended that you read the vehicle’s owner’s manual, which describes exactly where the VIN is located in a given model.
VIN structure – three main sections
The VIN is divided into three key sections: WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier), VDS (Vehicle Descriptor Section), and VIS (Vehicle Identifier Section). Each of these sections has a different function and provides different information about the vehicle .
WMI is the first three characters of the VIN and identifies the vehicle manufacturer . The first character is the country code where the vehicle was manufactured, e.g. “1” for the USA, “J” for Japan . The second and third characters are the unique manufacturer code, e.g. “VW” for Volkswagen .
The middle section of the VIN number – VDS
The next six characters are the VDS, which is a section describing the technical details of the vehicle. This section contains information such as body type, model, engine type, security system and other characteristic features. The arrangement of these characters may vary depending on the manufacturer, but it always provides key technical information.
Knowledge of the structure of the VDS is especially useful when buying spare parts or accessories for a car. It allows you to make sure that a given part will be compatible with your vehicle . This section is also helpful in identifying low-production vehicles, where parameters may differ significantly.
The final section of the VIN – VIS
The last eight characters are the VIS, which is a section that individually identifies the vehicle . The first four characters of this section usually refer to the year of manufacture and the manufacturing plant, while the last four are the vehicle’s serial number . This section allows you to determine the exact date the vehicle rolled off the production line.
The serial number is unique to each car, making the VIN one of a kind. The data in the VIS is also used by manufacturers to track and resolve manufacturing defects in specific production runs. This is another example of how important it is to interpret the VIN correctly
Conclusions
Understanding the VIN and its sections is extremely important for every vehicle owner The VIN provides a wealth of valuable information about the vehicle, which can be useful both when buying a used car and in everyday use. It is worth remembering that reading the VIN can prevent problems related to counterfeiting or the accident history of the vehicle.
Knowing the location of the VIN in the vehicle and the ability to read its individual sections are skills that every driver should have . Thanks to this, we will have full control over our car’s data and the ability to quickly and efficiently solve any problems .
