VIN Decoder & Lookup – Decode your Vehicle Identification Number for free
What is a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique 17-character alphanumeric code that serves as your vehicle’s fingerprint. Each character provides information about the manufacturer, specific features, and history of the vehicle. Understanding the importance of the VIN is crucial for any vehicle owner or potential buyer, as it allows for the verification of a vehicle’s authenticity and provenance. Performing a VIN lookup grants access to a comprehensive report detailing the car’s make, model, year of manufacture, past ownership, and accident history. This information is invaluable for making informed purchasing decisions and ensuring the safety and legality of your vehicle.
Moreover, the VIN plays a critical role in various legal and administrative processes, including vehicle registration, insurance coverage, and warranty claims. Neglecting to properly maintain or document your VIN can lead to complications that may cost you time, money, and unnecessary stress. Savvy car owners understand the power of the VIN and leverage it to their advantage. By regularly checking their VIN and staying informed about its significance, they can make more confident decisions, protect their investment, and enjoy a smoother, safer driving experience.
Where can you find the VIN number?
Finding the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on different types of motor vehicles involves looking in specific locations unique to each vehicle type. Here’s a guide to locating the VIN on various motor vehicles:
Passenger Vehicles: To find the VIN on sedans, coupes, convertibles, hatchbacks, station wagons, SUVs, and minivans, start by looking at the dashboard. Specifically, check the corner of the dashboard on the driver’s side, which is visible through the windshield. Another common location is the driver’s side door jamb. Open the driver’s door and examine the door frame or the door post for a sticker or metal plate displaying the VIN. Additionally, some vehicles have the VIN engraved on the engine block, which often requires lifting the hood to locate.
Commercial Vehicles: For pickup trucks, cargo vans, and box trucks, the VIN is visible through the windshield on the driver’s side dashboard, located on the driver’s side door jamb, and engraved on the engine block.
For semi-trucks and trailers, the VIN can be found inside the driver’s side door jamb and stamped on the frame near the front of the truck or trailer.
Motorcycles and Similar Vehicles: For motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds, the VIN can be found on the right side of the steering head by turning the handlebars to the left, engraved on the frame near the engine, or sometimes on the engine case.
For ATVs, the VIN is engraved on the frame, often near the front or underneath the seat, and can sometimes be found on the engine case.
Recreational Vehicles (RVs): For motorhomes, the VIN can be found on the dashboard visible through the windshield on the driver’s side, inside the driver’s door jamb, and stamped on the frame.
For travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers, the VIN is stamped on the trailer frame, usually at the front, and can sometimes be found inside a cabinet or on the entry door frame.
Specialty Vehicles: For buses and emergency vehicles, the VIN is visible through the windshield on the driver’s side dashboard, inside the driver’s door jamb, and stamped on the frame.
For taxis, ride-sharing vehicles, and livery vehicles, the VIN is visible through the windshield on the driver’s side dashboard and inside the driver’s door jamb.
You can also find the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of a vehicle on various documents, including:
- Vehicle Title: The VIN is listed on the vehicle’s title documents, which prove ownership. It’s an important identifier on the title.
- Registration Documents: The VIN is commonly included on the vehicle registration documents issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
- Insurance Documents: Insurance policies often list the VIN, as it helps identify the insured vehicle accurately.
How to Decode the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?
Simply enter your 17-character VIN in the space provided above to decode it instantly. Along with the VIN’s detailed specifications, VinCheck.info will also provide you with the vehicle’s complete history.
To understand the meaning of each character in the 17-digit VIN, simply use the chart below. Each section of the VIN has a different meaning based on the 1979 and 1980 ISO standards. Please refer to the diagram below for the corresponding value of each character or section.
Characters 1-3: World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
The first three characters of the VIN represent the World Manufacturer Identifier, which identifies the vehicle’s country of origin and the manufacturer. The first character typically represents the country where the vehicle was manufactured, the second character may identify the manufacturer’s division or the vehicle type, and the third character often represents the vehicle’s model or manufacturing division.
| WMI | Region | Notes |
| A-C | Africa | AA-AH = South Africa |
| J-R | Asia | J = Japan |
| KL-KR = South Korea | ||
| L = China | ||
| MA-ME = India | ||
| MF-MK = Indonesia | ||
| ML-MR = Thailand | ||
| MS = Myanmar | ||
| NL-NR = Turkey | ||
| PA-PE = Philippines | ||
| PL-PR = Malaysia | ||
| RF-RG = Taiwan | ||
| S-Z | Europe | SA-SM = United Kingdom |
| SN-ST, W = Germany | ||
| SU-SZ = Poland | ||
| TA-TH = Switzerland | ||
| TJ-TP = Czech Republic | ||
| TR-TV = Hungary | ||
| TW-T1 = Portugal | ||
| VA-VE = Austria | ||
| VF-VR = France | ||
| VS-VW = Spain | ||
| VX-V2 = Yugoslavia | ||
| XL-XM = The Netherlands | ||
| XS-XW = USSR | ||
| X3-X0 = Russia | ||
| YA-YE = Belgium | ||
| YF-YK = Finland | ||
| YS-YW = Sweden | ||
| ZA-ZR = Italy | ||
| 1-5 | North America | 1, 4, 5 = United States |
| 2 = Canada | ||
| 3 = Mexico | ||
| 6-7 | Oceania | 6A-6W = Australia |
| 7A-7E = New Zealand | ||
| 8-9 | South America | 8A-8E = Argentina |
| 8F-8J = Chile | ||
| 8L-8R = Ecuador | ||
| 8X-82 = Venezuela | ||
| 9A-9E, 93-99 = Brazil | ||
| 9F-9J = Colombia |
Characters 4-8: Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS)
Characters 4 through 8 in the VIN make up the Vehicle Descriptor Section. This portion of the VIN provides specific details about the vehicle, including its body type, engine type, series, and more. It can vary in length and content depending on the manufacturer and the specific vehicle.
Here’s what the VDS section can encompass:
- Model Information: The VDS may contain characters that represent the specific model of the vehicle. This could be a concise representation of the model name or a combination of characters indicating the model.
- Body Style: Information about the body style of the vehicle can be encoded within the VDS. This could indicate whether the vehicle is a sedan, coupe, convertible, SUV, truck, etc.
- Engine Type: Some VDS codes might include details about the engine type or configuration. This can provide insights into the powertrain of the vehicle.
- Trim Level: The trim level of the vehicle, which denotes the various features, options, and upgrades, can be encoded in the VDS. This helps distinguish between different configurations of the same model.
- Other Vehicle Specifics: Depending on the manufacturer, additional details like safety features, special packages, or specific equipment may also be included in the VDS.
It’s important to note that while the VDS code provides valuable information about a vehicle, it is not standardized across all automakers. Different manufacturers may use this section to encode various details based on their own internal coding systems. As a result, interpreting the VDS code requires access to the manufacturer’s decoding guide or database.
Characters 9-17: Vehicle Identification Section (VIS)
The remaining characters (from 9 to 17) form the Vehicle Identification Section. This part of the VIN is unique to each vehicle and provides information about the vehicle’s model year, assembly plant, and the serial number of the vehicle as it came off the assembly line. The 9th character is often used to check the VIN’s accuracy.
Character 10: Vehicle Identification Section – Model Year
The 10th. character of the VIN represents the model year of a car. It is one of the important information you should check if you’re planning to buy a used car. This matters because the model year helps assess the value of a car. Insurance fees also depends on the age of the car. As shown above, the 10th character of the VIN indicates the model year.
| Code | Year | Code | Year | Code | Year |
| A | 1980 | X | 1999 | J | 2018 |
| B | 1981 | Y | 2000 | K | 2019 |
| C | 1982 | 1 | 2001 | L | 2020 |
| D | 1983 | 2 | 2002 | M | 2021 |
| E | 1984 | 3 | 2003 | N | 2022 |
| F | 1985 | 4 | 2004 | P | 2023 |
| G | 1986 | 5 | 2005 | R | 2024 |
| H | 1987 | 6 | 2006 | S | 2025 |
| J | 1988 | 7 | 2007 | T | 2026 |
| K | 1989 | 8 | 2008 | V | 2027 |
| L | 1990 | 9 | 2009 | W | 2028 |
| M | 1991 | A | 2010 | X | 2029 |
| N | 1992 | B | 2011 | Y | 2030 |
| P | 1993 | C | 2012 | 1 | 2031 |
| R | 1994 | D | 2013 | 2 | 2032 |
| S | 1995 | E | 2014 | 3 | 2033 |
| T | 1996 | F | 2015 | 4 | 2034 |
| V | 1997 | G | 2016 | 5 | 2035 |
| W | 1998 | H | 2017 | 6 | 2036 |
What types of information can you get from VinCheck.info VIN decoder service?
VinCheck.info’s VIN decoder service provides a comprehensive range of information about a vehicle’s history, including:
- Vehicle details: this section shows the vehicle’s specifications
- country of origin
- name of the maker
- engine type and size
- model year
- transmission type
- Vehicle ownership history: shows the number of owners, duration of ownership, registration details, and state of registration.
- Title History: Access details regarding the vehicle’s title, including any previous title transfers, salvage titles, or branding issues that may affect its value or legality.
- Flood or Salvage History: Flood-damaged or salvaged vehicles may have hidden issues. Land Rover VIN Check Reports reveal any history of flood damage or salvage, aiding buyers in avoiding vehicles with potential hidden problems.
- Odometer Readings: Verify the accuracy of the vehicle’s odometer readings to prevent potential odometer fraud or tampering.
- Lien and Loan Records: Discover any existing liens or outstanding loans on the vehicle, ensuring a smooth ownership transfer and preventing complications.
- Ownership Cost: Approximate calculation of the expenses associated with owning and operating a vehicle over a specific period. This estimate takes into account various factors such as the vehicle’s purchase price, depreciation, fuel consumption, insurance premiums, maintenance and repair costs, taxes, financing charges (if applicable), and other related expenses.
- Current warranty: type of coverage and warranty status.
- Accident History: Gain insight into any reported accidents or collisions the Land Rover has encountered, offering a comprehensive understanding of its past damages and repairs.
- Recalls and defects: latest recalls, impact on performance and safety, and available remedies.
- Market value: the estimated average value people are paying for the same car in your area.
- Sales history: shows historical listings of this vehicle for sale, either by a private party or by a car dealership.
- Equipment details: air conditioning system, mirrors, safety features, tires, and other related items.
- Fuel efficiency: the car’s city and highway mileage per gallon, fuel capacity, and type.
- Safety rating: IIHS crash ratings.
- Crash-worthiness is how a vehicle protects its occupants in a crash.
- Crash avoidance and mitigation refer to technology to prevent a crash or lessen its severity.
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If the VIN is not available, VinCheck.info offers a free license plate lookup that can yield the same results as a free VIN check.