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Every car owner knows that there are a lot of important things, documents, and numbers related to their vehicle, and some of them are far more important than others. We usually remember only our license plates, and we know the basics of how they are determined based on state, province, and location. However, there is one more number that is extremely valuable when it comes to our auto, and that is the vehicle identification number or VIN. In this article, we are going to tell you more about these digits, why they are important, and everything else you need to know.
Continue reading if you want to be able to recognize these digits, know why they are crucial, and how you can do the VIN check on your own.
1. What do the characters represent?
Source: autozone.com
This digit name is made of 17 different characters, figures, and letters that the manufacturers put on every different vehicle. It is just like our ID numbers or social security numbers, and there cannot be two vehicles with the same VIN. They are made to give information about important things including the country of origin, auto type and model, engine, and even airbag information.
Let’s now break down the characters and give you more details on what they represent. The first three characters show the world manufacturer identifier, the digits between the fourth and ninth position are the vehicle descriptor section. In the descriptor selection, you can learn more about the model, type, engine, and transmission type of the auto. And the last eight characters are the vehicle identifier section.
2. What’s important about it?
Now that you know what the car VIN number represents, we will give you more details on why it is important. The first thing you need to know that it is like the DNA of your vehicle, and it can tell you and your mechanic everything that you need to know about it. When there is something wrong with our auto, the mechanic can easily check those characters, and learn more about the automobile.
They will be able to see the history of maintenance, what has been done to it, what was broken, and pretty much what needs to be changed. This makes the whole process far easier and safer, and if there are parts that need to be changed, they can easily find the right ones depending on the make and model of your car.
In addition to this, the automobile will be better protected and in case it gets stolen, the police will be able to locate it because of these characters. Know that when the digits are pinned across the door or the windshield, the thieves will have difficulties removing it, and with that, the police will be able to track your car and get it back to you.
3. Where is it located?
Source: whichcar.com.au
Depends on the make and model of the auto, the location of these characters can vary. However, there is a rule that the VIN can be found by looking at the dashboard on the side of the driver. It is said that if you want to locate it without any issues, you should just stand outside of your car, move to the driver’s window, and look directly at the side of the dashboard. It should be placed near the windshield.
If you cannot locate it there, then you should open the door, and look at the place where the door latches when it is not open. In case you cannot find it in these two places, then you should just check the documents you have about your car including the insurance card or the registration document. Know that you can always ask your mechanic about these digits if you cannot locate them on your own or visit a site such as myreg.com.
4. It is possible to check and decode the figures?
The short answer is yes, you can look up this number on your own. According to vinreport, you can easily find a VIN number decoder online and use it to get all the information about a vehicle. Doing this will help you learn more about the history of your car, all the maintenance that was done, and you can easily get other information as well.
5. Should I run the VIN before I purchase a used vehicle?
The biggest reason why you should always look up this number is to find more information on an auto that you are interested in buying. We all know that not all sellers are honest, and they might try to trick you and tell you that the vehicle is worth more than its actual value. Because of this, you should check the number and decode it later.
When you use a decoder, you will be able to see information about previous owners, if the vehicle has been stolen, and if it has been regularly maintained. Know that this simple lookup will save you a lot of time and money, and you won’t risk purchasing a stolen vehicle. If you are not sure how or why you should do this, you can always contact a professional, and ask them to run this number for you.
In addition to these things, these digits will also let you know if the car was involved in an accident, if there was serious damage, and if there have been parts that needed to be replaced. Know that purchasing an auto that has been seriously damaged may be a wrong decision, and in most cases, if you choose to do it, you should never pay the full price. The VIN will also give you information on when was the auto last inspected, and you will know if the seller is telling the truth about upkeep and maintenance.
As you can see, this is the most important number on your vehicle, and you should always pay attention to it. It can give you all the necessary information about what has been done to it, history, and previous owners. Decoding the characters will save you a lot of stress, and you will always know things first hand.
