A very essential 17 characters known as VIN, stick on four-wheelers is the key to every information about them.
Did you know that, VIN wasn’t 17 characters long always? Before 1980 the VIN was nearly 11 characters long. The way people today can easily decode the VIN, it wasn’t easy to find your entire vehicle’s information.
Today, with the help of VIN number decoder software, one can easily have all the features within minutes. Also, you can take a peek into your vehicle’s history.
Not just mid-sized, small, or large-sized four-wheelers have VIN encoded to check their features. Two-wheelers, like motorcycles, have their VIN encoders to decode.
Let’s clearly understand why and how is VIN important for your vehicle?
Identifying the Need of VIN and Its Use
It’s very well-known that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has been formed for the welfare of the people.
They look out to people and to make sure they are safe on the roadways. Thus, they have set certain rules for the citizens that drive as well as the makers of the vehicle.
Putting VINs on each vehicle is an important rule, which is followed by all vehicle manufacturers worldwide.
But, why is it important to put VIN on each vehicle?
These characters are a mix of digits and alphabets, which help to keep track of the number of vehicles manufactured each year. It helps law enforcement agencies to help the citizens at the time when any vehicle gets stolen, damaged, or illegally modified.
So, when you get back your stolen car, you should know that your cops have found it through your VIN.
What’s with this VIN? The 17 character on your vehicle is the unique identity of it. These characters are just like an encrypted code which can be decoded with the VIN number decoder to identify your vehicle specs.
Every digit and alphabet in VIN has its importance and meaning. Thus, 17 characterscontain a lot of information about your vehicle that you would not have even imagined.
The vehicle identification number has a specific format that is recognized globally after the format was implemented by ISO.
There are various benefits of VIN, among which is, knowing the market value of the vehicle, whether it is used or brand new.
You can know vital information, like manufacturer, year of production, the plant of production, type of engine, model, and much more about the vehicle.
The VIN is defined as a specific format imprinted on vehicles. The ISO institution implemented this format, which was recognized globally. Thus, every car manufacturer is obliged to mark those 17 long characters in the same special format.
Can you know all the features of your grandfather’s car through VIN, I am afraid not. The cars that have been manufactured after 1981 will have the VIN with all the information about it. Any paid or free VIN number decoder works best with the vehicles post-1981.
The 17 Long Characters Meaning
To understand VIN, let’s divide it into three sections.
These sections are divided into –VDS, VIS, and WMI.
So,
- WMI or the World Manufacturers is comprised of the first three characters.
The first digit means the country of the manufacture.
The second alphabet means the vehicle manufacturer.
The third alphabet means the vehicle type or the division.
- The second section is VDS or the Vehicle Descriptor Section consisting of the next five-character, from 4-8.
These five digits and alphabets display the vehicle’s brand, body style, engine brand, engine style and type, the model of the vehicle, series, and many other features.
- The third section, VIS or the Vehicle Identification Section contains nine letters and alphabets, from 9-17.
The Ninth alphabet/digit means the security check digit.
The Tenth alphabet means the model year of the vehicle.
The Eleventh alphabet means the assembly plant.
The last six digits, 12-17 display the serial number of the vehicle.
So, if you want to decode your VIN to know your vehicle’s specs quickly and accurately, read next.
Learning to Decode the VIN Code
As we already know that VIN is encoded on every vehicle that contains specifications about the vehicle.
So to decode the VIN, you need to find a good VIN number decoder website. But, to get relevant information, make sure you have a safe and secure VIN decoder website.
Many VIN decoders will offer you a free platform to check your vehicle’s features. You may also find many paid decoder sites.
However, if you pick paid websites, you may even get a history of your vehicle.
All you need to do is manually type down the 17 characters on the space provided and click the Decode button for the report.
So, when you decode the VIN what all vehicle history do you get?
- You will get the number of vehicle owners, duration of ownership, registration details, city, and state of registration.
- The report will also show possible problems, ranging from salvage reconstruction to Lemon check.
- You will also get records related to loan/sale events.
- You will also get the list of accidents ever reported or occurred with the exact dates and possible severity of damages.
- The report will also contain pending or existing recalls like safety-related issues & defects.
To decode the VIN, you must find out where you would find your VIN on your vehicle.
Locating your VIN
In your car, you may find the VIN on the dashboard of the driver’s side of the vehicle.
Or, you may find VIN on the driver’s side door and look around the door latches.
One more place where you can VIN is the insurance cards and vehicle’s title.
To Conclude –
Decoding your vehicle’s identification number is easy. All you need is to locate the place where the VIN is imprinted on your vehicle.
When you decide to buy any vehicle, you would want to examine the entire vehicle. Knowing the specification gives you confidence about your choice. Also, it tells you that the manufacturer is trustworthy.VIN Number decoder tells you the history of the vehicle and finds out whether the manufacturer has issued a recall and where those issues were resolved or not
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