Vehicle VIN: What it is and how you can find it in a simple way
You may have heard of a car's VIN at some point, especially if you have one. However, do you know what it is? If you are interested in learning and really understanding what it is and all the documentation it contains, here is all the information you need.
What is the VIN number and where can I find it? is a question frequently asked by new drivers. This is due to the fact that the identification it provides is usually needed to carry out certain procedures on the vehicle.
So what is the VIN number of a car?
In a nutshell, it's the Vehicle Identification Number, of course, mostly known as the VIN number, after its initials for Vehicle Identification Number. Every car has one and it is absolutely unique. It is made up of 17 characters and, although at first glance they may seem like incomprehensible digits, carVertical explains what each of them represents:
As you can see in the image above, the VIN number consists of 3 sections made up of 17 characters. The first one indicates the country where the vehicle was produced. The second digit is the producer's or manufacturer's badge, while the third digit refers to the section. In the second group, from position 4 to 8, the description of the car can be found, such as the type of engine and its safety features.
As far as the ninth position is concerned, it deals with the veracity of the VIN, i.e. it is like a security code from the manufacturer.
On the other hand, the tenth character is responsible for indicating the year of the vehicle. The eleventh digit is the assembly line identifier. In the last group, the sequence or serial number of the production line is found and houses the digits from position 12 to 17.
In this context, it is worth mentioning that cars manufactured in the 1980s or earlier have a VIN number in a common size. The main difference that can be perceived is that, although they have an identifying serial number, this varies according to the vehicle manufacturer.
As relevant information, it is important to note that this set of alphanumeric characters is essential at the time you think of buying a second-hand vehicle, because with it you can get documentation and solid information about its history, such as if at some point was the victim of an accident, or any criminal act and other data that may be useful.
- Why would the VIN number of the vehicle be useful?
To be honest, there are several occasions when it is convenient to have this identification system. One of these is, as we mentioned, if you are thinking of investing in a used car, especially if you are going to do so through a private seller.
In this type of situation, the best thing to do is to research and look for as much information and documentation as possible on the vehicle to be sure that you are making a good investment. You never know if what you are about to buy is a stolen vehicle. That is why, with this series of numbers on a free portal such as MyFreeVIN.com, you can access this kind of information in just a few minutes and make a safe investment.
