More VIN Information

More about Vehicle Identification Numbers

Where to Find VIN Numbers

The most common place to find a Vehicle Identification Number is found on a small metal plate attached to the driver side top of the dashboard. The tag is designed to be visible through the windshield for easy access. Every car is required to have one of these and all of them are located in this one place. It is illegal to remove or change this plate. If the tag is missing, chances are the vehicle has been repaired, or was most likely, stolen.

These tips will guide you to other places where you might find your vehicles' VIN number:

Vehicle Identification Label in your Owner's Manual
Stamped on the frame under the front hood
On a sticker on the driver's side door pillar
On state vehicle registration certificate
On the vehicle title of ownership
New cars have the VIN on the price sticker
A label in the luggage/spare tire area

The VIN number tells the production history of the vehicle and individualizes it from all other cars. A VIN is like a snowflake; There are no two alike. The VIN number is an alpha-numeric code (made up of a series of letters and numbers). Each symbol tells something different about the car. The orders of different letters and numbers stand for different things to different manufacturing companies. In the General Motors coding system, first number tells what nation the vehicle was manufactured in. The second tells who the manufacturer of the vehicle is. The third describes the make and type.. The fourth defines the braking system. The fifth tells what chassis type the car is. The sixth tells what series the car is in (is it a plain model or a sports model?). The seventh number tells what kind of body the vehicle has (2 door, 4 doors, convertible, etc.). The eighth defines engine size and manufacturer. The ninth digit is the check digit. The tenth place tells the year of manufacture. The eleventh digit defines the vehicle assembly plant location and the last six digits are the plant sequential numbers. These are unique codes that makes each number unique (like the snoflake).Other manufacturers use a different ordering scheme for their VIN numbers.

History

1949 through July 1964

The VIN for cars manufactured before August, 1964 is simply a serial number. You need to know the vehicle model as no other no other information can be determined from the serial number.

August 1964 to July 1980

Beginning in August 1964, a new system went into effect that included vehicle model and year within the production serial number. This system defined the first two digits to indicate the model, the third digit indicates the year, with the fourth through tenth digits now defining the actual serial number.

The following rules also apply:

1965-1969 vehicles typically have a 9-digit VIN which had to be expanded to a 10 digit number in any given year when total vehicle production exceeded 1 million. In the 10 digit case, the fourth digit is always a "1".
1970-1979 vehicles always have a 10-digit VIN. The fourth digit being a "2" or "3".
1980 vehicles have a 10-digit VIN. The third digit is always the letter "A".

1981 to present

Vehicles manufactured during and after 1981 are required by federal law to use a 17-digit VIN system. This new system defines the year, model and serial number, country of manufacture, body style, engine type, restraint system, and manufacturing plant.

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