Top 5 Best VIN Decoders 2020

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or Chassis Number can be found on the dashboard, driver’s side door and on the registration certificate. All cars and light commercial vehicles built after 1981 have a unique 17-character VIN that provides access to valuable information about that vehicle’s history.

VIN is short for Vehicle Identification Number. All vehicles are assigned a VIN when they are manufactured. They are used to uniquely identify all vehicles. Vehicle Identification Numbers are recorded in accidents, insurance records, and when work is done on a vehicle by a body shop, dealership or mechanic.

Vehicles from 1981 to present have 17 character VIN’s. Before 1981 may be shorter. VIN’s do not use the letter “I” or “O”. These characters are numbers “1” and “0”. 1969 and newer vehicles should have VIN on the driver dash.

The first three characters uniquely identify the manufacturer of the vehicle using the world manufacturer identifier or WMI code (World manufacturer identifier).

There are over a billion cars on Earth, and VINs are how we keep track of what happens to them all. Whenever something happens to a vehicle, be it an accident, oil change or overhaul, the event is recorded using that vehicle’s VIN. In other words, your car’s VIN is the key to unlocking the secrets of its past. This makes VINs an extremely useful tool for just about anyone.

Owners of used cars can use VIN check services to find out if their car has ever been in an accident, if it’s ever been recalled by its manufacturer, how often the car has been bought and sold, what its original production details are… The list goes on.

People looking to purchase a used car should always obtain a vehicle’s VIN before buying. Armed with a car’s VIN, prospective buyers can get reliable information about the car’s history. This can protect them from getting scammed. You can also sue it to get a better idea of whether the previous owner did vehicle maintenance.

Even people who own new vehicles can use their VIN to establish trust with prospective buyers, should they choose to sell their car. They can also use it to find out where and when their car was constructed, which could prove useful should the car’s manufacturer is shown to have committed malfeasance.

Cars usually have their VIN imprinted on the following locations:

1. The bottom corner of the windshield on the driver’s side.
2. Under the bonnet, next to the latch.
3. On the front end of the vehicle frame.
4. Inside the door pillar on the driver’s side.

Make sure to check your car’s VIN in at least two of these places. When preparing to sell a stolen car, thieves often cut off the VIN and replace it with a fake one!