You’ve likely heard the term VIN used in reference to a vehicle before; but what does it stand for, what exactly do all of those letters and numbers mean, and where in the world can you find your vehicle’s VIN?
The acronym VIN stands for vehicle identification number and every automobile manufactured after 1981 has it’s own unique, 17 digit number.
Fun Fact: Before 1981, there was no industry standard regarding length or character type for VIN’s.
Finding your vehicle’s vin
The driver side interior dash is the most common place to find a VIN. The easiest way to view the VIN in this location is to stand outside of the vehicle, on the driver’s side, and look through the windshield.
Other spots on your vehicle where the VIN may be located:
- Driver’s side doorjamb and doorpost
- Open the driver’s side door and look near the door latch and/or underneath where the side view mirror is.
- Front of the engine block
- This should be easily spotted by popping the hood and looking at the front of the engine.
- Rear wheel well
- Under the spare tire
Decoding the 17-digit VIN
The VIN provides clues as to a vehicle’s background, including the manufacturer, model, year, and where it was built. We’ve created this great graphic to help breakdown a VIN’s meaning even further:
