How many digits does a general vehicle frame number have?
2 Answers
Generally, a vehicle frame number consists of 17 digits. The vehicle frame number represents: 1. Digits 1 to 3 indicate the manufacturer, brand, type code, and World Manufacturer Identifier; 2. Digits 4 to 8 represent vehicle characteristics; 3. The 9th digit is a check digit; 4. The 10th digit indicates the model year; 5. The 11th digit represents the vehicle assembly plant; 6. Digits 12 to 17 are the serial number. The vehicle frame number, abbreviated as VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), serves the following purposes: 1. Traffic violation inquiries; 2. Vehicle identity verification; 3. Selecting the correct car parts; 4. Verifying model information; 5. Checking vehicle production progress.
After driving for so many years, most of the VINs I've come across are 17 digits long. It's usually engraved at the bottom left corner of the windshield or on the door frame near the driver's seat—just look carefully and you'll find a combination of letters and numbers. Last time when helping a friend pick a used car, I specifically asked someone to teach me how to read this code: the first three digits indicate the vehicle's origin, the middle digits represent the model characteristics, and the last few digits are the serial number. Mechanics pay the most attention to this—without a complete 17-digit VIN, the car might have an unclear history, making it troublesome for insurance or repairs. So when buying a car, always check the VIN engraving for signs of tampering to avoid getting scammed with a rebuilt vehicle.
