How to Check the Vehicle Model Code?
3 Answers
Vehicle model code can be checked as follows: 1. First, locate the vehicle registration certificate. 2. The reverse side of the registration certificate shows the vehicle photo, while the front side displays all vehicle information. 3. On the upper right portion of the registration certificate, there is a brand model field which indicates the specific vehicle model. Below is relevant information about vehicle model codes: Vehicle Model: Refers to the name given by manufacturers to vehicles with identical type, brand, category, series and body style. Vehicle identification codes consist of five parts: 1. Manufacturer code represented by 2 Chinese phonetic letters. Examples: CA for FAW, EQ for Dongfeng, BJ for Beijing, NJ for Nanjing. 2. Vehicle category code represented by 1 Arabic numeral: 1 for trucks; 2 for off-road vehicles; 3 for dump trucks; 4 for tractors; 5 for special purpose vehicles; 6 for buses (large/medium/small); 7 for passenger cars; 8 for trailers; 9 for semi-trailers/extended cargo trailers. 3. Main parameter code represented by 2 Arabic numerals: ① For trucks, indicates gross vehicle weight (curb weight + payload); ② For passenger cars, indicates engine displacement (unit: liters); ③ For buses, indicates body length (unit: meters). 4. Product sequence number represented by 1 Arabic numeral: 0,1,2 indicate model modifications/variants. 5. Manufacturer-defined code.
As a professional who works with cars every day, I've found that vehicle identification numbers (VINs) are usually hidden in five or six common locations: The lower left corner of the windshield is the easiest to find—just crouch down and squint to see that 17-digit alphanumeric combination. The door frame nameplate often has the VIN sticker, and some cars require opening the driver's side door frame to spot it. There might also be stamped numbers in the corner of the dashboard or on the inside of the glove compartment. I recommend first checking the vehicle registration certificate and insurance policy, as these documents clearly print the most accurate information. When getting repairs, bringing the vehicle license is the safest bet since the VIN field on it is the officially certified vehicle identification code. Nowadays, many car enthusiasts also like to take a photo of the chassis number and save it on their phones for backup—this trick is indeed convenient.
I remember how much trouble I had when I first tried to find my car's model code—I spent ages searching the engine bay with no luck. Later, an experienced mechanic told me to check the edge of the windshield, and sure enough, it was on a reflective sticker in the lower left corner. The safest bet is the duplicate of the vehicle registration certificate, where the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is clearly printed on the second page. If you can't find these documents, try adjusting the passenger seat backward and looking at the sill trim panel—many German cars hide it there. Nowadays, I’ve also learned to check the e-insurance app—just enter the license plate number, and the vehicle information page directly displays the full model code, which is much more convenient than digging through paper documents.
