How to Read a Vehicle Identification Plate

[LeJeffrey]

The vehicle identification plate is generally located at the lower part of the passenger door or in the safety box of the engine compartment. You can see it by opening the car door or the engine hood. The vehicle identification plate is a label that indicates the basic characteristics of the vehicle.

[DiRemington]

When I first bought my car, I was also curious about how to read the vehicle identification plate. It's usually located on the edge of the driver's door frame or at the lower right corner of the windshield—just bend down and you'll see it. The most important thing on it is the 17-digit VIN code. The first few characters represent the manufacturer and model, for example, JT for Toyota and 1G for General Motors. The middle digits indicate the model year and production sequence, while the last few are check digits. When I helped a friend choose a car, I used a mobile app to scan the VIN to check the factory configuration and accident history—super useful. The plate also shows the manufacturing date, engine number, and other details, helping avoid buying refurbished second-hand cars. Don’t forget to keep it clean during car washes to ensure it remains legible, just in case you need to verify information later.