Where can the 17-digit VIN be found?
2 Answers
17-digit VIN is generally located on the front bulkhead of the engine compartment, the left side of the vehicle dashboard, or the vehicle identification plate on the central pillar. Additionally, the VIN is usually printed in the "VIN" column of the new motor vehicle license. Here is some extended information: 1. Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): Commonly referred to as the chassis number, the VIN is a 17-character alphanumeric code that represents information such as the car manufacturer, production location, production year, and engine/chassis serial number. Due to its unique nature (guaranteed not to repeat for 30 years), it is also known as the vehicle's ID card. 2. Meaning: The 1st digit represents the country of production, the 2nd digit represents the manufacturer. The 3rd digit represents the vehicle type. Digits 4 to 8 represent vehicle characteristics, series, body type, engine type, gross vehicle weight rating, etc. The 9th digit is a check digit, the 10th digit represents the model year, the 11th digit indicates the assembly plant location, and digits 12 to 17 represent the vehicle's production sequence number.
Last time I went for the annual vehicle inspection, the staff taught me several locations to check the VIN. The most common spot is the lower left corner of the windshield - you can see it without even opening the door, which is super convenient. If it's obscured by tint or dirt, just open the passenger door and look for the metal plate on the door frame's lower edge where it's clearly printed. I also discovered that some vehicles have it in the engine compartment, like near the front crossmember or shock absorber mount. By the way, the complete VIN is always printed on both the vehicle registration certificate and license - I recommend taking photos to keep on your phone as backup. Honestly, checking these documents is the most reliable method, but when in a hurry, just look at that string of characters on the windshield - saves you even the trouble of wiping off dust.
