Where to Check the Vehicle Identification Number in a Car?
2 Answers
In a car, the locations to check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) are: 1. The lower right corner of the front windshield; 2. On the door hinge pillar or door lock pillar; 3. In the engine compartment; 4. On the left side of the dashboard; 5. In the frame number column on the vehicle registration certificate. The VIN digits represent: 1. The 1st digit indicates the country or region of production; 2. The 2nd digit represents the car manufacturer's code; 3. The 3rd digit denotes the vehicle type code; 4. Digits 4 to 8 represent vehicle characteristics; 5. The 9th digit is a check digit; 6. The 10th digit indicates the model year; 7. The 11th digit represents the assembly plant; 8. Digits 12 to 17 denote the production serial number.
I love tinkering with used cars in my spare time. I remember when I first bought one, I really didn’t know where to find the VIN. Later, I figured it out—the main location is at the lower corner of the windshield on the driver’s side, near the dashboard. A string of numbers is etched into a small frame, which can be hard to see clearly. Opening the driver’s door, there’s also a label on the door jamb with the VIN and vehicle weight information. When you pop the hood, there’s often a metal plate with this code on the firewall in front of the engine. It’s also a must-have on insurance cards and registration documents, and it’s convenient to take a photo with your phone as a backup. This thing is like the car’s ID card—it’s essential for transfers and repair tracking, but don’t casually leak it to strangers to avoid scams. After all, I’ve personally lost money from falling for tricks. Now, when I check new cars, the locations are pretty much the same—nothing’s changed.
