Where to Find the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?
3 Answers
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is generally located at the lower left corner of the front windshield, or on the driver's side door hinge pillar, door lock pillar, or door edge, where it is quite visible. In some cases, it may also be found in the engine compartment. If not found in these locations, it might be fixed on the inner side of the door near the driver's seat. The VIN consists of a total of 17 characters, which can be divided into three parts: the first part is the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), comprising the 1st to 3rd characters; the second part is the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), comprising the 4th to 9th characters; and the third part is the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS), comprising the 10th to 17th characters. The VIN is the unique identification information of a vehicle, equivalent to the vehicle's ID card.
Yesterday, while helping a friend check a used car, I discovered that the most common location for the VIN is at the lower left corner of the windshield—just squat down to see that 17-character string. If the fender is too dirty to read, the most reliable spot is the nameplate on the door frame. Open the driver’s side door, and you’ll find a white label with black text below the B-pillar. A mechanic once taught me a trick: the metal plate in the engine bay also bears the VIN, usually on the radiator support or firewall. I remember during one inspection, the staff simply asked me to flip to the second page of the vehicle registration certificate—the printed VIN there is the most authoritative. However, different brands hide it in different places. Japanese cars often tuck it in the spare tire well, while German cars might place it under the passenger seat rail. If you still can’t find it, just pull out your phone and search the owner’s manual for the keyword "VIN"—it’ll never fail you.
Last time during the vehicle inspection, I was asked for the VIN and froze on the spot. Later, I did some research: 90% of cars have raised numbers at the driver's side corner of the windshield, below the wipers. If the window tint is too dark to see clearly, just check the vehicle registration certificate or compulsory insurance policy – those paper documents in the file bag have complete records. A car enthusiast friend told me it's definitely in the engine bay; pop the hood and look for the aluminum plate near the firewall, or for some American cars, it's engraved on the suspension tower. Nowadays, mobile apps make it convenient too – apps like XX Auto Care can display VIN information directly after binding your license plate. I recommend saving it in your phone notes, as this anti-counterfeiting code is needed for transfers, repairs, insurance claims, and more.
