• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Auto Trends Magazine

Car reviews, industry news, & advice.

door jamb

Where is my VIN Number Located?

November 29, 2016 by admin 1 Comment

Making sense of your vehicle’s VIN.

All cars have a vehicle identification number, a 17-character alphanumeric identification unique to that vehicle. Commonly known as a VIN number, your vehicle’s ID is assigned when it is manufactured. And just as your Social Security Number (SSN) is unique to you, a VIN reveals details specific to your car only.

Unlike your nine-digit SSN, it is doubtful you have memorized your VIN. Indeed, you might never think of that figure until someone asks for it, namely your insurance company, a repair shop, or a government agency. Unless you have your VIN written down or have a picture of it residing on your smartphone, you’ll have to locate it.

Here’s where you can find your vehicle’s VIN number:

1. On the dashboard.

The most common place to find a VIN is on your vehicle’s dashboard, specifically near where the dashboard meets the edge of the windshield on the driver’s side. Typically, the VIN is fixed to a metal plate and the code displayed so that anyone can read it from the outside of the vehicle looking in.

vehicle identification number
Reflections obscure the VIN found on the lower dashboard,
but it is still decipherable with the human eye.

2. On the driver’s side door jamb.

Another place where the number is usually found is on the driver’s side door jamb. Here, it is as easy to locate as opening the driver door and finding it.

vehicle identification number
The VIN located near the driver’s door jamb.

3. Check your insurance card.

If your car is already insured, then the VIN can be found on your insurance card. That card should be kept in a safe place, such as in your glove box with your other important papers and files (e.g., owner’s manual, repair records, satellite radio contract). Locate the card and the VIN should be published with your insurance information.

vehicle identification number on auto insurance card
A sample auto insurance card featuring a VIN, but with other pertinent blotted out.

4. On other locations.

A vehicle’s VIN can also be found on your engine’s firewall and may be located on other key components, including the transmission. The reason? For security, mostly. Given that many cars are routinely stolen, taken apart, and the parts are sold separately, matching the alphanumeric number is important. If there isn’t a match, that doesn’t necessarily mean the parts were stolen. Rather, it could reveal an engine swap you’re already familiar with, especially one you may have conducted yourself.

Deciphering Your VIN

The VIN isn’t simply some random letters and numbers. Certainly, it can seem that way, but there is a method to this 17-character madness.

The helpful people at Edmunds.com found the VIN reveals quite a bit of data about any car, including the make and model, trim level, country of origin, engine size, and the airbag type. Importantly, you can plug this information into the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s VIN Look-up Tool to find out what outstanding recalls, if any, are associated with your vehicle.

Another nifty tool is VINDecoder.net, what reveals pertinent information about your vehicle. The site is free, but you should know that links to the last 10 decoded VINs are featured. As the following example of a 1992 Honda Civic Coupe shows, there is much information about the car shared, but nothing about the current owner or its repair history.

vehicle identification number

See Also — Where Can I Find My Car Paint Code?

Filed Under: Special Tagged With: dashboard, DMV, door jamb, engine firewall, glove box, ID, identification, insurance, VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER, VIN

Primary Sidebar

Social Media

Visit our social media pages:
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
Pinterest

Where is Matt Currently Published?

CARFAX (new car reviews)
NAPA Know How Blog
On the Road Again

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS

Pages

  • About
  • Automotive Brochures
  • Contact
  • Write
    • Style Guide

Categories

Recent Posts

  • First Look: 2019 Toyota Avalon
  • The Next-Generation Chevrolet Equinox
  • Cute Ute: 2018 Ford EcoSport
  • Maxima Fighter: 2018 Toyota Camry XSE
  • At the Spring 2018 Charlotte AutoFair
  • Amped Up With a 2018 Nissan Leaf
  • New Pickup Truck Shopping Tips
  • High Country Chevy Silverado Delivers a Premium Package
  • Revived Lincoln Aviator Set to Take Flight
  • All-Wheel Drive Surprise: 2019 Nissan Altima
  • GMC Introduces Off-Road Sierra AT4 Line
  • Toyota: 2019 Corolla Hatchback Returns
  • Electric Avenue: BMW 740e
  • Cadillac Exclusive: Twin-Turbo V8 Engine
  • Generation Two: 2018 Buick Enclave
  • Grand SUV: Ford Expedition Platinum
  • PHEV: 2018 Mini Cooper Countryman
  • New! 2018 Lincoln Navigator Black Label
  • Rolling Classic: 2018 Chevrolet Suburban
  • The Electrified 2018 Volvo S90 T8
  • Luxury Elevated: Range Rover Velar
  • Quick Stop: IIHS Begins Rating Rear Crash Prevention Systems
  • Unpacking the 2019 Volvo XC40
  • Premium Midsize SUV: 2018 Toyota Highlander
  • Automated Driving? IIHS Researchers Detect Ambivalence
  • Enhanced Performance: 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe RST
  • Live! From the 2018 Chicago Auto Show!
  • Highlights of the 2018 Jeep Wrangler
  • Bestseller: 2018 Nissan Rogue
  • How to Keep Children Safe in a Crash
  • President Trump’s SOTU Address Touts $1.5 Trillion Infrastructure Investment
  • Waymo Expands Commitment to Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
  • Genesis to Separate From Hyundai Showrooms
  • Limited Time Only: Jaguar F-TYPE 400 SPORT
  • At a Glance: 2019 Ford Edge ST
  • Hyundai Veloster N: Namyang Performance
  • At a Glance: 2019 Kia Forte
  • New Toyota Avalon Demonstrates Commitment to a Languishing Segment
  • Refreshed Jeep Cherokee Includes New Turbo Engine
  • The Next Centennial: 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • Happy Centennial: 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
  • New 2019 Ram 1500 Includes Mild Hybrid Drivetrains
  • Ford Ranger Fun Facts
  • Steady as She Goes: 2018 Volkswagen Passat
  • America’s Top 10 Selling Vehicles in 2017
  • All Terrain and the 2018 GMC Acadia
  • How to Buy a Repo Vehicle
  • Super Steed: Ford Performance Enhanced Mustang GT
  • Check Engine Light On: How to Diagnose (OBD-II)
  • Behind the Wheel of the 2018 Subaru Crosstrek
April 2018
S M T W T F S
« Mar    
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
2930  

Copyright © 2018 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in