Advice
What is vehicle identification number (VIN) in a car?
Find out what VIN stands for and how it can be used to keep your car safe, and buy a used car with peace of mind.
Words by: Nimisha Jain
Last updated on 19 April 2024 | 0 min read
What is a VIN number?
Vehicle identification number, commonly known as VIN or chassis number, is a unique numerical ID assigned to your car to legally identify it, and help differentiate it from other cars of the same make and model.
The VIN is usually 17 digits long and it can’t be changed. Among other uses, this helps identify your car if it’s stolen.
The VIN is usually 17 digits long and it can’t be changed. Among other uses, this helps identify your car if it’s stolen.
Where is the VIN on the car?
The VIN is stamped into the chassis of your car (hence why it’s also known as ‘chassis number’). Some cars also have the VIN on the windshield, side of the dashboard, or the door jamb. You should check your car’s owner manual to find out where the VIN is located.
You can also find the VIN on the car’s logbook – this helps spot a stolen car if the VIN doesn’t match on the logbook and the car’s chassis when you’re looking to buy a used car.
You can also find the VIN on the car’s logbook – this helps spot a stolen car if the VIN doesn’t match on the logbook and the car’s chassis when you’re looking to buy a used car.
Can I find my VIN online?
You can also find the VIN online If you don’t want to go through the hassle of digging out the owner manual and flicking through tens of pages to find where the VIN is located. You may also want to check your car’s VIN online in case your car’s been rebuilt or modified which has caused the VIN to be lost.
You can find a car’s VIN online using the car’s registration plate – all you need to do is head to our Vehicle Check page and buy a vehicle check report for £4.95. Through Vehicle Check, you can find the VIN in minutes along with other details about the car, like its number of previous owners, spec, colour changes, outstanding finance and risk of third-party trace.
You can find a car’s VIN online using the car’s registration plate – all you need to do is head to our Vehicle Check page and buy a vehicle check report for £4.95. Through Vehicle Check, you can find the VIN in minutes along with other details about the car, like its number of previous owners, spec, colour changes, outstanding finance and risk of third-party trace.
When can I get a new VIN?
If you have a kit car - i.e. a car that you've assembled together from car parts - or if you’ve restored or radically altered a car, you may have to contact the DVLA to register the new vehicle.
Once the DVLA know about your new car, you get an authorisation letter so that the car can be assigned a new VIN. The new VIN helps you register the car so that you can legally drive it on the UK roads. If you want to assign the original number plates to the car, you will need to prove the car’s original VIN to the DVLA or apply for a replacement identity number using the V765 form.
Once the DVLA know about your new car, you get an authorisation letter so that the car can be assigned a new VIN. The new VIN helps you register the car so that you can legally drive it on the UK roads. If you want to assign the original number plates to the car, you will need to prove the car’s original VIN to the DVLA or apply for a replacement identity number using the V765 form.
How do you read a VIN on UK car?
The 17-digit VIN isn’t a random string of letters and numbers, it actually signifies something.
Let's see what the European VIN format means with the help of an example: WBABW33426PX70804 1. The first three characters make up the World Manufacturer Identifiers - it identifies the car's country, manufacturer and vehicle category. In the above example: the letter W stands for Germany, B for BMW and A for passenger cars. 2. The fourth to ninth characters are the vehicle descriptors. They tell us more about how the car is made. This includes the engine type, restraint system, engine code, transmission type and car model. The ninth character is called a check digit which helps detect invalid VINs. 3. The tenth character stands for the car model year. In the above example, the 10th character '6' signifies the year 2006. 4. The eleventh character is for the manufacturing plant's location. In our example, the plant code 'P' stands for Regensburg. 5. The twelfth to seventeenth characters of the VIN are the production sequence numbers which are unique for every car.
Let's see what the European VIN format means with the help of an example: WBABW33426PX70804 1. The first three characters make up the World Manufacturer Identifiers - it identifies the car's country, manufacturer and vehicle category. In the above example: the letter W stands for Germany, B for BMW and A for passenger cars. 2. The fourth to ninth characters are the vehicle descriptors. They tell us more about how the car is made. This includes the engine type, restraint system, engine code, transmission type and car model. The ninth character is called a check digit which helps detect invalid VINs. 3. The tenth character stands for the car model year. In the above example, the 10th character '6' signifies the year 2006. 4. The eleventh character is for the manufacturing plant's location. In our example, the plant code 'P' stands for Regensburg. 5. The twelfth to seventeenth characters of the VIN are the production sequence numbers which are unique for every car.
Learn more about what the letters and numbers on your number plate mean.
Buy a used car with confidence, now that you know where to find a car's VIN and how you can use it to check whether the car's safe to buy or not.
Buy a used car with confidence, now that you know where to find a car's VIN and how you can use it to check whether the car's safe to buy or not.