A vehicle’s identification number (VIN) is a unique identifier.  The most common VIN format is the 17-digit VIN, which became standard for all cars manufactured since January 1981. Vehicles manufactured before 1981 may have as few as five to as many as 13 digits.  Within the standard 17-digit VIN, each digit or group of digits identifies specific aspects of the make, model,  manufacturing plant, and manufactured order. It also includes a “check-digit,” a mathematical formula created to determine the legitimacy of a VIN.

Find your vehicle’s VIN

The most accessible place to find a vehicle identification number is on the outside bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side. Look to the very bottom of the windscreen to read it. A sticker will also be on the side of the driver’s door or inside the side pillar or bulkhead.

I have listed the standard codes below, but the other sections are manufacturer-specific.  

Only experts can tell where a vehicle was assembled or what its engine type is by looking at its VIN. But help is available.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration provides a handy VIN decoder.  Click Here to see information about your auto.