If both of those options are not available to you, either because the VIN plates are damaged or dirty, your next best bet is to check your documents.Here, you will find another VIN plate, as well as a white and yellow label that tells you the vehicle’s optimal cold tire pressure. This is the area between the inside and the outside of your car that is typically covered by the door when it’s shut. If you can’t read the VIN plate on the dash, your next best bet is to check the driver’s door jamb.This should be visible to the naked eye, but you may need a flashlight or a magnifying glass if the plate is dirty, or if it’s dark out. Most vehicles have a VIN plate located in a small area in the dash. Check the lower driver’s side portion of your windshield.Here’s what you’ll need.įinding and reading your vehicle’s VIN isn’t hard, but it can be complicated by dirt or damage to the metal plates where the numbers are printed. The biggest inconvenience here is that the VIN plates, which are usually small pieces of metal, can become dirty or damaged, making it hard to read. At most, we’d recommend having a flashlight handy and a magnifying glass if you typically have trouble reading small text.
The last six characters are the vehicle’s serial numberĮverything You’ll Need To Check Engine Size By VIN.The 11th character indicates which plant manufactured the vehicle.The tenth character designates the car’s model year.
The ninth character is a security code that lets us know that the VIN was authorized by the manufacturer.The fourth through eighth characters designate the brand, engine size, and type.The second and third characters designate the manufacturer.The first character designates where a vehicle was built.Its digits tell us quite a bit about where a vehicle was made and its origins: The 17-number VIN isn’t just a jumble of numbers and letters. There will likely also be a VIN stamped inside the driver’s side door jamb. The driver’s side dash, where it meets the windshield, is the easiest place to find it. The VIN is usually found in a few spots on a vehicle. Before then, they could be anywhere from 11 to 17 digits long, which can complicate modern tools’ ability to track down a vehicle history report. Since 1981, VINs have been 17 digits long.
The vehicle identification number, or VIN, is a series of letters and numbers that are unique to your vehicle, much like a fingerprint. Vehicle System : Documentation What Is a VIN?
The Drive’s crack team of researchers has the scoop. Don’t panic, though, because there are other ways to find the number and put it to work for you. Unlock its secrets and you’ll be in command of your auto parts experience.įinding the VIN should be easy, but over time they can be damaged, lost, or become dirty, which makes them much harder to read. This 17-digit code contains all sorts of information about your vehicle, from when and where it was made to what kind of engine is under the hood.
In these cases, you’ll need to track down your car’s VIN, or vehicle identification number. That works quite well, in most cases, but there are times when even the wizards down at the corner store can’t figure out which part fits your car. Just think about it: You can walk in, tell them your vehicle’s make and model, and walk out with parts that fit. While it might not always seem like it, your local auto parts store is a pretty amazing place. The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.