Why the VIN Is Important

There are situations in which you will want to check a vehicle’s VIN since many data registries use it to record details of the vehicle’s history. If you’re interested in buying a used car, you can do a VIN lookup to get the vehicle history report and find records of its previous owners, accidents, and repairs. You can also find out if the manufacturer had ever issued a vehicle recall. Finally, law enforcement agencies do a VIN check to identify stolen vehicles.

How to Find the Vehicle’s VIN Number

On most passenger cars, you may find the VIN on the front of the dashboard on the driver’s side. The best way to see it is to look through the windshield outside the car.

Open the door and look around the area where the door latches to the car. A motorcycle’s VIN is usually on the steering neck below the handlebars, although sometimes it’s on the motor or the frame near the engine.

If you can’t find the VIN on the vehicle, you should also be able to locate it on your vehicle’s title or liability insurance documents.

How to Use the VIN Decoder to Do a VIN Number Check

Please enter your vehicle’s 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) in the field above to look up and receive an instant report on its manufacturer, brand, make and model, body style, engine size, assembly plant, and model year.