VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN)
WHAT IS A VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER?
The car´s vehicle Identification number VIN is the identifying code for a specific automobile.
The VIN serves as the car´s fingerprint, as no two vehicle in operation have the same VIN.
It is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the
vehicle. It´s the car´s history.
It displays the car´s unique features, specifications and manufacturer. (year make and model).
It can be used for registrations, warranty claims, thefts, your mechanic and insurance coverage. It
tells When and Where the car was built.
A VIN number consists of three parts:
1. The World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)
These are the first 3 characters that describe the car manufacturer´s global symbol. This
code is assigned to a vehicle manufacturer by the competent national authority.
2. Vehicle DescrIptor Section (VDS)
Consists of the next 6 characters. They contain information on technical data and vehicle
parameters and are encoded by the manufacturers.
It describes the general atributes of each vehicle.
3. Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS)
The last 8 characters, these are the serial number of the car. The manufacturer uses this
section to identify individual vehicles.
WHERE IS THE VIN LOCATED?
The placement can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, the most common places to find it
include:
Driver´s side interior dashboard
Driver´s side door jamb
Under the Hood
Front end of the frame
Vehicle registration
Tittle document
DECODING YOUR VIN
The first character tells you Where the vehicle was buit. The country of origin. Example:
1,4,5 EEUU
3 Mexico
J Japón
L China
2 Canada
The second carácter denote the manufacturer.
Example: A Audi- Mitsubishi
H Honda
D Mercedes Benz
The third character tells you the vehicle type or división.
The fourth through the eight characters tell you the vehicle Brand, body style, engine
size, model and series.
Example: 4° weight, power
5° van, sedan, pick up
6° model
7° tipo de carrocería (2-4 puertas)
8° engine, cylinders number
The ninth character is a security code that identifies the VIN as being authorized by the
manufacturer.
The tenth character is the model year of the car
Example: 2001= 1
2002 = 2
Del 2010 adelante se usa letras
2010 = A
2011 = B
2012 = C
2021 = L
The eleventh number tells you wich plant assembled your car.
The lat six numbers are the specific vehicle production number
Representing the serial number of the vehicle. From 12° to 17°
HOW IS A VIN USED?
Depending on who is using it, the VIN can provide different types of information:
Mechanics use the VIN when they are servicing a vehicle, it helps them to identify the
engine type and other parts that the car might need.
Insurance Companies use the VIN for the same reasons as mechanics when quoting a rate,
insurers use the VIN number to check on information about the vehicle they may be
insuring.
Manufacturers use the VIN as a way to track their vehicles. The VIN is beneficial in
identifying specific vehicle models that get recalled, allowing the manufacturer to easily
determine which cars are included and notify the owners.
Police can use the VIN as a way to check if a vhicle was involved in a theft or other crime.
The Bureau of Motor Vehicle (BMV) uses the VIN number for vehicle registration.
