Run Vehicles Check with Free VIN Decoder

So many things can happen to a vehicle: accident, theft, breakdown, parts changing, and so on. As a result, it is hard to find a used car that is pristine or at least one that requires less work to do. It is actually possible to find and filter used cars in excellent condition if we have the tool to check what the vehicle has been through since its birth.

Well, the tool is available now. You can check vehicles' specs, data, odometer history, equipment details, and market price with a free VIN decoder.

What is a VIN decoder?

Free VIN decoder is an online tool that helps users find out about the details of the vehicles. Whether they want to know the features, production plant, engine type, model year, recall history, insurance claim, etc. With all the data provided by a free VIN lookup, users can then use the data to cross-check the actual car condition, such as its engine and parts. A mismatch between the data from the VIN check and what's on the car indicates something has been changed somewhere along the car’s history, which might be a red flag.

In addition, the VIN number decoder assists car buyers to see what they are buying in more detail. They can find the features, production year, and the origin of the car. To put it simply, a free VIN decoder gives users all the information they need about the car.

What is a VIN number?

Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is essentially the fingerprints of cars. The VIN number is a unique code assigned to every vehicle made by the manufacturers. The VIN consists of 17 characters that contain the vehicle’s information regarding country of manufacture, year of manufacture, vehicle type, engine type, and so on. Furthermore, the VIN number also shows the car's unique features, specifications, and manufacturer. Recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts, and insurance coverage can all be tracked, once a free VIN lookup decodes the numbers.

How to find a car’s VIN number?

Before using the VIN tracker, users need to first locate the VIN from their vehicles. Depending on the car’s model and make, VIN can be found on several locations of the car. The most common location for the VIN is on the lower left-hand corner of the dashboard. It is easier to see the VIN from outside the car through the windshield.

The next alternative location where the VIN might be located is on the driver’s side door jamb. Users need to open the door to see the numbers which can then be decoded using a free VIN decoder. In some cars, the VIN can be found on the passenger’s side door jamb.

Another typical location of the VIN is the trunk, specifically, beneath the spare tire. Open the trunk and pick up the spare tire to check the VIN.

The VIN is also commonly located on the engine block. Check the front of the engine by opening the hood. A body plate with the VIN or a partial VIN might be located there.

Users can also find the VIN in their vehicles’ documents such as insurance cards and vehicle titles.

Why does a VIN matter?

VIN matters because it contains important and complete information about the vehicle. It serves a lot of purposes to the owners and the other parties. For instance, when there are manufacturing defects, manufacturers may order a recall for a specific type of vehicle under a certain production batch. To perform this accurately, manufacturers use the VIN to find which vehicles to recall.

Another instance when the VIN could be of much use is when someone wants to buy a used car. Getting the VIN of the vehicle and then using a free VIN lookup to decode VIN gives important information about the car that can be used to assess the car’s condition. So, with a free VIN decoder, knowing the VIN number is essential for sourcing parts, conducting diagnostics, researching the history of a vehicle's title, and more.

What do the letters and numbers mean in a VIN?

The VIN character format was established in 1981 and consists of 17 characters (capital letters and digits). It does not include the letters I, O, and Q to avoid confusion with the numerals 0 and 1.

• First Three Digits (positions 1-3)

The first three digits of the VIN are called the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI).

• The first digit identifies where the car was manufactured. For example, the numerals 1, 4, and 5 represent the United States, whereas 2 and 3 represent Canada and Mexico, respectively.

• The second digit shows the manufacturer. For example, ‘G’ is for General Motors, ‘A’ is for Audi, and so on.

• The third digit, when combined with the first two, reveals the type or manufacturing division of the car.

• The Next Six Digits (positions 4-9)

The digits in positions 4-9 represent the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS). These characters show the safety features, body style, engine type, and transmission of the vehicle.

• The Last Eight Digits (positions 10-17)

• The 10th digit relates to the model year of the vehicle.

• The 11th digit relates to the vehicle's manufacturing site.

• The last six digits represent the production number.

What vehicles can VIN decode?

Before decoding the VIN with a free VIN decoder, users may be curious as to whether or not their cars have the VIN. Before 1981, the unstandardized VIN had been around since 1954 but every manufacturer had their own set of digits, making it difficult to identify a vehicle. So, the VIN was first standardized in 1981 to avoid mix-ups when identifying vehicles.

Vehicles manufactured after the standardization have the VIN affixed somewhere on them which can be decoded using the VIN check decoder. Therefore, every vehicle manufactured after 1981 can be identified by its VIN.

Conclusion

VIN is the fingerprints of cars which identifies the unique features and details. Mechanics do the free VIN lookup to get information about the cars’ parts and engine. Buyers use VIN number lookup to get the cars’ details before purchasing. It can also come in handy in the event of a lost or stolen vehicle. In short, It is a useful set of digits for a lot of people.