Car body number: what is it, where can I find it, what information can I find out
Content
The VIN number belonging to the car is encrypted WMI (manufacturer's index - first 3 characters), VDS (characteristics and year of manufacture of the car - average 6 characters) and VIS (serial number, plant code - last 8 characters) indicators.
Each vehicle has its own personal code, only it is called the VIN number of the vehicle. From it you can find out the history of the vehicle, as well as some of the characteristics of the car before buying, selling and selecting spare parts.
VIN - what is it
The vehicle's VIN number is a unique, called identification, code that encrypts information about the date of release from the assembly line, the manufacturer and the key characteristics of the car. Usually a long, unmemorable set of numbers, often referred to as the body number.
In some vehicle models, in addition to those applied to the frame, window, engine, body number threshold, there may be a duplicate code. It is located symmetrically, but on the other side of the car, and is somewhat similar to VIN. In the STS it is indicated as a chassis number, which, like the identification number, must be well read. Otherwise, there may be problems with the registration of the vehicle. The chassis number is one of the options for insurance support in case the “official” VIN on the frame is deformed / rotted / damaged. It allows you to successfully pass the examination of the car for authenticity.
What should be the length
Any modern auto identifier consists of 17 characters without spaces, punctuation or breaks. These can be numbers 0-9 or letters from the Latin alphabet, except for those not used in encoding "O", similar to zero; "I", similar to "1" and "L"; "Q", similar to "O", "9" or zero. But if the plant produces less than 500 new vehicles per year, then the VINs of these vehicles will consist of only 12-14 characters.
Vehicle VIN Length
Encryption features are regulated by international standards: ISO 3780 and ISO 3779-1983 (recommended). On their basis, Russia has GOST R 51980-2002, which controls the principle of code formation, the place and rules for its application.
Looks like
The VIN number belonging to the car is encrypted WMI (manufacturer's index - first 3 characters), VDS (characteristics and year of manufacture of the car - average 6 characters) and VIS (serial number, plant code - last 8 characters) indicators.
Example: XTA21124070445066, where "XTA" is WMI, "211240" is VDS, and "70445066" is VIS.
Where is it in the car
The car body number must be indicated in the documents (STS and PTS) and on the car itself. In the data sheet for the VIN, a separate line is allocated, and on different vehicles the location of the encrypted state mark depends on the model of the car and the preferences of the manufacturer (domestic, foreign).
Note that the identification code is always located on those parts of the body that are less deformed or cannot simply be disconnected from the vehicle, and also replaced like small parts.
VIN code in documents
During any auto inspection, the inspector has the right to compare the numbers in the documents with those on the vehicle, and in case of violations of the integrity of the VIN (traces of hand soldering or paint, lack of code), a discrepancy with the number in the documentation, the car will be sent for examination. Therefore, if you find a problem with the content of the code, you should not delay the restoration of the symbolic "cipher".
Renault
In Renault, the VIN number of the car can be located in 3 places:
- on the cup of the right front shock absorber under the hood near the body seams;
- on the right side of the body pillar located between the driver's and rear seats;
- under the windshield.
Location of the VIN number in the Renault car
There is also a duplicate that you need to look for under the lining of the trunk on the floor.
"Eye"
On the Oka, the main location of the VIN is the panel behind the battery. Duplicate its affixed symbols in front of the water deflector or on the cross member of the right side of the floor under the rear seat.
KAMAZ
In KamAZ, the car body number is located on the back of the right side member of the subframe. The code is duplicated on the nameplate with the main characteristics of the cargo vehicle in the lower opening of the right door.
"ZIL-130"
The "ZiL-130" identifier is located on the cylinder block on the right, next to the oil filter.
The duplicate code is stamped on the front end of the eyebolt.
"UAZ"
On UAZ vans with an all-metal body, VIN is applied to the outer front panel (under the hood) on the right or on the gutter, which is located above the right opening of the sliding body door.
"Ural"
In Ural cars, the content of encrypted information can be found in the threshold area of the right doorway. VIN will be applied on a special panel with an additional protective seal.
"Damage"
In Skoda, the VIN number can be:
- on the edge of the driver's door;
- on the floor of the trunk (plate);
- in the lower left corner of the windshield;
- in the engine compartment on the right side of the shock absorber cup.
Location of the VIN number in the Skoda car
The location of the code depends on the modification of the vehicle, so when searching for it, you will need to check the main places.
Chevrolet
On the Chevrolet, the factory ID is located on the passenger side under the floor mat in the sunroof. The sticker repeats the code, which is located on the middle pillar on the driver's side. There will be no VIN number under the hood of the car.
Honda
In Honda, the key positions for the location of the VIN are: the bottom of the windshield on the driver's side and the floor in the front passenger part of the car.
Mercedes
A Mercedes VIN may have:
- above the radiator tank (in the engine compartment);
- on the partition separating the passenger compartment and the engine compartment;
- on the side member in the contour part of the wheel arch;
- under the front passenger seat;
- in the right doorway;
- in the form of a sticker under the windshield.
Location of the VIN number in the Mercedes car
The place depends on the modification and the country of assembly.
Mazda
At Mazda, the code is located opposite the front seat at the passenger's feet. The duplicating record is fixed on the central right post. In the Russian assembly, VIN is often found under the hood on the bar of the front right fender and in the doorway on the driver's side.
"Toyota"
In Toyota, the ID bar is located under the front passenger seat. The nameplate copies the number on the left B-pillar.
How to find out what equipment a car has by body number
Information about the configuration, main characteristics and additional options of the vehicle is included in the middle VDS part, consisting of 6 characters, that is, from the 4th to the 9th position of the VIN after the WMI indicator. By adding both codes, you can read the VIN. For example, X1F5410 means that this is a KamAZ car manufactured at the Kama Automobile Plant in Naberezhnye Chelny. The machine is a truck tractor (4) with a gross vehicle weight (5) of 15-20 tons in the 10th model version.
Often, car owners of frameless vehicles assume that the chassis number of the car is the same VIN. This is misleading because the VIN is assigned to the engine and vehicle, while the chassis ID is assigned to the frame of the vehicle. If you want to register a car with a frame with the traffic police, you need to make sure that there are 2 different codes on it, and not one. The chassis number and VIN must be entered in the documents for the vehicle.
Deciphering the VIN-code of the car
The last 8 characters of the machine ID are called the VIS part. It may contain data on the serial number of the vehicle (order of output from the conveyor), release date (for certain manufacturers) and / or plant.
How to find out the year of manufacture of a car by VIN number
The year and date of manufacture of a particular car can be found by the body number in two ways. The first is to open a special table where the symbols for specific years will be deciphered. But there is a significant drawback in such a check: for different manufacturers, the place of the symbol responsible for the year of issue often differs, or it does not exist at all (like most Japanese and European ones). At the same time, individual manufacturers encrypt the year at the 11th position of the code (the 12th denotes the month of release), although it is considered the norm to do this in the 10th character.
The main decoding is in a certain sequence of Latin letters and numbers: first there are letters from A to Z, corresponding to the years from 1980 to 2000. Then the numerical encryption begins from 1 to 9 for 2001-2009, respectively. Then again letters A-Z for 2010-2020. So through each gap there is a change of letters to numbers and vice versa.
Determining the year of manufacture of the car through the VIN number
An easier way, which does not force you to waste time looking for tables and clarifying the location of specific characters in the code, is to use ready-made systems and applications that check the vehicle by identification number. Services such as “VIN01”, “Autocode”, “Avto.ru”, in free access and in just a couple of clicks, show basic data on cars: year of manufacture, vehicle category, type, volume and engine power.
The same "criminal" data can be found online on the websites of the traffic police and bailiffs or by visiting the relevant organization in person.
How to determine where the car was made by the VIN number
In WMI, the first character denotes a geographic area:
- North America - 1-5;
- Australia and Oceania - 6-7;
- South America - 8-9;
- Africa - AG;
- Asia - J-R;
- Europe - SZ.
The second character indicates the country. And the third - to the manufacturer. If the car body number begins, for example, with the characters TR, TS, then it was released from the assembly line in Hungary; with WM, WF, WZ - in Germany. A complete list of all transcripts can be found in the public domain on the net.
Determination of the country of manufacture of the car by the VIN number
Every advanced (or stumbled upon a scammer, reseller, simply unscrupulous seller) driver develops a habit over time: before buying a car, punch its VIN code. Through such actions, they can save themselves from spending money on real junk in a beautiful wrapper or falling into bondage with restrictions, wanted or arrested.
To reduce the time to search for the necessary data, you can use ready-made decryption programs that are quite easy to install on your computer and phone. Depending on the completeness of information about the punched car, an appropriate invoice will be issued. As a rule, basic information about the manufacturer, year of manufacture, presence / absence of restrictions, arrest and participation in an accident is freely available - anything beyond this data may require payment.
