Where Is the VIN Number on a Car?

A car VIN number (or just a VIN) gives you an easy way to identify your car when you need to register it, title it, buy insurance, apply for a loan, or sell it. Every new and used vehicle you see on our lot near Malta has a VIN. When someone from Shelby trades in a car, they might ask us, “Where is the VIN number on a car?” They’ll also ask, “What is a VIN number?”

These are excellent questions to ask because they are essential during various situations of your car ownership in Great Falls. Our guide will answer these questions and provide more details about a car’s VIN number.

Where Is the VIN Number on a Car Exactly?

Your car’s VIN number can appear in several places on your vehicle.

1. Stand outside of your vehicle and head to the driver’s side. Look closely at the corner of the dashboard where the dash and the windshield meet. You should be able to find the car’s VIN number there, imprinted on a small tab.
2. If you can’t find it on the corner of the dash, open the driver’s door. Look where the door latches to the frame. You will probably see it on the doorpost.

No matter where you find the VIN, it is permanently attached to your vehicle and must remain there. Now that you know where to find the car’s VIN number, discover more information about what a VIN number is and why the VIN is helpful.

What Is a VIN Number?

VIN is an acronym for vehicle identification number. (Technically, saying VIN number is “vehicle identification number number”). You may need to use the VIN for specific situations, such as:

• Registering your vehicle
• Past vehicle registration information
• Vehicle history reports
• Active recalls
• Warranty claims
• Theft/police reports
• Insurance coverage

It’s usually one of these situations when you need to submit your VIN to a secure online form.

What Do VINs Consist Of?

VINs are 17 characters long, consisting of both letters and numbers. Each VIN is unique to the vehicle, like a Social Security number, fingerprints, or DNA. Each vehicle on the road has a different VIN. A VIN from a car or truck manufactured before 1981 is less than 17 characters long.

Here’s an example of what a VIN looks like, comprised of digits and capital letters:

1G1YZ23J9P5803427

Your car’s VIN provides identifying information about your vehicle’s manufacturer, specifications, features, and more.

What Do the Different Characters in a VIN Indicate?

Here’s a quick look at what type of information each of the numbers and letters in a VIN means:

• Character 1: Country
• Character 2: Manufacturer
• Character 3: Vehicle Type or Manufacturing Division
• Character 4: Body Type
• Character 5: Engine
• Character 6: Series
• Character 7: Restraint Type
• Character 8: Model
• Character 9: Check Digit to detect a valid VIN
• Character 10: Model Year
• Character 11: Plant
• Last Six Characters: Car’s Serial Number

Cars made in the United States start with a 1, 4, or 5. Canada is 2, Mexico is 3, Japan is J, South Korea is K, England is S, Germany is W, and Sweden or Finland is Y.

When looking at the second character, G is for General Motors if you buy a new Chevrolet vehicle from us.

The fourth through eighth characters depend on the manufacturer, and each automaker uses a unique system to identify their vehicles in these digits.

Fun fact: the letters I, O, and Q are not allowed in VINs.

Take a look at our inventory. You’ll see that each online listing has a VIN attached to it.