How to read a 17-digit VIN, position by position
How to Read a 17-Digit VIN, Position by Position Your car is basically fingerprinted. That’s why you’ll find it written in several places on your car: on the dashboard (look near the windshield). In the door jamb. And also on your title. Those 17 characters are going to tell you nearly everything about the vehicle as a whole. While many will simply scan it quickly, then continue on; when you understand how to decipher a VIN, that string of letters & numbers turns out to be an incredible amount of information regarding your vehicle. Below we’ve explained each of the 17 VIN positions, so that next time you’re researching a pre-owned vehicle online , checking titles or verifying a VIN, you’ll be able to read the string of letters and numbers rather than seeing just a bunch of nonsense. What does the VIN represent? A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a standardized 17 character code assigned to all cars, trucks and motorcycles produced after 1981. Prior to this date, manufacturer...