A vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique code, including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles. VIN numbers (made up of digits and capital letters) provide important information about your vehicle’s make, model and serial number. The VIN is usually found on the driver’s side dashboard or door jamb.
What is the purpose of a VIN?
In India, a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-digit number that is unique to each vehicle. The VIN is used by relevant authorities to check registration by chassis number in India. The VIN is made up of three parts:
- The first part is a two-digit number which indicates the last two digits of the year in which the vehicle was registered.
- The second part is ‘BH’, which is short for Bharat (Hindi: भारत).
- The third part is a number ranging between 1 and 9999, issued randomly and unique to each registration.
- The purpose of a VIN is to provide a unique identifier for each vehicle. It helps authorities track the history of the vehicle and identify it in case of theft or accidents. It also helps buyers verify the authenticity of the vehicle and check its history before making a purchase.
What is a VIN decoder?
A VIN decoder is a tool that can be used to decode the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) of a car. It provides detailed information about the car such as its manufacturer, year of production, the plant it was produced in, type of engine, model and more.
There are several websites that offer VIN decoding services like Vindecoderz, ClearVIN and Vincario. You can also find your car’s date of manufacture (VIN) on Team-BHP.
What is the Check Digit in a VIN?
The check digit is the ninth digit in the VIN. It is used to validate a VIN and detect invalid VINs. The number that appears varies and is based on a mathematical formula that the U.S. Department of Transportation developed.
The check digit is calculated by removing all of the letters from the VIN by transliterating them with their numeric counterparts. Numerical counterparts can be found in the table below.
Can two cars have the same VIN number?
No, two cars cannot have the same VIN number. No two vehicles can have the same Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), which is a special number given to each one by the manufacturer to identify it specifically from all other vehicles. The VIN is unique to each vehicle and is assigned by the manufacturer at the time of production.
How to find the owner of a car by license plate number?
There are several ways to find a car owner by license plate number. One way is to use the VIN of the vehicle. Another way is to report the license plate to the Department of Motor Vehicles or the police. You can also report the license plate to your insurance company. Some states allow online license plate owner checks on the DMV website.
There are websites that offer license plate owner lookup services, but you need to have a valid reason aligned with your state’s Driver’s Privacy Protection Act. You can also use third-party websites like BeenVerified or FAXVIN. These services provide information about the owner of the car by inputting the license plate number of a car and then selecting the state.
Can I get information about previous owners of my car from its VIN?
You can use VIN owner lookup services that provide detailed information about the registered vehicle, its owner, and other related records. These services utilize advanced search technology to access public and private databases that compile valuable information about the vehicle and its owners.
However, it is important to note that a VIN doesn’t reveal the registered owners of a vehicle, their names, phone numbers, or home addresses. A VIN only shows when the vehicle changed hands and in which country it happened.
Can I decode my car’s VIN myself?
Yes, you can decode your car’s VIN yourself. The VIN is a unique code that identifies your vehicle and provides information about its manufacturer, model year, and where it was built. You can use online VIN decoders to decode your car’s VIN .
How to find out if my car has been recalled using its VIN?
You can use a tool on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website to check for recalls on your car by VIN. You can also use third-party websites like Bumper or EpicVIN. These tools will scan a database and show you any open recalls that occurred in the past 15 years or more for your vehicle.
You need to enter your 17-character VIN, which is visible on your windshield, registration card, or insurance card. If your vehicle has no unrepaired recalls, you will see a message indicating that. If your vehicle has any open recalls, you should have them performed as soon as possible for safety reasons.
What should I do if my VIN is incorrect?
If you find that your VIN is incorrect, you can take the vehicle to your state’s inspection site, where the VIN can be checked. If the VIN is verified, obtain a form to fill out and submit to your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to have your title corrected.
You can also contact the manufacturer and request a letter identifying the correct and invalid VIN. Before buying a car, run a VIN check on the vehicle and compare all the data and the VINs digit for digit. If the VIN is extremely wrong, walk away from the deal.
Can a car’s VIN be changed?
It is illegal to change the VIN of a car. The VIN is assigned to the vehicle at the beginning of production and is used to identify a particular vehicle. It is also used for resale value, so someone who changes the VIN number runs the risk of damaging the market value of the car.
How to find out the value of a car using its VIN number?
To check the value of a car using its VIN number, there are several options available. You can visit a do-it-yourself website or a dealer, or estimate it yourself, based on the car’s unique history.
- BeenVerified website generates a report that includes the car’s accident history, title records, market value, recalls, and other information.
- VINsmart provides car valuation reports using resources from the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) and Blackbook, which offer specific valuation utilizing a vehicle’s history data.
- Carfax History-Based Value Tool includes VIN-specific information, such as past servicing, accident history, and number of owners, to provide a more complete picture of what a car is worth. You can also use Car Gurus to find a car’s value by clicking here.
How can I find out if my car has been stolen using its VIN?
To check if a car is stolen using VIN, you can use the VINCheck tool provided by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). The NICB offers up to five free VIN checks from one IP address within a 24-hour period. You can also report the stolen car to the police as soon as possible.
You can enter the VIN on the NICB website and see if it is associated with a reported stolen car. You can also use other platforms that offer VIN lookup services, such as BeenVerified, to find more information about the vehicle history, such as sale listings, title records, theft and accident records, and other issues.
The car’s VIN should also appear on service records, which the owner might share with you. Make sure the VIN on the service records matches the VIN on the car.
What is a vehicle history report and how do I get one?
A vehicle history report (VHR), also referred to as a VIN check, VIN number check, or VIN lookup, is a detailed document that provides vehicle information about the history of a particular car. In order to obtain a VHR to verify a car’s history, you’ll need to know your vehicle identification number (VIN).
There are several websites that offer VHR services like Carfax, AutoCheck, and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. Some of these websites offer free reports while others charge a fee. You can also check vehicle history for free on websites like the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
