Breaking Down Your VIN Number

A Vehicle Identification Number is a series of numbers we see all too often, but do we really have an understanding for what they are?  To the normal eye, it looks like a confusing series of numbers.  A VIN is the 17-digit string of numbers assigned to every vehicle.  It can reveal A TON of facts about your car, including airbag type, country of origin, engine size, model year and even the trim level!  It’s can be stamped into a plate that’s mounted on the dashboard, near the windshield, or on the driver-side doorjamb.  It could also be stamped on the engine firewall. 

If you’re looking to decipher the code, you can visit a site called decodethis.com, this site will translate the number into a readable document, changing the set of numbers into understandable content.  The information is accurate and worth a peek.  We ran a random vehicle, the result being: 

The benefit of this info is using it to obtain a vehicle history report.  Before you buy a used car — even if it's from a dealer — it's important to get the vehicle's VIN and use it to run a history report that can reveal if the car has been reported stolen or if it has a salvage title.