How to decode the VIN Number (manually)

What is VIN Decoding?

If you are curious about how the specifications of a vehicle, you can manually decode the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), using a simple guide to verify that the car really * is * what advertised as decoding the VIN (manually) is not that difficult. In essence, there are only six points in total.

Write VIN – You will need your chassis number before decoding.

Take a pencil and a sheet of paper, and write these six sections to be able to decode the VIN. As an example, we will use the VIN WDCGG8JB8EG287752.

Search for the VIN

The most comfortable position to find the VIN is on the side where the windshield leads to meet the hood of the vehicle. VIN Additional locations (depending on the vehicle) include.

  • Jambs
  • the trunk of your car
  • glove box
  • bell inside
  • and possibly in other places – this depends on the manufacturer

Write down the VIN


Write your chassis number down.

Tip: When you write down the frame number, separate characters 1-3, 4-8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 to 17. You can only separate them with lines to make the job easier.

VIN and subsections. Now that you have your VIN written and divided into sections, we can switch to decoding manually. The VIN divided into six parts that can be divided into sub-parts: VIN Digit Positions Description VIN Sub portions 1-3 World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI)

  1. Country Product In
  2. Manufacturer
  3. Division

8.4 Vehicle descriptor Section Each manufacturer uses different formats for this section, so you should see the different manufacturer specifications to obtain this information. 9 VIN check digit 10 Year Vehicle 11 Equipment identification code 12-17 sequence number.


What all VIN Digit means

Each VIN sub-section provides vital information about the vehicle

VIN Position 1

The first digit of the VIN defines which region the vehicle was produced.

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, and means that the vehicle has been created in Africa.
J, K, L, M, N, P, and R, the vehicle was manufactured in Asia.
S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, and Z, the vehicle was built in Europe.
1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, the vehicle was built in North America.
06:07 means that the vehicle was made in Oceania.
8 and 9, the vehicle is produced in South America.

VIN Position 2

The second digit in the VIN (in combination with the first digit) defines which country the vehicle was produced. More than 600 VIN codes can be seen here.

VIN Position 3

The third digit of your VIN that defines the division of the vehicle manufacturer belongs (i.e., Van, Sedan, etc.)

VIN Positions 4 to 8

VINs from four to eight are the vehicle descriptors section. This Section Section is not “split” among all manufacturers. Still, in most cases, these figures define the type of vehicle, the model, body type, engine type, as well as the transmission of information, in some cases.

VIN Position 9

The ninth digit VIN is the control digit, which used to verify that a VIN is valid. You can check the VIN control digit of the use of this information.

VIN Position 10

The tenth digit VIN is the model year. Using the attached image, you can cross-link your figures ten years to understand that the vehicle has been produced.

VIN Position 11

Figure 11 in the VIN tells you that the plant produced the car. This is unique for each manufacturer because different manufacturers use different manufacturing plants.

Position VIN 12 to 17

The 12 to 17 digits in sequential VIN identifiers – which means that the number of a vehicle sequence has been produced. For example, it would be the first vehicle produced 000001, 000005 would be the fifth vehicle to “get off the line,” etc.

VIN Decoder online
Alternatively, you can use the VIN Decoder on our website Vehicle Check Pro.

What is the VIN Number of the spare parts?

VIN Number of spare parts

Today on the Internet, you can find a large number of online stores and individual databases that actively promote the spare part selection service for VIN online. In practice, most car owners are not very familiar with this trend, and so we will try to find out if it is realistic to find the necessary spare part using the car’s VIN. Besides, parts and accessories vendors argue that this approach allows you to avoid completely inconsistent types of spare parts.

After all, it is well known that many car manufacturers adjust the models they produce, which the consumer never knows. In particular, there are frequent cases where a part designed for a 2010 car is not suitable for a vehicle manufactured in 2012. In addition, such situations are not at all every day. So, let us try to analyze the new car market trend and give our readers comprehensive advice on all aspects of VIN code spare parts search online.

What is the VIN car code?

In one of our publications, we looked at the question of what the vehicle is. In short, the vehicle identification number (which is the acronym for VIN) is a number that allows you to identify a car adequately. The automakers introduced a single template of this name in 1981, and the number itself contains seventeen characters, which subdivided into three groups.

How to decode a car’s VIN:

The first three characters of the VIN number indicate the vehicle manufacturer’s index, denoted by data sources include the U.S. Department of Justice, law enforcement, state DMVs, and commercial and private sources. Vehicle Check Pro is an authorized NMVTIS Consumer Access Provider (National Motor Vehicle Title Information System). The first digit indicates the country of manufacture of the car, the second – the company producing the vehicle and the third – the type of vehicle (passenger car or truck). Of most interest to us is the latter, descriptive part of the VIN, which encrypts the car type, car model, series and, most importantly, the third part (vehicle identification section), which describes the characteristics of a particular model, including the equipment, the year of manufacture and the factory of the company. Assembly completed.

In this case, the last characters, starting from the 12th to the 17th, mean the sequence and the course of movement of a particular engine on the carrier. Also mainly used for automatic identification of spare parts according to the car’s VIN code.

Search for car spare parts with VIN code online

So, let us determine how electronic systems work to search for car parts with a VIN code. The structure of these resources is quite simple and, according to the principles of its operation, it is similar to popular search engines such as Yandex and Google. The difference is their specificity – a VIN code acts as a search query, and the source codes are component codes available on the market or available for order.

The Search Engine Principles

As you know, car manufacturers designate each spare part with a specific index. This indicator, in turn, is a brief digital description, as well as the VIN in the car. The search engine automatically reads the information from the VIN, determines its place of production, year of manufacture, installation – in a word, all the parameters needed to select the required part accurately. By comparing this information with the spare part codes, the system automatically searches for the necessary part, which guarantees that it is suitable for installation on a particular vehicle taken separately.

This is how to get a car report in 3 easy steps?

Vehicle history reports are a critical process one should consider before any used car purchase. It’s the easiest way one can find the complete details on a vehicle’s past and help make your search for a car much more comfortable. Wouldn’t you consider knowing if the car has ever been a branded title? The branded title is when an insurance company has declared a vehicle a total loss and given it a salvage title due to an accident, fire or flood damage, or other catastrophic events. Follow the steps below to get started on what you’ll need to get a car report.

Step 1: Locate the VIN Number

A vehicle’s vehicle identification number (VIN) is what’s required to know the vehicle’s complete history. The 17-digit unique VIN Number is the serial number of the vehicle. It’s used to know all major events on a vehicle’s history from sources such as the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), auto auctions, dealers, manufacturers, police records, state & federal databases, and repair shops. Here are the locations you can find the VIN Number on a vehicle:

1. Dashboard

The quickest way to find a car or truck VIN Number is by searching the vehicle’s dashboard. The VIN is fixed on a metal plate, and the 17-digit number is displayed so anyone can read it from the outside of the vehicle in. On motorcycles, the VIN number can be found on the steering neck.

2. Driver’s side door jam

On the driver’s side door jam, you’ll find the vehicle’s 17-digit number on the decal located on the jam.

3. Title or Insurance Papers

The VIN Number is always found on the title of the vehicle or the insurance card/certificate. Take a look for the 17-digit VIN number, usually classified as the “Serial No” “Chassis number,” or simply “VIN.”

A history report can easily reveal more about the used car than the seller is willing to tell you. Each history report includes a summary and specifications of the vehicle, the number of owners the vehicle has had, inspection records, and mileage history backed with details, dates, and location. Get the complete history and an update on recalls for any used car that’s being considered. You can look up the VIN Number and get the history online by running a VIN check on Vehicle Check Pro.

Step 2: VIN Lookup on Vehicle Check Pro

Now that you have the 17 characters, VIN Number starts your Search by entering the number on Vehicle Check Pro. The VIN Number will then be deciphered by our system to know immediately the make, model, year, and specifications of the Vehicle, which will be displayed on the next screen. Select the number of reports desired and simply click the “View Records” button in order to make your payment and view the complete history of the Vehicle instantly available for download.

Are you shopping around for a vehicle but unsure about its history? It’s a good rule of thumb to check several vehicles before making your decision.  A vehicle’s condition might show that it’s immaculate. However, the car’ Vehicle’s history could be riddled with accidents or insurance claims that have been covered up by the seller.

Take advantage of the vehicle report credits Vehicle Check Pro offers. You can buy additional reports credits and save 75% over competitor prices. Choose five report credits, for example, which will allow you to run five separate vehicles. Your VIN check credits will never expire, so feel free to take your time to use them.

Once your payment has been completed, you’ll be able to access the vehicle report by going to the “My Reports” page when logged into your account. The report will be listed, and an option to download a copy to your local machine will be shown.

Step 3: Understanding the VIN records by opening up the car report

You’ve finally opened up the full history records and are wondering what all these checks are? Every vehicle report contains over 60 checks. Make sure to go each numbered item thoroughly to understand the full history.  Here are items you’ll find on the vehicle report explained.

Ownership History

ownership-history
ownership-history

With a vehicle report, you can learn the number of owners the vehicle has had. This includes an estimated duration of their ownership along with the reported date of ownership transfer at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Service & Repair Info

We were wondering about the services and repairs that are done on the vehicle? Our report shows up to date data on a vehicle’s maintenance records from dealers, auctions, federal and state records.

service-repair-info
service-repair-info

Vehicle’s past usage

Vehicle’s past usage
Vehicle’s past usage

Check if the vehicle has been used as a personal, fleet, rental, lease, taxi, delivery, police, government, drivers ed, or as a commercial vehicle in its lifetime. If the vehicle was used as a taxi, then one should verify the mileage and condition of the car.

Insurance

Every history report also checks your VIN against various databases to find out if your vehicle had insurance issues, loan or lien records, repossession, theft records, hail & flood, and salvage title checks. Do not conduct a vehicle transaction until you have verified if there are any outstanding loans or liens that the bank has on the vehicle. The bank may repossess your newly bought car if there is an exceptional amount regardless of the new ownership, potentially causing you thousands of dollars in loss and headaches. 

Detailed history verification

With a VIN, you can learn the full detailed history along with mileage details of any vehicle. See the previous state inspections, odometer records from the department of motor vehicles, auction data, title information, liens & loans against the car, accident information. Find out if a car has its original title, or does it have a duplicate title issued? Get the full VIN report details on any vehicle by simply entering the VIN Number.

detailed history verification
detailed history verification
detailed history verification
detailed history verification

Every vehicle report check contains:

Ownership history

Accident history

Inspection records (smog, accidents)

Vehicle use verification

Maintenance records

Service inspections

Loan – Lien check

Mileage history

Fire damage

Hail damage

Flood damage

Junk or snap title

Manufacture buyback

Lemon brand

Salvage brand

Rebuilt title

Insurance loss

Auction history

Abandoned title

Repossessed records

Corrected title record 

Duplicate title record 

Theft record(s)

Recalls

What does a VIN check report contain?

Are you considering a vehicle for purchase? Make sure to know the vehicle’s history by running a VIN check on Vehicle Check Pro. It’s essential to know the history of the car you plan on purchasing. The best way to do this is by checking the vehicle identification number (VIN) found on the vehicle’s windshield or registration papers.

Get the facts about mileage history, accidents, water & flood damage, title checks, service records, maintenance records, inspection records, and insurance records.

Ownership History

Ownership History

With a vehicle report, you can learn the number of owners the vehicle has had. This includes an estimated duration of their ownership along with the reported date of ownership transfer at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

Service & Repair Info

We were wondering about the services and repairs that are done on the vehicle? Our report shows up to date data on a vehicle’s maintenance records from dealers, auctions, federal and state records.

Service & Repair Info

Vehicle’s past usage

Vehicle’s past usage

Check if the vehicle has been used as a personal, fleet, rental, lease, taxi, delivery, police, government, drivers ed, or as a commercial vehicle in its lifetime. If the vehicle was used as a taxi, then one should verify the mileage and condition of the car.

Insurance

Every history report also checks your VIN against various databases to find out if your vehicle had insurance issues, loan or lien records, repossession, theft records, hail & flood, and salvage title checks. Do not conduct a vehicle transaction until you have verified if there are any outstanding loans or liens that the bank has on the vehicle. The bank may repossess your newly bought car if there is an exceptional amount regardless of the new ownership, potentially causing you thousands of dollars in loss and headaches. 

Detailed history verification

With a VIN, you can learn the full detailed history along with mileage details of any vehicle. See the previous state inspections, odometer records from the department of motor vehicles, auction data, title information, liens & loans against the car, accident information. Find out if a car has its original title, or does it have a duplicate title issued? Get the full VIN report details on any vehicle by simply entering the VIN Number.

Detailed history verification
Detailed history verification

Every vehicle report check contains:

Ownership history

accident history

inspection records (smog, accidents)

vehicle use verification

Maintenance records

Service inspections

Loan – Lien check

Mileage history

fire damage

hail damage

flood damage

junk or snap kit

manufacturer buyback

lemon brand

salvage brand

rebuilt title

Insurance loss

Auction history

abandoned title

repossessed records

corrected title record 

duplicate title record 

theft record(s)

Recalls

Why is it essential to run a VIN check before buying a used BMW?

BMW is a luxury brand respected around the world. Many dream to buy a BMW, which can cost a premium when comparing against other vehicle manufacturers. A BMW is always a sought after vehicle regardless of which country you reside in. Many folks purchase a used BMW as a new is rather costly. You can save a considerable amount of money by buying a used vehicle.

BMW VIN Number by Vehicle Check pro

The BMWs maintenance history and condition should be the deciding factor when choosing which one to buy. A well kept and maintained BMW could last you a long time due to the sheer ingenuity of the BMW engineers.

Why it’s important for buyers to lookup a VIN Check

Are you in the market for a used BMW? Make sure to get the vehicle identification number (VIN) from the seller. With the VIN number, you will be able to view the full history, including mileage records, accidents, salvage title, loan & lien records, inspections, service records, recalls, and more. With this information, you will undoubtedly be able to understand what the BMW went through in its life. Did the owner complete the required maintenance on time? Is there any money owing on the vehicle with loans and liens against it? That would make you liable for the investment, which could make you lose thousands of dollars if you were not aware of the claim.

Here are some of the details each vehicle check pro report provides:

  • Vehicle specifications Which highlights the size of the engine along with all specifications of the vehicle. 
  • Mileage records – Get up to date mileage records from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), showing annual inspections and complete mileage history to know the details of the BMW.
  • Accident & Salvage Title – Accidents affect the value of a vehicle. There are many issues when a car is an accident, such as cheap repairs or significant structural damage, which would make the BMW unsafe to drive. With a VIN check, you can rest assured that you’ll know about any accident or salvage title issuance on the searched vehicle.
  • Water Damage, Fire Damage, Theft & Vandalism – Research shows that a BMW is a vehicle that is stolen or broken into quite often. Many have fire or water damage claims, which can seriously affect the value of a car. 
  • Recalls & Service records – What is more important than knowing about services the BMW completed? You can verify yourself if the owner did the services at a reputable dealership or garage. Verify outstanding recalls that might affect the safety of the vehicle.
  • Federal and State Inspection Data Each BMW vehicle undergo a state inspection each year, which is mandatory by law. A potential buyer should be aware of the inspection dates and results.

These are the main types of data that a buyer will get from a VIN check report. VIN check reveals essential information about any automobile. It will help you to buy a car that is truly in its best technical condition.

There are only some of the data points that a vehicle check pro VIN check report provides. Each VIN check has over 60 specific items it verifies on every vehicle searched. Do not purchase a BMW until you have run a VIN check on its 17 digit VIN Number.

Top 5 Used Car Buying Secrets

There are the following top 5 used car buying secrets

We have found 67% of used vehicles for sale have hidden severe problems. If you are currently looking for a used vehicle, then this might be the most important message that you hear. Vehicle Check Pro researching for many years the way that people buy used cars, there are things you must know to protect yourself from getting ripped off. Whether you’re purchasing a vehicle from a dealership or a private owner, Vehicle Check Pro is going to cover five of those things right now.

Check Your Car’s Engine

So, If you haven’t already grabbed a pen. We are going to move through this very quickly to check the engine oil on the dipstick. Does it have a creamy consistency to it like that of thin mayonnaise? If it does that engine has significant problems, you will want to walk away from that vehicle when testing the transmission. You’ll want to do it from cold now. First, you want to put on the emergency brake. When you’re starting the car, put the foot brake on when you’re shifting from Park into drive or reverse notice. That the transmission takes longer than two seconds to engage. Especially if followed by a sharp jolt or jerk. If so, that transmission is wearing out, and you’ll want to walk away from that vehicle.

Your Car’s Dash Light

Three essential dash lights absolutely must come on and then go off. When you start the car, those are the check engine light, the ABS light, and the airbag light if those lights do not come on then the vehicle has been tampered with, and your safety is at risk. You don’t want to find out the hard way in an accident that your airbag doesn’t inflate or that suddenly you lose all your brakes under no circumstances.

Should you buy that vehicle?

There are hidden vehicle identification stickers or VIN stickers on each panel of the car. Approximately 11 in total, not all manufacturers put VIN stickers on the panel’s of their vehicles, but if you find one on a group, it should be on every board of the car. One under the hood one here on the front fender, there should be a VIN sticker here on this panel, but it is missing, which means these vehicles have been in an accident on each door. Where it latches, you’ll find a VIN this one’s been painted over, so we’re not sure if this is the original door or that it’s been replaced. You’ll find it here on the rear door where it latches and then on the rear wheel wells as well you’ll find it along the edge of the trunk lid. This one happens to be here. Manufacturers do not always put Vince stickers on the bumpers, but if they are, there’ll be along the top edge of the bumper or under the license plate. If any of these stickers are missing painted over or the numbers do not match the rest, then this car has been in an accident and repaired for your safety. This could be a deal-breaker. The vehicle may not have the same structural integrity. It had before the accident occurred.

Observing the Durability Effects of Front Tire

Turn the steering wheel fully to reveal. The front tire, regardless of how thick or deep the tread is, you want to look at this inside edge. Right here, you’re looking for a very distinct wear line with fine metal wires protruding from. Most people miss this very common hazard. The tire is unsafe and does not drive the vehicle because it could blow out at any moment, and you would lose control of the vehicle. To summarize with the engine, I just showed you one key thing to check there are five other just as important and easy tests to determine whether the engine is sound.

Components of a car transmission system

With the transmission, I also shared with you one key thing to check there are four additional easy tests to ensure the transmission is sound. I have also shown you one proven way to determine if a vehicle’s been in an accident. There are six other simple tests for examining the car body to determine if that car has been wrecked as you can.

All these tests are simple, easy to understand, and no tools are required to do them. Vehicle Check Pro will guide you every single step of the way and make your next used car purchase even easier.

How to Find a Car History by VIN?

Tips on where to find your VIN number

We give you a couple of tips on where to find your VIN number to your car. This is the critical number that when you are selling your vehicle, it gives the profile of the vehicle. You can usually find the VIN number on the dash of most makes and models. It is also available on the door jamb of the driver’s side, but we prefer to go with the dashboard VIN number.

The VIN number of this particular model

Car Report
Car Report

I’d like to show you where that is, please come with me. This is the VIN number of this particular model on the most vehicles you are going to find the VIN number is on the driver side. This is the VIN number that we prefer for you to give us. It’s the vehicle Identification number, it’s from the manufacturer, so this is the one we request when we are asking to get us the VIN number that is the VIN number. Please make sure you try and find it. It’s always going to be on the driver’s side. It’s going to be a little closer to the actual post here, or it’s going to be around this area, but this is the vehicle identification number or VIN number.

The bottom of the vehicle

VIN numbe
VIN numbe

On this particular model, there is another area where you can typically find the VIN number on most cars, which would be here on the driver’s side, either. You’re going to find it here on the bottom of the vehicle. You are going to find it in the actual door jamb, or on some occasions, you might find it on the actual door. We don’t prefer to you to give us these numbers just in the case the car has been repaired and maybe a part that got replaced it won’t be the actual VIN number of the car the public VIN number or the vehicle identification number that is on the dash is always the most accurate number to look at so please give us that number when asked to provide the Vendome.

Where to find the VIN Number?

What is VIN or Vehicle Identification Number?


Talk to you about your VIN Number or Vehicle Identification Number. It’s basically your vehicle’s fingerprint, no two vehicles have the same VIN. These numbers are used for identification purposes for motor vehicles including all cars, trucks, and SUVs as well as motorcycles, scooters, and mopeds.


VIN Number Search


If you need to locate your VIN or VIN Number Search here are the most common places you can find it. The driver’s door or doorjamb, the dashboard on either the drivers or passenger side, on your vehicle’s title or registration or on an insurance card. There are a number of reasons you might need to locate a VIN. In some cases, it’s essential to get the right replacement part for your vehicles such as certain brake pads or alternators. You may also need your VIN recalls, registrations, warranty claims, or insurance coverage.

History of VIN Number

History of VIN Number
History of VIN Number


In 1981, the VIN was standardized to a 17-character format and each position gives a specific piece of information about the vehicle. The first character indicates the country where the vehicle was built. The second and third characters are the manufacturer code. The fourth through eight characters give vehicle specifics like safety features, engine size and type, transmission and body type. The ninth character is a security code that is determined by the other characters and authenticates the validity of the VIN. The 10th character represents the model year of the car. The 11th character indicates a specific manufacturing plant where the vehicle was assembled. The last six characters are the serial number for the vehicle.


With a little research, you can determine what each character of the VIN is telling you regardless of the vehicle. A VIN can also give you the details you need to make a decision. On a used car you are thinking about purchasing or even tell you more about a vehicle you currently own. By allowing you to acquire a vehicle history report. Our sample Carfax Report designed to help answer questions. We get in our stories every day. If you found this one helpful then Vehicle Check Pro provides a detailed VIN report displayed online at affordable prices.

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