Where to Find the VIN Number on a Car (All Locations)

Knowing where to find the VIN number on a car takes less than a minute, once you know where to look. It is in more places than most people realize.

Here is every location where manufacturers stamp, print or attach a VIN, and what to do once you have it.

What is a VIN?

A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a 17-character code that identifies every motor vehicle built since 1981. It encodes the manufacturer, the country of origin, the model year and a unique serial number. No two vehicles share the same VIN.

If you want to understand what each character means, read our guide on what every digit of a VIN means.

The most common VIN locations

1. Dashboard, driver's side

The most reliable place to look first. Stand outside the car and look through the windshield at the bottom corner of the dashboard on the driver's side. You will see a small plate or sticker with the 17-character VIN. Most VIN scanners and history report services use this location.

2. Driver's door frame

Open the driver's door and look at the edge of the door or the door frame. There is almost always a sticker here that includes the VIN, along with the manufacture date and tyre pressure details. It is a quick second check, and useful when the dashboard plate is worn or hard to read.

3. Engine bay

Many manufacturers stamp the VIN onto the firewall (the wall between the engine and the passenger compartment) or onto a plate mounted there. The exact place varies by manufacturer and model. A stamp is harder to alter than a sticker, so if the engine bay VIN does not match the dashboard, treat it as a serious red flag.

4. Vehicle documents

You do not need to look at the car to find the VIN. It appears on the registration document or title, the insurance card or policy, service history records and the original purchase invoice. Always compare the VIN in the documents with the VIN on the car itself. They must match exactly.

5. Other locations

Depending on the make and model, you may also find the VIN under the spare wheel in the trunk, on the rear wheel arch, on the chassis near the front axle, or on the B-pillar between the front and rear doors. On motorcycles it is usually on the neck of the frame, and on trucks on the frame rail near the driver's door.

How many places should you check?

When you buy a used car, do not rely on a single location. Check at least these three:

1. The dashboard plate, through the windshield
2. The door frame sticker
3. The registration document or title

If any of them differ, walk away or investigate further. Mismatched VINs can point to a stolen vehicle, parts swapped from another car or document fraud.

What to do once you have the VIN

With the 17-character number in hand you have two options.

• Free VIN decoder: enter it into the HistoVIN decoder to see the manufacturer, model year and country of manufacture. No registration needed.
• Full vehicle history report: a decoder gives you the basics. For accidents, mileage history, theft records and ownership changes you need a full report.