If you are searching for a totally free Vehicle Identification Number lookup, then enter your 17 digit VIN code in the decode box below.
VIN - Vehicle Identification Number
The
Vehicle Identification Number,
VIN Number, on a vehicle may be altered to hide the fact that the car may have been stolen. In all cases when buying a used car,
it makes good economic sense to get the VIN number checked.
-
VIN Cloned Cars: A cloned car may have its registration and VIN illegally changed to that of
a car that is currently for sale on a car dealer's forecourt or on the internet.
Any checks run
on a cloned car may not reveal if the car has been stolen or written off. In
each case if you notice anything unusual, such as scratch marks on the VIN,
a worn VIN sticker, or a loose VIN plate then assume the worst.
Make sure that
all VIN's attached to the car match the Vehicle Identification Number on
the vehicle registration document.
-
Stolen Cars: May have their VIN Vehicle Identification Number changed via
the Vehicle Descriptor Section
VDS and the Vehicle Identifier Section VIS to make the vehicle appear to be newer, or to have a more
powerful engine. The VIS may also be changed to hide the true serial number of
the vehicle.
Make sure that all VIN's attached to a used car and on all of the VIN marked car parts match the Vehicle Identification Number on
the vehicle registration document.
Decoding The Vehicle Identification Number
The first three digits of a
VIN represent the World Manufacturer
Identifier -
WMI. If for example the first three characters are SCC this
indicates that the vehicle was made in the UK and that the vehicle is a
Lotus car.
Digits 4 to 9 represent the Vehicle Descriptor Section - VDS. Vehicle
Descriptors vary with each manufacturer but are commonly used to describe the
vehicle body type and the engine size. The
VIN - Checkdigit value is used to verify
that the
VIN has not been tampered with and is written to position 9.
e.g. as above Check Digit value is [4]. Digits 10 to 17 represent the Vehicle
Identifier Section - VIS. Vehicle Identifiers are used to uniquely identify a
particular make of vehicle. This includes the
year of manufacture and the
vehicle serial number.
Before you head off to your local car trader with your
used car trade in the most important thing
that you need to take with you is a realistic trade-in value for your motor. Remember that car dealerships are in business for only one reason and that
is to make a profit from its customers. If you have got no idea what your
used car trade in value is, then in all likelihood you will be offered
at least 10% less than your car's true
trade in value.
Used Car Trade-in Value Calculator
compares the running and car depreciation costs of up to three different used cars over the
period of time that you plan to keep your new car.
