What Is a VIN Number?
A VIN is the 17 character code unique to every vehicle. Here is what each part means.
The 17 characters explained
XXXWMI 1 to 3XXXXXXVDS 4 to 9XXXXXXXXVIS 10 to 17
- WMI, characters 1 to 3: the World Manufacturer Identifier, showing who made the vehicle.
- VDS, characters 4 to 9: the Vehicle Descriptor Section, covering model details.
- VIS, characters 10 to 17: the Vehicle Identifier Section, covering year, plant and serial number.
The letters I, O and Q are not used, so they cannot be confused with 1 and 0.
VIN vs chassis number
In the UK the terms are often used for the same thing. The V5C labels it VIN, chassis or frame number.
Older UK cars
Pre 1981 vehicles may have shorter chassis numbers that do not follow the 17 character format.
Why you might need it
Ordering parts, insurance, safety recalls and buying checks. If you need the VIN and cannot get to the car, our reg to VIN lookup can help.