We do not always know where the VIN is in our car. This is because this individual body number is placed by vehicle manufacturers in many places, some of which are difficult to access. For this reason, we often have to take the time to locate it. Therefore, let us remember that in the era of a widely accessible Internet, it is worth using proven tools which will allow us to find the VIN code efficiently.

Where is the VIN in the standard areas of the vehicle?

The VIN is an individual vehicle identification number, which is a series of 17 characters. This code is stamped on the vehicles by their manufacturers and can usually be found in the engine compartment or driver’s side of the windscreen. However, the reality is that everything depends on the make and model of your vehicle. So if we do not know where the VIN is in the car, we can check a few more standard places, i.e. Front of engine block under hood.

  • Front end of frame (old cars).
  • Dashboard on driver’s side.
  • Door frame on the driver’s side (inside)

As we mentioned earlier, it is usually easiest to locate the VIN in the lower right-hand corner of the dashboard. Then we should be able to read it from the driver’s windscreen.

The VIN may also be located in the door frame on the driver’s side or on the door post . Therefore, to determine where the VIN is at this point, you need to open the door on the driver’s side and look around the edges as this is usually where the small sticker is located. Some vehicle manufacturers also place the VIN on the opposite side of the driver’s side of the door, near the seat belt location.

The places where the VIN number is also placed are somewhat more difficult to reach are the wheels. However, if we cannot locate it anywhere, it is worth taking a look there. To do this, go to the back of the car and take a good look at the wheels on both sides. When doing this, it may be necessary to use a torch.

If there is a spare wheel in the back of the car, and we couldn’t find the VIN number anywhere else, it could be located right there.

Tools to determine where the VIN is in the vehicle

As you can see, it can be very time consuming to determine where the VIN is in the vehicle of interest. That is why it is worth using proven tools to help you locate this individual code. In the past, we used to be doomed to a long search for places where the body number is located in the car, but today, in the era of full technological development, it is easier to use available solutions, such as websites. They contain a huge vehicle catalogue with detailed information on where the VIN is in a vehicle of a given brand. One of them is our website vin-location.com, which has been used by thousands of users so far. What is important is that, knowing the VIN, we can verify its correctness with one click using the form below.

Car documents – where is the VIN?

Remember that if the car is not available to us or we do not need to check where the VIN is on the fixed component, there are also several documents that contain the body number. As we mentioned earlier, this individual vehicle code can be found on the registration certificate, insurance policy, service book or vehicle card.

It is also extremely important to make sure that the same number is on all documents and on the vehicle itself. This will allow us to detect any irregularities and avoid troublesome situations, e.g. when buying an incorrectly priced car.