Vehicle Identification Number

A Vehicle Identification Number, or 'VIN,' is the unique code that is assigned to an individual vehicle by its manufacturer and that distinguishes it from all other vehicles. No two vehicles can have the same VIN. Typically, the VIN is stamped into a plate or printed on a sticker and affixed to the vehicle in several different places, including inside the engine bay and on the driver's side door jamb. Certain digits in the VIN identify a vehicle's attributes, including its final point of assembly, its model year, the manufacturer and, usually, the model of the vehicle. For a complete description of how to read a vehicle's VIN, please see Making Sense of Your VIN. Modern, 17-digit VINs can be used to access many records relating to a vehicle, including ownership, accident and repair histories. Edmunds does not offer such reports, but our advertiser AutoCheck does. For more information, please see Which Vehicle History Report Is Right for You?. Our VIN Check page is a central location for information about Vehicle Identification Numbers.