Use the Vehicle Identification Number
To Protect Yourself

Are you considering buying a used car or truck? Then you need the vehicle identification number. That 17 digit number reveals almost everything you need to know about any vehicle that is or has been on the road in North America.

What Is the VIN?

The vehicle identification number (VIN) is a unique number that is embedded into the dashboard of all motor vehicles sold in North America. The VIN acts like a fingerprint for a human—no vehicles can have the same number. And just as running a fingerprint through a database can tell if someone has a criminal record, running the VIN through a database can tell all sorts of things about that vehicle, including...

• The manufacturer, make, model and the year and month it was made.

• Any warranty claims for the vehicle.

• Any recalls made by the manufacturer.

• The insurance coverage for the vehicle, including any claims for damage to the car.

• A complete history of the vehicle, available all in one report.

What Vehicles Have a VIN?

The following all are required to have a vehicle identification number...

• passenger cars, including multi-purpose passenger cars

• trucks

• buses

• trailers and trailer kits

• motorcycles

• incomplete vehicles

This includes domestically made vehicles and those imported into the United States from Canada, Asia and Europe.

Where Can I Find the VIN?

You'll find it by standing outside your car and looking at the bottom of the windshield near the driver's door. If you don't see it there, open the driver's door and look near the hinges. You'll see a metal tag that contains the 17 digit number.

If you're looking for the number on a car or truck you currently own, you can also check your vehicle registration, insurance papers or other official documentation about the vehicle.

Online Research Using the VIN

If you have the VIN, you can research that vehicle online. There is usually a fee for an extensive report on the vehicle. However, you can sometimes find a website that will provide a free report. However, free does not always mean better, as the report might not be accurate.

If you're buying from a private individual, keep in mind that that person might not have thought to check the history of the vehicle. If you purchase it and then do a check it, only to find that it was in a flood or accident, you cannot necessarily blame the previous owner for not informing you. It's up to you to learn all you can about the used car or truck you want to buy.

Educate Yourself About the Power of the VIN

In order to avoid buying a lemon, especially one that may no longer be eligible for lemon law protection, educate yourself about the vehicle identification number. The story it can tell may save you thousands of dollars.