What is the chassis number?
Checking the chassis number is a process usually done before signing the sales contract when purchasing a vehicle. You need to know what this number is, what it consists of, how to check it and where it is located on the vehicle. This information is important for all people purchasing a new or second-hand vehicle.
Why is it important to know your car's VIN number ?
Knowing the chassis number of the vehicle is necessary and very important. Be sure to check the chassis number before purchasing a second-hand vehicle. This number informs you whether the vehicle has been stolen or not and provides the necessary information about its technical condition. Accordingly, you find out whether the vehicle has had an accident or not. Many sellers or dealers claim that the vehicle they are selling has not been in an accident. Unfortunately, many inexperienced drivers believe these words and then find that the car is in poor condition and needs serious maintenance. By checking the chassis number, you can verify the vehicle history and where it came from in detail. Changing the chassis numbers of vehicles that have been in serious accidents is a common occurrence. So if you see any discrepancy, cancel the purchase immediately. Another good option is the chassis number report, which gives very detailed information. With this report, you see what the actual mileage is, whether there are any hidden defects, and how the vehicle has been maintained and repaired. You will also find out how the vehicle was used before and whether it was used as a private or commercial vehicle. If your vehicle is damaged or breaks down, you can import vehicle parts that are difficult to obtain thanks to the chassis number. This way, the purchased components are in perfect harmony. Repair shops can usually order vehicle parts by providing the chassis number.
How can one check if the paint color of a second-hand vehicle has changed?
It is difficult to determine the paint color from the chassis number. The authorized service can help you determine whether the color name or the code specified on the sign is the color made at the factory. This way you can find out if the body paint is the same as the initial color used by the vehicle manufacturer.
Of course, knowing the chassis number is not only important, but essential! With this number, you can learn the entire vehicle history and thus be asked "I wonder if I have been deceived?" by a vehicle salesman who claims to sell accident-free cars. You can shop with peace of mind without asking any questions. Depending on the manufacturer, the chassis number can be found on different vehicle parts, and there is no single standard for where it should be for each vehicle. When there is a collision or some parts are worn out, you can import these parts using the chassis number.
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What is the chassis number?
The chassis number is also known as the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). It is assigned to the vehicle by the manufacturer. Standards may vary between countries. But all chassis numbers have a 17 character format. There was no single standard before 1981. Therefore, manufacturers used different chassis number formats, making it very difficult or even impossible to check the history of the vehicle using the chassis number.
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What does the chassis number consist of?
There are 17 characters in the chassis number. These characters include letters and numbers. Letters such as “O” or “I” are not used because they can be confused with the numbers “0” or “1”. Each number is specific and assigned to a specific vehicle; this allows easy identification. So, how should the chassis number be read? In accordance with the applicable ISO standard, the chassis number has three parts.
WMI – The first is the world manufacturer identifier (WMI). These are the first three characters that describe the global symbol of the vehicle manufacturer. You should know that this code is assigned to the vehicle manufacturer by a competent national authority. Additionally, this code is assigned under an agreement with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) or its national representatives.
VDS In the second section, there is the vehicle identification section (VDS). It consists of five or six characters. This contains technical data and information about vehicle parameters, and this information is encrypted by the manufacturers.
VIS The last part is the vehicle descriptive section (VIS). Here is the serial number of the vehicle. It usually consists of eight characters from the end of the chassis number backwards. Information includes manufacturing location and vehicle assembly location. These are specified as the 10th and 11th characters. The remaining digits contain the vehicle lot number.
So WMI + VDS + VIS together form the chassis number. The chassis number also consists of 17 characters.
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Where is the chassis number located?
The chassis number is usually located on the top of the engine cover on the driver's side, above the engine or near the door. Another place to find the chassis number is on the driver's side door pillar. There is also a vehicle label containing all manufacturer data, technical data and of course the chassis number. On passenger cars, the chassis number is located on the front end of the vehicle chassis, on the floor next to the passenger seat, or on the wheel arch. It can also be found in the trunk of the vehicle. The easiest way to find this number is to check the vehicle registration.
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What do you need to know about the model year code?
Each manufacturer uses its own labeling system. However, the location of the code in the chassis number is fixed. What is important here is the model year code. Depending on the manufacturer, it may indicate the date of manufacture, year of introduction or type of vehicle make. Accordingly, the code of 1980 is "A". Subsequent years are indicated by the next letter, and the year 2000 is indicated by the letter “Y”. For the years 2001 and 2009, the number 1 to 9 is used. After 2009, the alphabetic code began to be used again. In other words, the year 2009 is denoted by the letter “A” and the year 2021 is denoted by the letter “M”. According to the ISO standard, the letters Q, U and Z are not used. Therefore, while the letter code for the year 2000 is "Y", for the year 2001 it is "1", not "Z".
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What is chassis number decoder?
Chassis number decoder is a popular online application that works based on a certain algorithm. This application allows you to decipher the information contained in the vehicle's chassis number. Of course, decoders can deliver different amounts of information depending on the complexity of the algorithm. Often, they provide a vehicle history report. This report is available online or in PDF format.