Whether you’re a car seller or buyer, you know that transparency is key in the car-buying process. A vehicle identification number (VIN) is one of the best tools for transparency.
They Help Establish Trust
When you plan to sale my car online, it is essential to know that VINs reveal vital information about a vehicle, including its history and features. They are like a car’s fingerprint and can be used to determine whether it has been damaged or stolen. They also help track maintenance, replace parts and odometer readings. Dealerships, insurance companies, and car parts stores use VINs to find specific information about a car or truck. This allows them to provide a more detailed report on a specific car, including past accidents and repairs, insurance claims and warranty status, and even previous ownership records.
VIN Numbers are a Key to Transparency
Most car buyers will have to check their VIN to do a vehicle history report, and they may also want to use it to look for recalls. This number is on a sticker or plate on the dashboard near the windshield and is typically visible through the driver’s side door jamb. The first three digits of a VIN represent the world manufacturer identifier, which the Society of Automotive Engineers assigns. This is followed by a digit that indicates the type of vehicle, which can be cars, trucks, or SUVs. The ninth digit is the verification code, a security code that helps detect fraud by checking the remaining numbers in the VIN to ensure they match up.
The tenth digit represents the model year, and the eleventh digit is a production sequence number used to identify the factory where the car was assembled from its parts. The last six digits are serial numbers, like a car’s fingerprint.
They Help Establish Credibility
Like fingerprints or a social security number, a vehicle’s VIN is unique to the specific car it is on. The 17 digits containing letters and numbers can be entered into databases that reveal information on a car’s history. VINs check if a vehicle has been involved in recalls and whether its odometer has been tampered with.
VINs are also useful for tracking cars and parts and detecting “cloning,” where thieves copy the VIN from one vehicle to another to create falsified documentation. VINs can also help determine if a car has been stolen or reported as a lost vehicle. While VINs may look confusing, there’s a method to the madness. The first three digits tell where in the world the car was made, while the next five identify the manufacturer. The ninth digit, the check digit, is a unique number calculated using the other digits to verify authenticity.