Where to find the VIN
The VIN is a 17-character unique “passport” of a car. Here is where to look:
Under the windshield
A plate in the lower corner of the windshield on the driver side — visible from outside.
On the driver door pillar
A sticker or plate on the body pillar — open the driver door and check the edge.
In the registration certificate
The VIN field in the vehicle registration document.
Under the hood
Stamped on the body or on a plate in the engine bay — useful to cross-check with the cabin plates.
In the listing
Sellers often publish the VIN in the ad. If not — ask for it: refusing to share a VIN before a viewing is a red flag.
What a VIN looks like
17 characters: Latin letters and digits. Letters I, O, Q are never used — if you see them, they are 1 or 0.
- 1–3Manufacturer (WMI)
- 4–8Vehicle descriptor (VDS)
- 9Check digit
- 10Year
- 11Plant
- 12–17Serial number