The online VIN decoder are in trend as they offer direct access to all the records of a vehicle. The tools are quite helpful and offer free services to get some instant information. However, where does this data come from?
Today, we will cover the question- where does the free VIN decoder get information, and will answer it in the easiest way.
Also, you will learn an easy way to perform a VIN lookup without paying a single dollar.
So, let’s begin with a few ways to find your VIN to perform the VIN search online.
Table of Contents
ToggleWhere to Find the VIN of my Vehicle?
If you are a new car owner and want to perform a VIN lookup, you need to find your VIN first. We recommend checking the registration certificate to find the identification number of your vehicle. You can also check it from the insurance documents provided by the car dealer.
However, if you can’t access these documents right now, you can check the VIN from the parts of your car as well.
Here are a few places where manufacturers often print VIN:
Driver side door
Dashboard
Boot
Spare compartment
Between the front carb and windshield washer
Once you get the VIN of your vehicle, you can perform the VIN lookup conveniently.
How to Run a VIN Check?
After the introduction of online VIN decoders, performing a VIN check takes only a few minutes. Anyone can enter ta VIN on a decoder and access all the information remotely.
According to this VIN check, you can access information by visiting the VIN decoder specific to your vehicle (click on the above link). After that, you can enter the VIN in the search bar and hit the search button.
The tool will access the information records and will provide an easy report to check the information.
Worried about where this information comes from? Here’s your answer:
Where Do the VIN Decoders Get Information?
To understand the complete process, you need to be aware of how a vehicle identification number is generated. Every car manufacturer leaves a 17 character identity number in which every word and number signifies something.
Here’s how it works:
First 3 Digits
In a VIN, the first 3 digits include the information related to the manufacturing country, manufacturer, and vehicle type respectively. It means if your VIN starts with 1,4, or 5, the vehicle is manufactured in the US. Similarly, vehicles manufactured in Canada use number 2 as the first digit of the vehicle’s identification number.
The second character is usually an alphabet that signifies the manufacturer of the vehicle. And the third character shows what type of vehicle it is.
Digit 4 to 9
The next six characters of the VIN cover the specifications of the vehicle such as its color, model, series, type, and size. Manufacturers use different types of numbers to add this information.
Digit 10 to 12
The next part of the VIN focuses on the security digit number, manufacturing plant, and the model year of the vehicle. It is an important part as these three digits give the vehicle a shared identity, making it easier to track where the vehicle was manufactured.
Digit 13 to 17
The last six digits of a VIN play the most crucial part in the identity of the vehicle. These digits are called the vehicle’s production number also known as a serial number. As it sounds, the serial numbers work in a proper order giving the manufacturer enough space to launch hundreds of thousands of cars with the same model.
After creating this VIN, manufacturers submit the information to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association who keeps a track of all the details of millions of vehicles. That is why every VIN decoder needs to connect with the department of traffic safety to get the information.
Some basic decoders simply decode the VIN based on the digits and characters of a vehicle identification number. However, advanced VIN lookup services offer you direct access to the records of that vehicle. These records help you find out if the car met an accident before you bought it.
It also covers other things like vehicle recalls, manufacturing faults, services, and financial reports. Thus, a VIN decoder keeps track of all these things by accessing the information from the National Highway Traffic Safety Association.
The interesting thing is you can check the data of any vehicle that is manufactured after 1981. The vehicles manufactured before 1981 have 11 digit VINs which are no longer supported by this department.
Are VIN Checks Reliable?
A lot of people avoid using online tools as they believe they are not reliable. However, things are different with VIN decoders as they directly access the information from a credible source. Also, many VIN decoders offer this information without asking for your information.
Thus, VIN checks are reliable and you can perform them on any vehicle you want.
We recommend performing a VIN check on your vehicle to check the credibility of online tools. If the VIN decoder’s information matches your vehicle’s records, you can trust the platform to do the job.
Another way to ensure you get the right decoder is to use specific tools designed for the car manufacturer. For example, this VIN decoder is specifically for Mercedes vehicles, making it easier to track the information of Mercedes car models.
Final Words
Choosing a reliable VIN decoder can help you avoid a lot of problems. You won’t need to visit your manufacturer to get some crucial information related to the vehicle. Also, having a trusted VIN decoder makes it easier to buy a used vehicle by accessing its records.
The information offered by the free VIN decoders is usually from the National Highway Traffic Security association and can be trusted. However, we always recommend performing a VIN check on your vehicle to check the credibility of the decoder.
Also Read: Benefits Of Getting Psychic Reading Service
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