Author: Articlegold Archive

An Auto VIN Decoder breaks down the unique alphanumeric sequence
known as a Vehicle Identification Number, which is a car’s
fingerprint. Each and every automobile on the road has its own
17-character VIN, and it is this identification number that is used
to generate a Vehicle History Report, also known as a VIN
check.

The VIN check taps into millions of DMV records and reveals all
of the available history for a particular vehicle, including any
hidden problems, odometer readings, ownership transfers and more.
It is an absolute must for used car buyers, as it tells you
everything you need to know about the vehicle.

The Auto VIN Decoder can help you understand what these letters
and numbers mean, which is the first step towards ensuring that a
vehicle you are considering is right for you.

Let’s break down the Vehicle Identification Number, starting
with the first character. (Please note the letter “I” as in indigo,
the letter “O” as in orange, and the letter “Q” as in queen are NOT
found in any VIN Numbers.)

(We will use the following VIN as an example:
2FTRX18W1XCA01212)

The first character represents the country of manufacture, and
can be a letter or a number, each signifying a different country.
The most common ones are as follows:

(1 = USA, 2 = Canada, 3 = Mexico, J = Japan, K = Korea, W =
Germany, Y = Finland, Sweden)

So using the Auto VIN Decoder in the above example, this
particular car was made in Canada.

The second/third characters represent the manufacturer, also
known as the make. The most common are:

(A = Alfa Romeo, B = Dodge, C = Chrysler, D = Daihatsu, E =
Eagle, F= Ford/Eagle, G = All General Motors vehicles (Buick,
Cadillac, Chevrolet, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saturn) H = Honda/Acura,
J= Jeep, L = Lincoln, M = Mitsubishi, N = Nissan/Infiniti, P =
Plymouth, S = Subaru, T = Toyota/Lexus, V = Volkswagen)

So using the Auto VIN Decoder in the above example, this car is
a Ford or an Eagle..since Eagle is no longer made, it is most
likely a Ford.

Other popular makes use a 3-character initial sequence:

(TRU/WAU = Audi, 4US/WBA/WBS = BMW, 2HM/KMH = Hyundai, SAJ =
Jaguar, SAL = Land Rover, 1YV/JM1 = Mazda, WDB = Mercedes-Benz, VF3
= Peugeot, WP0 = Porsche, YK1/YS3 = Saab, YV1=Volvo)

The fourth character is the type of restraint system.

In the above example, “R” represents hydraulic breaks using the
VIN Decoder.

The fifth, sixth & seventh characters are the vehicle line,
series and body style. This will obviously be different across
makes and models.

In the above example, characters 5, 6 & 7 are X18: X18 is a
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD Super Cab

The eighth character is the engine type.

With the Auto VIN Decoder, W represents a 4.6 liter V-8
engine.

The tenth character represents the year of the car. Pay close
attention to this one:

B = 1981 F = 1985 K = 1989 P = 1993 V = 1997 1 = 2001 C = 1982 G
= 1986 L = 1990 R = 1994 W = 1998 2 = 2002 D = 1983 H = 1987 M =
1991 S = 1995 X = 1999 3 = 2003 E = 1984 J = 1988 N = 1992 T = 1996
Y = 2000 4 = 2004

For the most recent used model year, 5 = 2005

In the above example, the “X” indicates that this car was made
in 1999.

The eleventh character indicates the assembly plant.

In the above example, the C indicates Ontario, Canada

Characters 12-17 represent the vehicle’s unique fingerprint. It
is these six digits which make every single vehicle in the world
different.

So using the Auto VIN Decoder one last time, the Vehicle
Identification Number: 2FTRX18W1XCA01212 represents a 1999 Ford
F150 Pickup 4WD Super Cab manufactured in Ontario, Canada with
hydraulic brakes and a 4.6-liter V-8 engine.

So there you have it, the Auto VIN Decoder. If you are in the
market for a used vehicle, use this decoder to make sure that it is
indeed the exact model that the seller is claiming it is. Once you
have verified the Vehicle Identification Number is accurate, you
can proceed with your VIN check and learn everything you need to
know about that particular car.

Article Source:
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Resource
To learn more about the VIN Decoder, visit Car Detective VIN
Decoder and Auto Advice VIN Number check.