Decode a VIN
Free, no sign-up. The VIN is on the V5C log book, at the base of the windscreen and inside the driver's door frame.
What the 17 characters of a VIN mean
Every vehicle built since 1981 has a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), set out by the international standard ISO 3779. In the UK it is also called the chassis number, and it is printed on the V5C log book.
| Characters | Name | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | World manufacturer identifier (WMI) | The maker and the country the code was issued in: WBA is BMW in Germany, SAL is Land Rover in the UK, VF1 is Renault in France. |
| 4-8 | Vehicle descriptor section (VDS) | The maker's codes for the model, body style, engine and trim. Each maker has its own system. |
| 9 | Check digit | A digit worked out from the other 16 to catch typing mistakes and altered VINs. Required in North America; most European makers don't use it. |
| 10 | Model year | A letter or number for the model year (for example L = 2020, R = 2024). Always used in North America, often left out in Europe. |
| 11 | Plant code | The factory that built the vehicle. |
| 12-17 | Serial number | The vehicle's own production number. |
Why decode a VIN before buying a used car
The VIN is a vehicle's fingerprint. Criminals give stolen cars the identity of a legal one by copying its plates and documents (a cloned car), so check that the VIN on the car, at the base of the windscreen and in the door frame, matches the V5C log book. If the decoded maker or year doesn't fit the car in front of you, walk away.
Decoding shows what the VIN says about how the car was built. It can't show what has happened to it since: whether it is on finance, written off or stolen. Those records are in a full car history check.
More on VINs: where to find the VIN and check it matches the V5C and how to decode a VIN.
Check the history behind the VIN
The full car history check covers outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, police stolen markers, previous keepers, plate changes and 150+ data points, from £3.99 per report. Search by VIN or registration.
Check a vehicle See a sample full reportVIN decoder FAQs
How do I decode a VIN for free?
Enter the 17-character VIN in the decoder at the top of this page. It shows the manufacturer and country from the first three characters, the model year where the VIN records it, the plant code, the serial number and whether the check digit is right. Then run the free check by VIN to see the vehicle's DVLA details and full MOT history.
Is a VIN the same as a chassis number?
Yes. In the UK the chassis number and the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) are the same 17 characters. They are on the V5C log book, usually at the base of the windscreen and on a plate inside the driver's door frame.
Can a VIN tell me the year of my car?
Often. In North American VINs the 10th character is always the model year. Many European makers leave it out, so the decoder says when a VIN does not record the year. The free check by VIN shows the DVLA year of manufacture and the date of first registration for any UK vehicle.
Why does the VIN check digit not match?
The 9th character is a check digit worked out from the other 16. North American VINs must have a correct one, so a mismatch there means a typing mistake or an altered VIN. Most European makers do not use a check digit, so a mismatch on a European VIN is normal.
Can a VIN show if a car is stolen, written off or on finance?
Not by decoding it. Those records are held by the police, insurers and finance companies. A full car history check by VIN or registration searches them: outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, police stolen markers, previous keepers and plate changes.