A car VIN number (or just “VIN”) allows you to identify certain characteristics of a vehicle. Owners must know their car’s VIN number when situations require it. For instance, when we’ll have someone trade in a car from Queens. The person selling it to us and our dealership staff need to know the car’s VIN number to complete the transaction.
Every new and used car, truck, and SUV on the roads in Manhattan and the United States has a VIN. But where is the VIN number on a car and what is a VIN number? Keep reading to find the answers in this guide from Northstar Mitsubishi in Long Island City!
Where is the VIN Number on a Car Exactly?
Your car’s VIN number is most commonly found in a couple of spots on your vehicle.
Where the Dashboard & Windshield Meet
- Stand outside of your vehicle.
- Go to the driver’s side.
- Look closely at the corner where the dash and the windshield meet at the front.
- You’ll see the car’s VIN number permanently imprinted on a small tab through the windshield.
Near the Driver’s Door
- Open the driver’s door.
- Look where the door latches to the frame.
- See the permanent label somewhere on the doorpost that displays the car’s VIN number.
The car VIN number label must always stay attached to the vehicle, per federal law.
Now you know the location of a car’s VIN number when you need to find it on the vehicle. Next, discover more information about what a VIN is and when you’ll need to use it.
What is a VIN Number?
VIN is an acronym for a vehicle identification number. The car VIN number, much like your Social Security number, comes in handy for several situations:
- Registering your vehicle with NY agencies
- Finding past vehicle registration information
- Examining vehicle history reports
- Discovering if your exact vehicle has a recall
- Making warranty claims for a broken-down part
- Completing theft or police reports
- Buying insurance coverage
- Ordering OEM parts and accessories for DIY car repairs
- Scheduling service with our service team
- Applying for financing at a dealership or with your bank
- Selling your vehicle to a private party or a dealership
- Trading in your vehicle to a dealership to upgrade your ride
When you need to submit your VIN through a secure online form, it’s usually for one of these situations.
What Do VINs Consist Of?
VINs are 17 characters long, using a combination of capital letters and numbers. Each VIN is unique to the vehicle, much like your Social Security number, fingerprints, DNA, and personality are to you. No two vehicles on the road have the same VIN. If you own a car from 1980 or older, VINs are shorter than 17 characters.
Here’s an example of what a VIN looks like:
JA4ATUAA4RZ017462
The VIN provides information about the vehicle’s manufacturer, specifications, features, and more.
What Do the Different Characters in a VIN Mean?
Each character identifies a specific aspect of the vehicle:
- Character 1: Country of Origin
- Character 2: Manufacturer
- Character 3: Vehicle Type or Manufacturing Division
- Character 4: Body Type
- Character 5: Engine
- Character 6: Series
- Character 7: Restraint Type
- Character 8: Model
- Character 9: Check Digit to detect a valid VIN
- Character 10: Model Year
- Character 11: Plant
- Last Six Characters: Car’s Serial Number
Cars made in the United States start with a 1, 4, or 5. Canada is 2, Mexico is 3, Japan is J, South Korea is K, England is S, Germany is W, and Sweden or Finland is Y.
When looking at the second character, A is for Mitsubishi. Then the third number is a 4, meaning it’s a multi-purpose vehicle (SUV) like an Outlander.
The fourth through eighth characters depend on the manufacturer, and each automaker uses a unique system to identify their vehicles in these digits.
Fun Fact: the letters I, O, and Q are not allowed in VINs.
Fun Fact Two: The VIN system in its current form is designed to last until 2038 thanks to changes in the alpha-numeric system in 2008.
Look over our new vehicle inventory to research more information about VINs. You’ll see that each online listing for our showroom has a VIN attached to it.
Test Drive a New Vehicle for Sale From Northstar Mitsubishi
Now that you know what is a VIN number, Do you have any other questions about vehicle ownership? Ready to see if one of our vehicles will work for your Brooklyn lifestyle? Contact us or call 718-750-9290 to schedule a test drive. We’d love to see you drive home with a new or certified pre-owned Mitsubishi!
