A VIN Confirms Your Car's True Identity
All vehicles built for sale in North America since 1981 have a VIN that consists of a combination of 17 letters and digits. This is like the vehicle's fingerprint. A vehicle's VIN provides key information about its manufacturer, model, model year, make, equipment and class.
A VIN identifies a specific car to the insurance industry, law enforcement, governments and concerned stakeholders. A car's VIN:
- Is engraved on a metal plate on the driver's side of the dashboard and in other places on the car;
- Provides basic information about the car, including the make and model and where and when it was built;
- Stays the same no matter how many times the car changes owners and licence plate numbers;
- Can be used to track the history of the car – for example, whether it has been in any serious crashes, whether it has been stolen and how many owners it has had;
- Is used by insurance companies to set accurate premiums;
- Can help police find the rightful owner if the car is stolen.
Find out how to use a VIN to identify a stolen car.
Why Care About The VIN?
An accurate VIN can:
- Assist you in buying a used car. If you know how to check a car's VIN, you will be less likely to buy a stolen car or a car that has been deemed unsafe for road use, such as a car damaged in a flood. For more information about buying a used car, contact your provincial or territorial vehicle licensing/registration office.
- Help ensure a hassle-free transaction when you register your car, renew your licence plate permit or transfer ownership. An accurate VIN helps confirm the identity, and ownership of your car.
- Helps law enforcement identify and recover stolen vehicles.
- Make it easier for auto body and maintenance shops to order appropriate parts for your car. For example, a VIN identifies a car's model series, engine and drivetrain.
- Help your insurance company identify your car to ensure that your insurance is properly rated and confirm ownership in the event of a claim
- Protect your car's identity. Unlike a fingerprint, duplicate vehicle identities can be created, making it easier to sell stolen cars. This is a type of insurance crime that all policyholders pay for.