In the early days of motoring, one imagines that there was no need for a vehicle identification number (VIN).
That changed with Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T. The Ford Motor Co. would make 15 million Model Ts from 1908-1927, so keeping track of vehicles by using a serial number on the engine block became necessary.
As assembly line auto manufacturing spread to other companies and countries, carmakers each developed formulae for assigning serial numbers. Finally, in 1954, the U.S. government ordered a standardized format and moved the VIN from the engine to the frame since replacing the engine, which was common in the day, confused matters if it was on the block.
In 1981, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) formalized the standard sequence of digits and numbers assigned to vehicles. This 17-digit format introduced a check number (the ninth digit in the VIN). By reading the letters to numbers and applying a calculation, the check number demonstrated if the VIN was genuine or fake.
That’s important because if you’re buying a used car, you want to ensure it isn’t a stolen vehicle and that it’s roadworthy. Moreover, when you register a vehicle, renew a licence plate, or transfer ownership, the accuracy of the VIN confirms the vehicle’s identity. Finally, from a car insurance standpoint, the VIN allows your insurer to ensure it’s adequately rated and confirms its ownership if a claim has been filed.
The first step to decoding the information your VIN provides is to find the number itself. Fortunately, that’s easier today. Most cars have a VIN tag on the driver’s side of the dashboard and the front of the engine block. There may also be one inside the driver’s side door. Older vehicles will have it on the front end of the frame.
If you want to decode your own VIN, here’s what it’s telling you:
If the VIN on a car has fewer than 17 digits, that means it was produced before 1981. The decoding formula above won’t work for that, and the information available on vehicles made before 1981 is limited.
Your vehicle’s VIN is handy for some purposes, helpful for some, and essential for others:
If you find a discrepancy with your car’s VIN, for example, if the VIN on the ownership permit doesn’t match the VIN plate affixed to the dashboard, the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) recommends contacting the vehicle licensing and registration office in your province or territory. Additionally, if the VIN on your insurance pink slip doesn’t match the VIN plate on the dashboard, immediately contact your insurance company or local police to report it. If you are concerned a vehicle may be flood-damaged, use IBC’s VIN Verify Service to check to see if the car was reported as flood-damaged and non-repairable.
Your vehicle’s VIN is its fingerprint — no two are the same. If you’re buying a used vehicle, checking the VIN and getting a history report are precautions you must take to make sure you don’t get a lemon or a stolen vehicle. It can also identify if there are other factors like liens or car insurance claims on that car.