Is the VIN the same as the Social Security number?
Source/ Kevin Dooley /Flickr The VIN (vehicle identification number) of your car has been described as its fingerprint–no other vehicle can have the exact same one, even if the other vehicle is close enough to yours to be its “twin.” It’s also been compared to your car’s social security number.
When did NHTSA start requiring Vins for cars?
VINs first existed in 1954, but their length and code values were not yet standardized. That changed in 1981, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began requiring standardized VINs for any vehicle that took to the road.
What does the VIN number on a car mean?
Vehicle identification numbers, also referred to as VINs, have the same purpose as Social Security numbers and bar codes. VINs are 17-digit codes that serve as unique identifiers for vehicles of all types. Cars, trucks and motorcycles that are used as both personal and or commercial vehicles have a VIN.
How to find VIN code 11 through 17?
Use a VIN decoder! Then, characters 11 through 17 are used in unique ways by each manufacturer to record info, such as the assembly plant, options on the vehicle and so forth. So, track down the coding for your specific manufacturer. (Or use a VIN decoder!)
VINs first existed in 1954, but their length and code values were not yet standardized. That changed in 1981, when the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began requiring standardized VINs for any vehicle that took to the road.
Source/ Kevin Dooley /Flickr The VIN (vehicle identification number) of your car has been described as its fingerprint–no other vehicle can have the exact same one, even if the other vehicle is close enough to yours to be its “twin.” It’s also been compared to your car’s social security number.
What does position 9 on VIN number mean?
Note: the character in position 9 is the VIN check digit that is used to determine if it is a correct VIN and to help prevent VIN fraud. It does not tell you anything specific about the actual vehicle. Characters 10 through 17 get down to the nitty-gritty, sharing when a car was built, what options it has and more.
How can I decode the VIN number on my car?
Here’s how you can decode that second letter or number in your VIN . The third letter or number identifies the type of vehicle it is – a car or truck, for example, or a bus or motorcycle. Each manufacturer uses different codes – and, there’s good news and there’s bad news about that.