A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique 17-character code assigned to every car manufactured since 1981. It encodes where the car was made, who made it, and key details about its specification.

Can I decode a VIN myself?

Yes. Use the free VIN decoder on this page. Enter the 17-character VIN and it will break it down into country of origin, manufacturer, vehicle descriptor, model year and production sequence.

Does decoding a VIN tell me if a car has been in an accident?

No. The VIN only encodes factory-set information like manufacturer, model and specification. Accident history, finance, theft and mileage data require a full car history check.

Why do VINs have 17 characters?

The 17-character format was standardised internationally in 1981 (ISO 3779). It provides enough combinations to give every vehicle a unique code while encoding useful manufacturing information within the number itself.

Where do I find the VIN on a car?

Check the bottom of the windscreen on the passenger side, the V5C logbook, or the plate inside the driver's door frame. All three should match.

Free VIN Decoder

Every car has a unique 17-character VIN baked in at the factory. It tells you where the car was built, who made it and when.

Paste a VIN below to decode it instantly.

Enter a 17-character VIN

Find it on the windscreen, V5C logbook or driver's door frame.

WMI VDS VIS

1-3

WMI

World Manufacturer Identifier

Country of origin

Manufacturer

4-9

VDS

Vehicle Descriptor Section

Descriptor code

What this encodes

Model, body style, engine type and restraint system. Exact meaning varies by manufacturer.

10-17

VIS

Vehicle Identifier Section

Model year

Assembly plant code

Production sequence

Note: A VIN decode reveals factory information only. It cannot show finance, theft, write-off, mileage or MOT history. For those checks, run a full car check using the registration.

Go further

Want finance, theft and write-off data?

A VIN tells you what the car is. A full check tells you what has happened to it. Enter the registration to get the complete picture.

Finance, theft, write-off, mileage, MOT and more.

How a VIN is structured

Every VIN is split into three sections. Each tells you something different about the car.

1-3

WMI

World Manufacturer Identifier

The first 3 characters identify who made the car and where.

Character 1: Country Character 2: Manufacturer Character 3: Vehicle type

4-9

VDS

Vehicle Descriptor Section

Characters 4 to 9 describe the vehicle's specifications. The exact meaning varies by manufacturer, but typically includes:

Model and body style
Engine type
Restraint system and safety features
Check digit (position 9, North American vehicles)

10-17

VIS

Vehicle Identifier Section

The final 8 characters make the VIN unique to that specific vehicle.

Character 10: Model year Character 11: Assembly plant Characters 12-17: Production sequence

What a VIN decoder does not show

A VIN encodes factory information only. It tells you nothing about what happened to the car after it left the production line.

Finance

Stolen status

Write-offs

Mileage

MOT history

Ownership

The bigger picture

Decoding a VIN is just the start

Knowing the factory spec is useful, but it won't tell you whether the car has outstanding finance, a write-off record, stolen markers or mileage problems. That's what a full check covers.

Run a VIN check Full car history check

Check a car before you buy

Enter the registration to get VIN verification, finance, theft, write-off and mileage data.

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