How to Find the Chassis Number Of Your Car?

What are the ways to identify you? Your face, your name, and your voice, and so many other things that’s unique to you but, how do we identify a car? All the vehicles of the same model look the same, and they also have the same name, and they don’t have a voice, so we need another way to identify every car differently. There comes the chassis number of your vehicle to the rescue. It is a unique number that is given to every single car during its manufacturing. You may be thinking, what is that and what is the chassis number of your car? If these questions are making you curious, then don’t worry, you have landed in the right place! Read till the end to know every detail about the chassis number of cars. 

What is the Chassis Number?

A chassis number, or Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), is an identity of your car just like your fingerprint. The number is unique for every car given to it during the manufacturing process. It is an alphanumeric code needed for every legal work regarding the vehicle. The chassis number has a total 17 characters which has both letters and numbers.  

Decoding the Chassis Number

First Character: Identifies the country of manufacturing. 

Second character: Indicates the manufacturing brand. 

Third Character: Determines the type of vehicle or the manufacturing division. 

Fourth to Eighth Character: Identifies different features of the vehicle, like model and engine type. 

Ninth Character: It is a security check digit. 

Tenth Character: It represents the model year. 

Eleventh Character: Indicates the vehicle’s manufacturing place. 

Last Six Characters: A serial number of the vehicle, unique for every car. 

Importance of Chassis Number

The chassis number is a really important number which is unique for your car, that you need to know because you will need it in several situations. From buying a car to selling it, you will need this number for different purposes, especially any legal purpose. Here are the top 7 importance of chassis numbers that you must know: 

1. Insurance: When you go to buy an insurance policy for your car, the chassis number of the car is going to be asked from the insurance company, as that will help them in legal verification of your ownership. It also helps them to assess the risk and also plays a major role when you claim for the policy, especially during total damage or loss. 

2. Stolen Vehicle Identification: The chassis number of a car plays a very important role in the identification of stolen vehicles. If someone is trying to sell you a stolen vehicle, then you can easily cross-check it by referencing the chassis numbers of the stolen car.
3. Unique Identification: Every vehicle needs to have a unique identification for the purpose of legal matters, car insurance claims, or in case of any theft, and that is why the chassis number is very important. 

4. Recall Information: Sometimes car companies find out that a particular set of their cars may have a problem in their manufacturing, and they recall them. Chassis numbers help a lot in recalling those cars, which is very important for safety, helping the companies to upgrade or repair their car models. 

5. Vehicle History Verification: When you are buying a resale car, the first thing you should do is take the chassis number of the car and then use it to find out the history of the vehicle, like ownership history or accidental records. 

6. Legal Documentation: Whatever legal documentation of a car is needed, like registration, will need the chassis number; without that number, no legal work of a vehicle can be taken forward. 
7. Resale Value Assessment: The owner of a car can set any high value for a car while selling it by manipulating different facts, but you can use the chassis number to know all the records of the car and then buy at a suitable price. 

How to Find a Vehicle's Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

The chassis number, or VIN, of a car, is a very important number that you need to know for different purposes, from legal registration to checking records. Here’s how you can find the chassis number of your car: 

• Registration Certificate: The first place where you can search for the chassis number of your car is the registration certificate. The car’s registration certificate can be considered as the most important legal document as it contains several such vital pieces of information. 
• Dashboard: In several car models, the driver side of the car’s dashboard contains the chassis number. It is located in the place where the windshield and dashboard meet. You can spot it from outside the car.
• Door: The chassis number is written in small metal plate or sticker in doors of the car in different car models. It is mainly given in the driver’s side door by different manufacturers.
• Hood: Sometimes car manufacturers place the chassis number of the car in the hood. You can spot the chassis number in the edges of the hood, which you can check after opening it. 
• Boot: You can also spot the chassis number or VIN of your car in the Boot. Look at the edges of the boot to find the VIN. 
• Rear Wheel: In some cars, you can easily find the VIN in the rear wheel of the car too. You need to check the inner arch of the rear wheel to find the chassis number there.  
• Insurance Policy document: You can spot the VIN on the declaration page of the document of your vehicle’s insurance policy. No policy can be done without the VIN, so it will be present there in the document. 

FAQs 

Q1. What information does a chassis number provide?

Ans. The chassis number of a car provides different information like the manufacturer of the vehicle, year of manufacture, model, and some other specifications like fuel type and engine type.  

Q2. Can I check the history of a car using its chassis number?

Ans. Yes, you can surely check the history of your car with the help of the chassis number, which includes several important information like legal status, accident records, or ownership records helping in the second-hand purchases of vehicles. 

Q3. Why is it important to know my car’s chassis number?

Ans. The car’s chassis number is vital information that you need to know because it helps in verifying the authenticity of the car, knowing the records of the car, and staying safe from any fraud while purchasing one. 

Q4. Can I find my car’s chassis number online?

Ans. Yes, you can easily find your car’s chassis number online using different government portals like VAHAN for Indian citizens. You just need to enter the registration details to get the number. 

Q5. Is the chassis number the same as the engine number?

Ans. No, the engine number is specifically given for the engine only, while the chassis number is given for the identification of the whole car and knowing different details about it.  

Q6. Does a VIN change if I modify my vehicle?

Ans. No, the VIN remains constant for the vehicle throughout its entire life; even after moderation, it can only be changed if there is any legal instruction to do so. 

Q7. Can I change my car’s VIN legally?

Ans. Changing the chassis number of a car is an illegal job until and unless it is done with the proper legal system under circumstances like damage repair or restoration.