The VIN should have 17 characters if the car was manufactured after 1981. Vehicles manufactured before that date had VINs from 11 to 17 characters. [3] X Research source A typical VIN might read 1HGBM22JXMN109186.
On the driver-side doorpost. With the door open, check the spot where the door latches. It should be near the seatbelt return. Inside the driver-side doorjamb. Open the door and look straight ahead. The VIN should be inside the doorjamb, where the mirror is located when the door is shut. [8] X Research source
Also look for signs that the windshield may have been removed in order to pull off the VIN plate. For example, there may be loose molding or excessive glue on the windshield.
The label should be entirely fastened to the vehicle without any loose corners. There shouldn’t be any tears or scratches on the label. In particular, pay attention to the VIN. The label should have a shiny clear coat. The label should be smooth to the touch, without scratches. The label shouldn’t be partially obscured with a screw or rust proofing material. The VIN on the certification label should match the VINs that appear elsewhere on the vehicle.
Remember to match the VIN on the plate to the VIN that appears on the dashboard.
If you are buying a used car, always insist on taking it to a mechanic before you make an offer to buy the vehicle.
Some thieves will pull VIN plates and labels from cars that have been junked or stolen. They then attach the plate/label to their stolen car. Call the police if the VIN shows up in the database.
For example, the service report might describe the car as a 2016 Honda Accord, but the car you have been looking at is a 2015 Subaru. In this situation, the VIN has been stolen from one car and put on another.
