Where Is the VIN on a Car, Truck or SUV?

VIN locations by vehicle type

Trailers are different: their certification label, with the VIN, goes on the forward half of the left side, readable from outside (49 CFR 567.4(c)).

Why the VIN is on the dashboard

The dashboard spot isn't a convention; it's a federal requirement. It lets police, inspectors and buyers read the VIN without opening the car. For passenger cars, SUVs and other multipurpose vehicles, low-speed vehicles and trucks up to 10,000 lb gross vehicle weight rating, the rule reads:

“It shall be readable, without moving any part of the vehicle, through the vehicle glazing under daylight lighting conditions by an observer … whose eye-point is located outside the vehicle adjacent to the left windshield pillar.”49 CFR 565.13(f)

The same rule sets each character at least 4 mm tall and requires the VIN to sit on a part that isn't removed except for repair, or on a plate permanently fixed to one. That is why you see a small metal plate or a sticker riveted to the top of the dash, not printed on the glass. If a sunshade, a parking permit or a phone mount covers it, move it aside rather than reading from inside: the plate is angled for viewing from outside, so stand by the driver's-side windshield pillar.

The door-jamb copy comes from a second rule. Every vehicle's certification label, which states that it meets federal safety standards and lists its weight ratings, must also show the VIN. On cars, trucks and SUVs it goes on the hinge pillar, the door-latch post or the door edge next to the driver's seat (49 CFR 567.4).

How many places is the VIN on a car?

At least two on the vehicle itself, and often many more. The table lists every location and the rule behind it, so you know which ones you can count on.

What a VIN looks like

A modern VIN is 17 characters of capital letters and numbers with no spaces. The letters I, O and Q are never used, so if you think you see an O it's a zero. Here's an example, split the way a decoder reads it:

The first three characters identify the manufacturer, the 10th is the model year and the 9th is a check digit that catches typos. Our guide to reading a VIN character by character explains every position, and the model-year code chart turns the 10th character into a year. Vehicles built before the 1981 model year have shorter VINs in each maker's own format, so a 17-character decoder can't read them.

Hidden VINs on body parts

The "hidden VIN" people ask about is usually the parts marking. Federal theft-prevention rules require the VIN on up to 18 major parts of passenger cars, and of SUVs and pickups up to 6,000 lb GVWR in covered lines: the engine, transmission, both front fenders, hood, every door, both bumpers, the rear quarter panels or side assemblies, the pickup box and the tailgate, decklid or hatch. Engines and transmissions may carry just the last eight characters. Small-volume makers and lines with a NHTSA-approved anti-theft device can be exempt.

The markings are labels or stampings, often on an inner surface you only see with the part removed, and the automaker chooses the exact spot. Labels are designed to tear apart and leave residue if anyone peels them off, so investigators can tell a part's label has been removed. Some older and classic vehicles also have a second VIN stamping on the frame or firewall; enthusiast clubs and restorers know those spots by model.

Removing or altering any of these numbers is a federal crime. Knowingly removing, obliterating, tampering with or altering a vehicle or part identification number carries up to 5 years in prison under 18 U.S.C. 511, with exceptions for lawful repairers, scrap processors and state-approved VIN restorations.

How to find your VIN without the car

If the car is in the shop, was towed or was stolen, the VIN is still in plenty of places:

• Title and registration card. Both print the full VIN, usually labelled "VIN" or "Vehicle ID" near the year and make.
• Insurance card and policy. Also in your insurer's app or online account.
• Automaker app or owner account. Connected-car apps list the VIN on the vehicle screen.
• Loan, lease or purchase papers. The bill of sale and finance contract name the vehicle by VIN.
• Service and repair invoices. Dealers and most shops print it on every repair order.
• Your state motor-vehicle agency. It can provide the VIN to the registered owner with proof of identity.

Before you buy: make sure the VINs match

Checking the VIN in three places takes two minutes and is one of the best defenses against buying a stolen or cloned car.

1. Read the dashboard plate through the windshield and photograph it.
2. Read the door-jamb label and compare every character. Look for a label that is missing, newer than the rest of the car or partly peeled.
3. Compare both with the title and the seller's ID. A title in a different name, or a VIN that differs by even one character, is a reason to walk away until it's explained.
4. Look for tampering: scratched or replaced rivets on the dash plate, a plate that sits loose, or glue residue where a label used to be.
5. Run the VIN. A free VIN decode confirms the year, make, model and engine match the car in front of you, and NHTSA's lookup shows open recalls. For title brands, accidents and mileage, see our guide to the free VIN check vs. a history report.

VIN location FAQ