The last six digits of a car’s VIN – vehicle identification number make for the chassis number. Chassis number comes in handy when you are buying a used car. It is unique to every car, and therefore, used to track a car’s history. On the other hand, the engine number is unique to every engine and is embossed on the engine itself.
Unlike the engine number, VIN can be found in different locations, depending on the vehicle. Let’s go through all the common spots where you can check VIN and engine number of your vehicle.
Ways to Locate VIN on a Car
Following are the ways to check the VIN on your car.
Check the Paperwork
If you don’t want to inspect your car to locate the VIN number, look through your car’s paperwork. Important documents that may include car vehicle identification number include:
- The title
- Owner’s manual
- Car registration card
- Documents of insurance
- Records of car body repair
- Police reports
- Vehicle history reports
Check the Car Dashboard
Several cars have the VIN number on the dashboard. Check the lower-left corner of the dashboard – the number should also be easily readable looking through the car windshield from the driver’s side of the car.
Check the Driver’s Door
The VIN can also be found on the driver’s side of the door jamb or on the doorpost. Open the car from the driver’s side door and look around the doorjamb’s edges for a white sticker. This little white sticker is mostly pasted on the doorjamb’s area just below the level of the rearview mirror.
Moreover, the vehicle identification number can also be found on the opposite side of the driver’s door side just near where the driver latches their seatbelt.
Check Under the Hood
Another place where you can find the VIN is under the hood. Pop the hood and check for the VIN at the engine block’s front. You may find the VIN number there.
Inspect the Frame
Sometimes you can locate the VIN on the vehicle frame’s front – near the windshield washer fluid container. To put it simply, pop the hood, find the window washer fluid container, close the hood and look for the VIN on the vehicle frame area.
Lift Spare Tyres
If there is a spare tyre in the trunk and you have not been able to locate the VIN, look for it over there. Open the trunk, remove the spare tyre, and look for the VIN in the area where the spare is kept usually. The VIN may be written in this spot.
Look Under The Wheel Wall
Another place your VIN can be located is under the wheel well. Sometimes the VIN is mentioned under the rear wheel well. Walk towards the back of your car, get down on your knees and look up at your wheel well and check both sides to see if the VIN is mentioned there. You may need a flashlight to see the VIN.
Once you find the VIN number on your car, write it down somewhere and keep it in a file that can be accessed easily when you need it next. You can write down the VIN number and maintain a physical file, email it to yourself or save it on your computer.
Finding the Car’s Chassis Number
If you want to check the chassis and engine number, remember the chassis number is the last six digits of the VIN number. Once you locate the VIN number on your car, you will automatically find the chassis number.
Finding VIN on Motorcycle, ATV or Scooter
Go through the following steps to locate the VIN number on a motorcycle, scooter or ATV.
Check the Back of the Steering
The most common place where the VIN for motorcycles is mentioned is the steering neck. Turn the handles on one side and closely examine the steering neck (a metal cylinder running down from the motorcycles). The VIN is usually etched into the metal. Check both the sides of the steering neck, the VIN can be mentioned on any side.
Check the Motor
Sometimes you can find the VIN for motorcycles on the motor. If the VIN is not located on the steering neck, it can be on the motor. VIN’s on motors are usually etched near the bottom of the motor’s cylinders.
Check the Front Frame
You can find the VIN for ATVs and some motorcycles on the frame. However, you will have to look around and use a flashlight to locate one. Since the VIN is usually printed on the motorbike’s inner frame.
Start with the outside of the frame first. The VIN can be located just below the motorbike’s shifter on the left side of the bike. If it is not on the outside frame, look for it on the inside of the frame.
Furthermore, some manufacturers stamp the VIN on certain specific areas of the frame. For example, Honda mentioned the VIN on the right side of the steering head, it also stamps it on the area of the frame just above the motor on the left side of the bike. Therefore, always check with your motorbike manufacturer to see if there are any specific areas where you should look first.
Finding Motorcycle’s Chassis Number
As with cars, the last six digits of your motorcycle’s VIN number are the motorcycle’s chassis number. Circle the last six digits of the VIN number to identify the chassis number.
How to Check Engine Number of a Car
You can look for the engine number, following these steps:
Check the Engine
A vehicle’s engine number is generally etched right on the engine itself. Look at the motorcycle’s engine from the side. You will find a sticker clearly mentioning the engine number on these spots.
Check the Owner’s Manual
If the VIN is not mentioned on the engine, check the owner’s manual for identifying the VIN’s exact location. You should be able to find this information on the first few pages of the booklet. You may also find a picture of where to locate the engine number on the engine block in the owner’s manual.
Identify the Engine Code and Engine Number
Remember, the engine number is a six-digit number following a three-digit engine code. Notice the engine number includes three digits followed by six more digits. The first three digits are your vehicle’s engine code whereas the last six digits are your vehicle’s engine number.
That is all the information you need to check VIN and engine number.
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