What is a Chassis Number? Whether it’s a car, truck or motorbike, identifying a specific vehicle can at times be essential. Whether establishing ownership, monitoring crucial safety work or dozens of other scenarios, being able to know a vehicle and its history requires each to have a unique identifier. This is known as the chassis number in car manufacturing, and is a unique number assigned during production. Through the chassis number in car details, we can easily find the year the vehicle was manufactured, its exact specification, recall safety work and so on. This is used for vehicle registration, insurance and all kinds of maintenance work to ensure the correct parts are fitted and more. You may also see the chassis number referred to as a vehicle identification number, or VIN for short, and the best analogy is to look at it as if it were the vehicular version of your social security number. Its unique and offers specific information about the vehicle, including manufacturer, place and year of production and other aspects of what it is, just like our SSN. All Your Vehicle Data In One Place What do the Numbers mean in a Chassis Number? One of the best things about chassis numbers in cars is that they are unified across the automotive industry, so they work the same whatever make or model of vehicle you are looking at. There are 17 characters, and they are broken down as follows: First Three Characters — These are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), and these numbers tell you what country the vehicle was made in, and the type of vehicle that it is. Characters 4 through 9 — This is called the vehicle Descriptor Section, or VDS, and tells us the model of vehicle, the body type and engine code. Characters 10 through 17 — The Vehicle identifier Section, or VIS, which tells you the year of manufacture, the factory that the vehicle was built and a unique serial number for that specific vehicle. With these codes you can learn almost everything you need to know about the vehicle. A chassis number is usually recorded on a tag or sticker permanently connected to a key structural element of the vehicle. This can be found in several different locations, depending on the manufacturer and model, but is usually in at least one of four places: Engine Bay — Usually the rear bulkhead or on the suspension mount. Interior — On the Driver’s side doorjamb, or more frequently with newer vehicles, on the top of the dashboard visible through the windscreen. Underside — Rare these days, but some older vehicles may have the chassis number stamped onto the chassis under the vehicle. Documentation — The vehicle manual, registration or insurance details often have the chassis number recorded in them. If you are struggling to find a chassis number, check the manufacturers website for further information. Easily Access Your Vehicle Data Why Chassis Numbers in Cars Matter When we put the information that the chassis numbers provide in context with the sheer numbers of vehicles on the roads, around 1.5 billion globally, then we can see why having fast access to this data matters. Remember, a chassis number gives us: A unique identifier — Each vehicle has its own chassis number, so we can identify a specific vehicle anywhere. A way to track its history — From where it came from to the maintenance carried out, accident history and who has owned it, all are revealed thanks to the chassis number. Legal Data — A chassis number in car ownership connects the registration and insurance to the vehicle, as well as providing crucial information for legal sale of any vehicle. Conclusion If you own a vehicle right now, or are thinking of purchasing, the chassis number in car details can tell you a lot more than you thought about the vehicle right now, and any history it may have. Whether determining legal ownership or knowing its maintenance history and more, a chassis number is an extremely important element of any vehicle. Questions? Let’s get in touch!
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