Finding the VIN number on your car is easy once you know where to look. Here is a comprehensive guide to locating the Vehicle Identification Number on popular car makes:
What’s a VIN?
- Unique 17-digit code identifying every car
- Format standardized since 1981
- Encodes info like make, model, specs, manufacturing plant
Toyotas & Lexus
- Windshield corner on driver’s side
- Dashboard near steering wheel
- Driver door jam
- Engine block near cylinders
Hondas & Acuras
- Front windshield bottom left corner
- Stamped into front engine compartment wall
- Door jam sticker both sides
Nissans & Infiniti
- Inside bottom left windshield corner
- Front chassis crossbar in engine bay
- Doors have sticker inside jamb
American: GM, Ford & Chrysler
- Visible through windshield looking from driver seat
- Machined onto engine block near accessories
- Carved into door jamb edge
European: BMW, Audi, Mercedes & Volkswagen
- Bottom left of windshield from inside car
- Embossed on top passenger side of engine block
- Inside driver or passenger door jams
In sum, cross-checking the windshield label, doors, engine area and dash gets you to the right VIN digits on most vehicles. Newer models print onto stickers while older have metal stamps. Finding your unique VIN decoding your car’s history is vital for ownership.