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VIN

The 17-character code that uniquely identifies a vehicle and links it to its title and history.

A VIN, or vehicle identification number, is the unique code assigned to a vehicle by its manufacturer. It appears on the title, registration and insurance card and on the car itself. Buyers use it to check history, decode specs and confirm the car matches its paperwork.

When you sell a junk car, the buyer will usually ask for the VIN to quote a price and to report the purchase. The VIN on the car must match the title.

Under federal rules, each VIN consists of 17 characters, and a check digit appears in position nine.1 The Texas DMV says the VIN can be found on the driver’s side dashboard where it meets the windshield, or on a sticker in the driver’s door jamb.2

References

  1. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations, 49 CFR Part 565, “Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Requirements”, https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-V/part-565 ↩

  2. Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, “How to Find the VIN”, https://www.txdmv.gov/motorists/how-to-find-the-vin ↩

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