A vehicle identification number (VIN) is the unique number provided to a vehicle upon its creation and release to the marketplace. There are many reasons why a person might perform a VIN number lookup. Most insurance providers insist on obtaining a vehicle’s VIN before offering a quote or providing insurance for that vehicle. They do this for the same reason that you might want to look up the VIN before buying a used car: to get an honest picture of its history.
Businesses that employ fleets utilize the VIN to keep track of service and maintenance records and car dealerships use them to keep track of inventory. The VIN is the surest way to keep tabs on vehicles and keep track of how they’ve been professionally serviced over the course of their lives.
How To Find & Verify Your VIN
The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) and other search engines offer free VIN checks. You simply enter your vehicle’s VIN and it will search for and present relevant data, including the year, make model and more. The VIN should only yield one result and it should match exactly the vehicle that was searched for.
When looking for the literal VIN tag, it can most often be found in the lower-left corner of the dashboard, on the driver’s side. Because it’s tucked into the spot where the hood meets the windshield, it’s almost always easier to read from the outside looking in.
The VIN is also found on vehicle title documents, insurance policies and cards and loan and lease agreements, among other official documents. Although these documents will also likely have the vehicle’s year, make and model, the VIN is the most accurate way to know everything there is to know about a vehicle.
Research Your VIN Using Autozone’s Free Link
One of the keys to ensuring you get the right auto parts is precision. Precision is something that qualifies VIN involvement. In an environment oversaturated with parts and accessories, VIN searches help to ensure that you’re putting the right part in the right vehicle at the right time.
You Can Report the Number
If your vehicle is stolen, there is a chance that it might go through some alterations. It might be given a different license plate or falsified documents of ownership. However, the VIN, which is located in multiple places on a vehicle’s body, ensures that if that vehicle were ever to be checked out thoroughly, as by law enforcement, it would find a match on a stolen vehicle database.
Knowing your vehicle’s VIN means that you are apprised of its history, which is important for making decisions about the vehicle. Your local AutoZone locations use VIN lookup before providing proper parts match recommendations. It’s an important tool for making sure that what you’re being told about a vehicle is accurate and also for keeping track of inventory. Visit an auto parts store today to see how your VIN helps to identify the proper parts that you need for your vehicle and experience safe and happy driving tomorrow.
