Where to look for the VIN number on the car body: 10 hidden and obvious places

Why is it so important to know where the VIN code is on the body?

Have you ever tried to find VIN number on a car and spent hours searching, turning the entire interior upside down? This problem is familiar to many - especially when you urgently need to check the history of a car before purchasing or complete documents. The fact is that manufacturers post the machine identification number (Vehicle Identification Number) in the most unexpected places, and it is not always in a visible place under the windshield.

In this article, we won't just list the standard places where you usually look for a VIN. We will show 10 precise locations on the body (including hidden ones), which depend on the make, year of manufacture and even the type of car body. You will learn where to look for a number on sedans, hatchback, SUV and even on motorcycle, as well as how to read it correctly if it is worn out or damaged. Plus - a table with the distribution of VINs by popular brands and tips on how to avoid counterfeits during inspection.

What is a VIN number and why is it looked for on the body?

VIN (or vehicle identification number) is a unique 17-digit code that is assigned to each vehicle at the factory. It consists of three parts:

• 🔠 WMI (first 3 characters) - world index of the manufacturer (for example, XTA for Toyota, WDB for Mercedes-Benz).
• 📝 VDS (6 characters) - description of the characteristics of the car (model, body type, engine).
• 🔢 VIS (last 8 characters) - individual vehicle number, year of manufacture and factory code.

The VIN is duplicated on the body because this is the main way to identify a car in case of loss of documents, theft or changing numbers. For example, if fraudsters change the number on the plate under the hood, the original VIN will still remain stamped on permanent parts of the body - and this will help restore the real history of the car.

⚠️ Attention: If you are buying a used car and the seller refuses to show the VIN on the body (for example, under the pretext “it’s dirty” or “access is difficult”), this is a reason to be wary. The number may have been interrupted or hidden on purpose.

Standard VIN locations on the body (photo + description)

Let's start with the most obvious places where the VIN number is looked for in 90% of cases. These locations are regulated by international standards ISO 3779 and SAE J853, but manufacturers can make adjustments.

1. Under the windshield (on the dashboard)

Most popular place - metal plate on the dashboard, visible through the windshield from the outside. It is usually located:

• 🚗 U passenger cars: in the lower corner on the driver's side (e.g. Volkswagen Golf, Skoda Octavia).
• 🚙 U SUVs and pickups: can be offset to the center (like Toyota Land Cruiser 200).
• 🚐 U minibuses: sometimes duplicated on the right side of the dashboard (for example, Mercedes-Benz Sprinter).

To read the license plate, all you have to do is approach the car with a flashlight—no tools are needed. However, some models (for example, BMW X5 E70) the label may be hidden under a plastic cover.

2. On the driver's door pillar

Second most popular place - driver's door pillar top (where the loop is attached). To see the VIN, open the door and look at the metal surface of the body. The number is usually stamped dot engraving (not on the sticker!).

Model examples:

• 🔧 Ford Focus 3 — VIN on the rack + duplicated on the threshold.
• 🔧 Hyundai Solaris - only on the counter, no duplicates.
• 🔧 Kia Rio - can be hidden under the door seal.

⚠️ Attention: If the VIN on the door pillar is crooked, with uneven fonts or traces of putty, this is a sign interruptions. Compare the number with what is indicated in the PTS - they must match until the last character.

Hidden places on the body: where manufacturers hide VIN

If you don't find a room on the standard seats, don't panic. Manufacturers often duplicate VIN on integral parts of the bodyto make it harder for scammers. Here are 5 locations that few people know about:

3. Under the hood (on the side member or engine shield)

For many cars, the VIN is stamped on:

• 🔩 Left side member (for example, Audi A4 B8, Volvo S60).
• 🔩 Engine shield (in front of the radiator, at Renault Duster).
• 🔩 Inner side of the wing (y Nissan Qashqai J11).

To see the number you may need:

Flashlight with narrow beam

Mirror on a telescopic handle (for hard-to-reach places)

Rag (to clean up dirt)

Smartphone for taking photos (if the number is hard to see) -->

On some models (for example, Mitsubishi Outlander XL) VIN is hidden under plastic protection. To get to it, you will have to unscrew 2-3 screws.

4. In the trunk (on the rear arch or under the floor)

In the luggage compartment VIN may be:

• 📦 On rear arch (metal part under the casing, near Toyota Camry XV50).
• 📦 Under spare wheel (on the body, at Honda CR-V 4th generation).
• 📦 On shelf under the floor (if you remove the carpet, you will Mazda CX-5).

Be careful: sometimes the room is hidden under soundproofing. You don’t need to tear it off completely - just lift the edge to take a photo of the VIN.

5. Under the driver's seat

Rare but possible place - on the floor under the seat. This option occurs in:

• 🪑 Oldsmobile (American models of the 90s).
• 🪑 Jeep Grand Cherokee WJ (until 2004).
• 🪑 Some chinese cars (for example, Geely Emgrand EC7).

To check, move the seat all the way back and shine a flashlight into the gap between the seat and the center tunnel. Sometimes the number is only visible when the seat is removed.

Table: Where to look for VIN on the body of popular brands

To save your time, we have collected data on the most common cars on the Russian market. Please note: One model may have multiple VIN locations.

Make/Model	Place 1	Place 2	Location 3 (hidden)
Toyota Corolla E170	Under the windshield	Driver's door pillar	Spar under the hood
Volkswagen Passat B6	Torpedo (seen from outside)	Driver's door threshold	Rear arch in trunk
Hyundai Tucson TL	Door pillar	Under the hood (engine shield)	Under the spare wheel
BMW 5 Series F10	Under the windshield	Right pillar (passenger)	Driver's side spar
Lada Vesta	Torpedo (left)	Driver's door pillar	Floor under the rear seat

If your model is not in the table, check instruction manual — the exact location of the VIN is usually indicated there. You can also use online services like VINdecoderz or AutoDNA, where standard seats will be shown by brand and year of manufacture.

How to read VIN if it is erased or damaged

A common problem when searching for VIN on a body is corrosion, dirt or mechanical damage. Here's what to do in such cases:

1. Cleaning and surface preparation

If the number is clogged with dirt:

• 🧹 Use soft brush (for example, dental) and white spirit for cleaning.
• 🧹 Suitable for rust rust converter (apply for 10-15 minutes).
• 🧹 Don't use sandpaper - she can completely erase the symbols.

2. Lighting and photography

If the number is hard to see:

• 📸 Take pictures of it from different angles slanted light (flashlight at an angle of 30-45°).
• 📸 Use the mode HDR on a smartphone for better detail.
• 📸 Apply contrast filters to Photoshop or Lightroom.

3. Decryption using the remaining symbols

If some of the numbers are erased, try to restore the number using logic:

• 🔢 The first 3 characters (WMI) can be recognized by NHTSA database.
• 🔢 The 10th character is year of manufacture (for example, L = 2020, M = 2021).
• 🔢 The last 6 characters are a unique number, it can be checked with the PTS.

Example of VIN recovery by fragments

Let's say you can only see: XTA21_____12345678.

Based on WMI XTA - this is Toyota (Japan).

The 10th character is missing, but if the car was released in 2018, it will be J.

Final VIN: XTA21***J*12345678 (other symbols can be clarified in the documents).

⚠️ Attention: If you have reconstructed the VIN from fragments, but it does not match the documents, this may mean that the body has been replaced or the number has been interrupted. In this case it is required examination (for example, in the traffic police or an independent laboratory).

Common mistakes when searching for VIN on a body

Even experienced car owners sometimes make mistakes that lead to incorrect vehicle identification. Here are the most common:

1. VIN is confused with body or chassis number

There may be other numbers on the body:

• 🚘 Body number (for example, AB123456) - it is shorter than VIN and does not contain information about the model.
• 🚘 Chassis number (for trucks and SUVs) - usually begins with letters CH or SH.
• 🚘 Paint data plate (for example, Paint: 4U5) - has nothing to do with VIN.

How to distinguish: the real VIN always consists of 17 characters (numbers + Latin letters, except I, O, Q).

2. Ignore duplicate numbers

If you found the VIN in only one place (for example, under the hood), but did not check other locations, you risk running into a fake. Fraudsters often change the number in a visible place, but forget about the duplicates on the side members or in the trunk.

Rule: always check the VIN in at least 2-3 places. If even one character does not match, this is a cause for concern.

3. Does not take into account body features

For example:

• 🔧 U pickups (for example, Ford Ranger) The VIN may be on the frame rather than the body.
• 🔧 U convertibles (for example, Mazda MX-5) the number is sometimes stamped on the rear cross member.
• 🔧 U electric vehicles (for example, Tesla Model 3) VIN may be hidden under the battery.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions about VIN on the body

Is it possible to find the VIN without opening the hood or trunk?

Yes, in most cases it is enough to look at dashboard through the windshield or on driver's door pillar. However, for a complete check (for example, when buying a used car), it is recommended to inspect all duplicate numbers.

What to do if the VIN on the body does not match the title?

This is a serious sign of problems. Possible reasons:

• 🔄 The body was replaced after an accident (expertise needed).
• ⚠️ The number has been interrupted (fraud).
• 📄 Error in documents (less common, but it happens).

Do not buy such a car without checking with the traffic police or through Autocode.

Can VIN be on plastic body parts?

No, VIN is always stamped on metal parts of the body, which cannot be easily replaced. Plastic parts (bumpers, body kits) may only contain additional factory markings.

How to check VIN for authenticity?

Use VIN checksum calculator (for example, on the website VINCheck). The last digit (9th character) must match the calculated one. Also check the number with the database traffic police or CarVertical.

Where to look for the VIN on a motorcycle or ATV?

On two-wheeled vehicles, the VIN is usually located:

• 🏍️ On steering column (visible when turning the steering wheel to the left).
• 🏍️ On frame under the seat.
• 🏍️ On engine (additional marking).

For ATVs (eg. CFMoto) The VIN may be on the rear frame cross member.