The vehicle identification number (VIN) is composed of 17 characters (digits and capital letters) that act as a unique identifier for the vehicle. A VIN displays the car's unique features, specifications and manufacturer.
The VIN can be found in a couple of places including on the car's registration label (1), on the compliance plate in the engine bay (2) or on the passenger side windshield (3), or on one of the door posts (where the door latches when it is closed) (4). See the image below:
Motoring expert Toby Hagon discusses new CarHistory research* on used car purchases and the benefits of getting a CarHistory report with Channel Nine Today Show hosts Karl Stefanovic and Lisa Wilkinson.
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Dodgy car deals - what to know when buying a used car
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*CarHistory Used Car Survey 2016. The Leading Edge. March 2016. n = 807 Australian used car buyers aged 18-75 years.