Knowledge Base

VIN guides &
buying advice.

Everything you need to know about vehicle identification numbers, chassis numbers and spotting fraud before you buy.

Where to find the VIN on your car

The 17-character VIN appears in several places — dashboard, door jamb, engine bay and V5C logbook. Here's how to locate every one.

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How to read a VIN, digit by digit

Every VIN encodes country, manufacturer, model year, plant and serial number. Learn to decode each position without a lookup tool.

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Chassis number vs VIN — what's the difference?

In the UK, 'chassis number' and 'VIN' are often used interchangeably. We break down when they differ and why it matters.

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How to check if a car is stolen before you buy

A five-minute VIN check can save you thousands. Here's exactly which databases to search and what red flags to look for.

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