Each car has a different identity; much like our fingerprints. Whether you’re looking for a new car or putting your old one up for sale on OLX, knowing where to find the chassis number, VIN, and engine number can make all the difference.
This identity is encoded within Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) and Engine Numbers; essential pieces of information that not only help in identifying one car from another but also play an essential part in aspects such as ownership, maintenance, and legal documentation.
This comprehensive guide explains their significance while showing you how to easily locate them in your car. With OLX’s assistance, let’s get into the process of finding VIN and Engine Number.
Introduction to VINs/chassis numbers and Engine Numbers
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN):
Every car and other motorized vehicle is given its number known as VIN; think of it like its DNA!
It is assigned by manufacturers, and the VIN of the car contains information such as model, year of manufacture, country of origin, and much more – making tracking them globally much simpler than before!
The VIN is written on the dashboard on the driver’s side, close to the window. You can also find it on the frame of the driver’s side door, in the engine bay, or on registration certificate (RC) or insurance papers. When you sell a car on OLX, including the VIN gives buyers useful information about the car’s past and specs.
To help you understand better, here is a list of the information that is stored in a VIN:
- World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI): The first three letters of the VIN are the World Manufacturer Identifier, which tells you who made the car and where it was made.
- Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS): Characters four through nine of the VIN make up the car Descriptor Section. This section tells you about the model, body style, engine type, and safety system of the car.
- Check Digit: The ninth number in the VIN is a check code that makes sure the VIN is correct.
- Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS): The VIS is made up of the last six characters of the VIN and is different for each car.
What Is A Chassis Number (Chassis ID)?
Chassis numbers can typically be found embossed near the dashboard on either frame/chassis on the driver’s side. Automobile manufacturers use mandatory chassis ID to keep track of production histories for vehicles including components specifications assembly details etc and notify owners about safety recalls when needed.
Engine number and chassis number or Serial Numbers, are unique identifiers assigned to vehicles’ engines for ease of maintenance, repair, and registration purposes. An engine number in the car typically consists of alphanumeric letters printed or stamped into its block.
How Can You Obtain a Car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of a Vehicle?
Getting a car’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is important for many reasons, such as making sure the car is real, looking into its past, and finishing deals.
There are several ways to get the VIN to buy or sell a car:
- Ask the Seller: If you’re interested in a car, you can ask the seller for the VIN. As part of being honest and building trust, most sellers will gladly give this information to serious buyers.
- Look at the Listing: In many cases, the VIN may already be in the entry for the car. To get people to buy their cars, sellers often give lots of information about them, like the VIN.
- Check out the car: If you’re going to be looking at the car in person with the seller, you can find the VIN on the car itself. The VIN is usually on the dashboard on the driver’s side, close to the window.
- Ask for Proof: The seller should have proof of the car’s ownership, like the registration certificate (RC) or insurance papers that have the VIN on them. These papers can be asked for from the seller to check the VIN and learn more about the car’s past.
If you get the VIN of a car that’s for sale, you can do a VIN check to make sure it’s real, look up its past, and make an informed choice before going ahead with the purchase. For both buyers and sellers, this helps make sure that the exchange process is clear and easy.
What do 17 digits in Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) signify?
The 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique number that can be used to identify all the cars that are listed on the site. For buyers, each number in the VIN tells them something specific they need to know.
- The first three numbers are the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), which tells you who made the item and where it came from.
- The Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), which is made up of numbers four through nine, gives information like the model, body style, and engine type.
- The ninth figure is used to make sure the number is correct.
- Finally, the last eight numbers make up the Vehicle Identifier Section (VIS), which is like a vehicle’s own license number.
Knowing the VIN helps buyers make sure the item is real, check its specs, and keep accurate records of individual cars. This complete identification method makes the process of buying a car more open and trustworthy, giving buyers the information they need to make smart choices.
How to Check Vehicle Engine Number and Chassis Number Online?
Yes! For vehicle information, you can access MoRTH’s Parivahan site which uses registration numbers of cars registered with them to provide registration number details of what’s out there, but due to data protection concerns, this portal won’t provide all details such as engine and chassis numbers that you might require when searching.
See the steps outlined here when trying to obtain details for cars at Vahan Portal:
Step 1: Visit VAHAN and select the menu item “Know Your Vehicle Details.”
Step 2: Enter Your Vehicle Registration Number (VIN).
Step 3: Next, enter the Captcha Code.
Step 4: Click the ‘Search Vehicles’ button.
Online databases are a good way to find information about vehicles, but they don’t always have the most specific information, like engine and chassis numbers.
This is a list of some of the main problems:
- Information that isn’t complete or up to date
- Concerns about privacy
- Limited Access to Data on Manufacturers
- Changes in Data Availability
- Reliability and Accuracy
Conclusion
You can feel confident in the process and make an informed choice if you know how to find and confirm the VIN, engine number, and chassis number. For a smooth and satisfying buying experience on OLX, remember to put honesty and hard work at the top of your list during your search.
Frequently asked questions: Chassis number
How do I find the chassis number and engine number?
Most of the time, the engine number is stamped into the motor block. You can also find the engine number on your car’s registration document, insurance policy, or the owner’s instructions that the seller gave you.
Are the VIN and plate number the same thing?
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) and the plate number are not the same. The car Identification Number (VIN) is a 17-character alphabetic code that is unique to each car and acts as its fingerprint. The plate number, on the other hand, is the 12-digit code that appears on a car’s license plate. It is also called the license plate number or registration number.
How do I get the VIN?
You can find the VIN on the window sill on the driver’s side, in the glove box, on the right side of the dashboard, or in the top left corner of the frame between the steering shaft and firewall. There are no letters I, O, or Q in a VIN so that it doesn’t get mixed up with the numbers 1 (One) and 0 (Zero).
How do I find the engine number?
There should be a stamp on the engine of your car that says “engine number.” Open the hood of your car or motorbike and look at the engine from the side. The engine number should be written on a sticker that you can see.
What is the length of a VIN?
17 Characters.
