How do you read a 13 character VIN?

How to Decode a 13 Digit VIN Number

1. Examine the first digit of the VIN number to find the manufacturer country of origin. ...
2. Find the second digit in the VIN number sequence to determine the manufacturer of the vehicle. ...
3. Read the third character in the VIN number sequence to find out the vehicle type.

1. Can a VIN have 13 digits?
2. What do VIN characters mean?
3. Can a VIN number be less than 17 digits?
4. How do I find the axle ratio on my VIN?
5. How do I check a VIN number before 1980?
6. How do you read the year on a VIN number?
7. How do you tell what year a car is by the VIN?
8. What does the 7th digit in a VIN number mean?
9. Can I look up vehicle specs by VIN number?
10. How can I find out who owns a car by VIN number?
11. Can a VIN number be 14 digits?
12. How long were VIN numbers in the 70's?
13. What is the best free VIN check website?
14. How do I know what gear ratio I have?
15. How can I tell what gear ratio I have without pulling cover?

Can a VIN have 13 digits?

A vehicle's identification number (VIN) is a unique identifier. The most common VIN format is the 17-digit VIN, which became standard for all vehicles manufactured since January 1981. Vehicles manufactured prior to 1981 may have as few as 5 digits to as many as 13 digits.

What do VIN characters mean?

A 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 used to track recalls, registrations, warranty claims, thefts and insurance coverage.

Can a VIN number be less than 17 digits?

2. Your VIN isn't 17 digits long. As of the model year (MY) 1981, the NHTSA required all vehicles manufactured for road use to be assigned a 17-digit VIN number. So, any vehicles manufactured in 1981 or later with VINs shorter than 17 characters are invalid.

How do I find the axle ratio on my VIN?

The gear ratio is usually listed in the VIN code located on driver's door, the glove box, or the ID plate on the dashboard. Count the times a rear wheel goes around for one driveshaft turn: if its 3 1/2 it's a 3.50:1. Divide the number of teeth on the ring gear by the number of teeth on the pinion gear.

How do I check a VIN number before 1980?

Prior to 1981, motor vehicle manufacturers maintained separate, in-house records of vehicle identification numbers. Call, email or write motor companies to inquire about the Vehicle Identification Number or VIN for your vehicle.

How do you read the year on a VIN number?

VIN's starting with 1, 4, and 5 are manufactured in the United States. The third number or letter is used by the vehicle manufacturer to identify what kind of vehicle it is: car, truck, bus, etc. The 10^th character of the VIN indicates the model year.

How do you tell what year a car is by the VIN?

As noted, the vehicle's year is identified by a letter or number in the 10th position from the left in the VIN. As shown above, the 10th character of the VIN indicates its model year.

What does the 7th digit in a VIN number mean?

The fourth through ninth digits of the VIN make up the Vehicle Descriptor Section (VDS), which focuses on the vehicle's model, body style, engine size and type, transmission, and more. ... The seventh digit details the restraint system, including seat belts and airbags. The eighth digit identifies the model.

Can I look up vehicle specs by VIN number?

Go to a VIN decoder website, such as AutoCheck.com, DecodeThis.com or DMV.org. You can use any of these websites to decode your VIN and reveal the meaning of each character to find vehicle specs. Enter the VIN in the search box on any of these sites, then press "Enter."

How can I find out who owns a car by VIN number?

Can anyone find owner of vehicle by vin number online? Yes. Pay a visit to any VIN check site and get this information easily. Print the key into the search box, press "Enter" - and you'll immediately see a report about the car's history, including the data about the previous owner (or several owners).

Can a VIN number be 14 digits?

The 14-digit VIN consists of the following elements: 113 describes the platform, in this case the “Pagoda”-SL produced from 1963 to 1971. The vehicle is commonly identified as “W113”, where W means “Wagen”, i.e. car.

How long were VIN numbers in the 70's?

In the late 60s and early 70s, VIN numbers started to get a little longer (typically 13 characters) and more manufacturers started to encode engine type and body style.

What is the best free VIN check website?

You can get a free VIN check at the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), VehicleHistory.com or iSeeCars.com/VIN. Just pop in your car's digits and these sites will do the VIN lookup and give you information on the vehicle. But you should use more than one of these sites to get the full picture.

How do I know what gear ratio I have?

Count the number of teeth on the pinion gear and count the number of teeth on the ring gear. Divide the ring gear teeth number by the number of teeth on the pinion. The result is your gear ratio.

How can I tell what gear ratio I have without pulling cover?

So an easy way to determine your actual gear ratio is to check the tag attached to the differential cover by the cover bolts. On the tag there should be some numbering such as 3.54 or 3.73, either of those numbers will give you the stock axle ratio.