How-To Guide
How to find your VIN in five places.
Your vehicle's 17-character VIN is printed in several locations on the car and on its paperwork. This guide walks through the most reliable places to find it so you can run a VIN check and get the full history report.
What to look for
A 17-character code with no I, O, or Q.
Every modern VIN is exactly 17 characters long and uses only capital letters and numerals. The letters I, O, and Q are never used so they are not confused with the digits 1 and 0. If the number you found is shorter, longer, or contains one of those letters, double-check the source — you may be reading a model number or a partial code rather than the VIN.
The same VIN appears in every location. If one source disagrees with another, trust the metal plate on the dashboard and the door jamb, which are physically riveted to the vehicle.
Step by step
Five reliable places to find your VIN.
- 01
Check the dashboard through the windshield
Stand outside the vehicle on the driver's side and look through the windshield at the base of the dashboard where it meets the glass. A metal plate printed with the 17-character VIN is mounted there so it can be read from outside the car.
- 02
Open the driver door and read the jamb sticker
Open the driver's door and inspect the door jamb — the vertical surface the door closes against. A sticker or metal plate on the jamb repeats the VIN along with tire pressure and manufacture date information.
- 03
Look at your insurance card
Most auto insurance cards list the insured vehicle's VIN alongside the make, model, and policy number. This is the fastest source if the car is not parked in front of you.
- 04
Check the title or registration
The vehicle's title certificate and registration document both print the VIN. Either is a reliable source if you already have the paperwork in hand.
- 05
Consult the owner's manual or app
Some manufacturer owner's manuals and mobile apps store the VIN for convenience. If you cannot find it physically and the vehicle is registered to you, this can be a quick alternative.
Found your VIN?
Run a VIN check and get the full vehicle history report for $9.99. One flat fee, no subscription.
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If the VIN is hard to read.
Dashboard plates can be hard to read in bright sunlight or through a dirty windshield. Clean the glass, shade the area with your hand, or photograph the plate with your phone and zoom in. If the door jamb sticker is faded, the insurance card or registration document will have the same number printed clearly.
When copying the VIN, write it down character by character or photograph it rather than trusting memory. A single mistyped character will return history for the wrong vehicle, or none at all. See our VIN check guide for what happens once you have the number.