When it comes to our personal information, there are some things we just don’t take chances with. We keep our phones locked, our social media accounts private, and our financial information close to the vest. Even our social security and credit card numbers are treated with the utmost sense of caution. But what about our car’s VIN? Is that something we should be keeping under wraps, too?
Ideally, the only time you should ever give out your car’s VIN is when you’re selling the vehicle to a prospective buyer or dealership, or taking it in for service. If you provide your VIN to random strangers or even post it online, you could be opening yourself up to some serious issues such as identity theft, fraud, and VIN cloning.
In this post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about what exactly a VIN is, what all information is included in it, and how you can keep your car’s VIN safe from prying eyes. We’ll also give you a couple of tips on how you can decide whether or not to give out your VIN if you’re ever in a situation where someone is asking for it.
Contents
What Exactly Is VIN?
VIN stands for Vehicle Identification Number. This number is made up of a combination of 17 letters and numbers, and it acts as a sort of code that contains all sorts of information about the car. This includes – but is not limited to – information about the car’s make, model, year, country of origin, and even the specific factory where it was made.
You can think of a car’s VIN as its fingerprint – it’s unique to that specific vehicle and no other. This is why knowing and being able to find your car’s VIN is so important. If your car ever gets stolen, the police will use the VIN to track down the exact vehicle and return it to you. The VIN is also how dealerships keep track of recalls for specific cars.
Fun Fact – According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration of the United States, the VIN cannot include the letters O (o), I (i), and Q (q). This is done so as to avoid confusion with the numbers 0, 1, and 9.
The Dangers of Sharing Your VIN
Now that we know what a VIN is, let’s take a look at why you should be careful about giving it out. Previously, we’ve mentioned three main dangers of giving out your VIN – identity theft, fraud, and VIN cloning. Let’s explore these a little further:
Identity Theft
One of the dangers of giving out your VIN is identity theft. Although your VIN does not actually contain any personal information such as your name, home address, or Social Security number, it can still be used to piece together other bits of information about you. Some people might even call up the dealership (using the detail from your VIN) and pretend they’re you in order to find out more information.
With this information, identity thieves can open up lines of credit, buy cars, and even get a driver’s license – all in your name!
Fraud
If you give your VIN to someone who is not supposed to have it, they can use it to commit fraud. For example, they might try and sell your car as their own or take out a loan using your car as collateral.
In other words, if someone uses your VIN fraudulently and cheats another buyer or defaults on the loan, you’ll be the one left dealing with the consequences – not them.
VIN Cloning
This is perhaps the most dangerous problem associated with VINs. Even the FBI has warned people about the dangers of VIN cloning. So, what exactly is it?
In VIN cloning, crooks will take the VIN from a similar car (usually of the same make and model) and use it on their own car. This is done in order to create a new identity for the car, making it harder for the police to track down if it’s ever stolen. Not only that, but if the cloned car is involved in a hit and run or some other crime, you might end up being held liable.
In What Situations Is It Actually Safe to Give Out Your VIN?
There are certain situations where it might actually be beneficial – or even mandatory – to give out your VIN. Let’s take a look at them.
Selling Your Car
If you’re planning to sell your car, one of the first questions that prospective buyers will ask for is the car’s VIN. They’ll use this to run a history report on the car in order to find out more information about it such as how many owners it’s had, if it’s been in any accidents, and if there are any outstanding recalls.
With these details, buyers will be able to make a more informed decision about whether or not they want to purchase your car. So if you’re selling your car, and you have legitimate buyers interested, then there’s no harm in giving out your car’s VIN.
Note – If you’re buying a new or used car, you should also make sure to get the VIN from the seller and then run a detailed check on the car’s history. If a seller refuses to give you the VIN, it’s a big red flag.
Applying for Insurance
Another situation where you’ll need to give out your car’s VIN is when you’re applying for insurance. Your insurance company will use the VIN to run a report on your car and find out more about its safety features, crash history, and theft rates.
This information is important because it helps your insurance company determine how much of a risk insuring your car will be. The higher the risk, the higher your premiums will be. So if you’re looking to get the best rate on your car insurance, make sure to give them your car’s VIN.
Law Enforcement Enquiries
There are also some situations where law enforcement might need your car’s VIN. If the police are searching for a stolen car, they’ll use the VIN to try and track it down. For this purpose, they might be checking the VIN numbers of all the cars in a particular area.
And if you’re ever pulled over for a traffic violation or you’re involved in a car accident, the police officer will usually ask for your car’s registration. In most states, your car’s registration will have the VIN listed on it. So in this case, giving them your VIN is actually required by law.
As you can see, there are some situations where it’s perfectly fine – and even necessary – to give out your car’s VIN. But in other cases, it’s best to keep your VIN to yourself. If you’re ever unsure about whether or not you should give out your VIN, err on the side of caution and don’t give it out. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Where Do I Find the VIN for My Car?
If you’re ever unsure of where to find your car’s VIN, there are a few places you can look, depending on the make and model of your car. Let’s take a look at some of the most common places to find a VIN:
- On the driver’s side dashboard (visible through the windshield).
- On the car frame near the windshield washer container (crouch down and look up).
- On the driver’s side door pillar on the Federal Safety Certification Label (usually for newer cars).
- Under the hood on the engine block.
- Sometimes, you can even find it underneath the spare tire in the trunk.
If you’re still not sure where to find your car’s VIN, don’t worry. You can always check your owner’s manual or call the dealership from the number on your car’s registration card. They’ll be able to tell you where it’s located. In case you don’t have a registration card, contact the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state.
the Difference Between VIN and License Plate Number
A lot of people think that VIN and license plate numbers are the same thing. But they couldn’t be farther from the truth. Here’s a table showing you the main differences between the two:
| VIN | License Plate Number |
| A 17-digit identification number that is engraved onto various parts of the vehicle. | A numeric or alphanumeric ID that is often found on the front or back of a vehicle (engraved onto a number plate). |
| Provides in-depth details about the vehicle such as manufacturing information, vehicle specifications, and even accident and maintenance history. | Provides basic details of the vehicle and vehicle owner, as mentioned within the issuing region’s vehicle register. |
| Generated and stamped by the car manufacturer during production. | Provided by the Department of Motor Vehicles during the registration process of the vehicle. |
| Standard format used throughout the world. | Format changes depending on country and state. |
| Permanent – remains the same throughout the entire lifespan of the vehicle. | Can be changed or customized, especially if moving to a new state or applying for new registration. |
Other Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about VIN numbers.
Can I check my VIN online?
Yes, you can check your VIN online. There are a few websites that offer this service, such as carfax.com and autocheck.com. You can even do a free check at National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) website to find records of whether the vehicle has been reported as stolen or not.
Can I find out the year, make, and model of a car from its VIN?
Yes, you can find out the year, make, and model of a car from its VIN. You can use a VIN decoder to decode the VIN and get this information.
Does every country have a different VIN system?
No, every country does not have a different VIN system. In fact, there is an international standard for VINs, which was established in 1981 by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
Final Thoughts
We hope that this article has helped you understand everything you need to know about VIN numbers. As you can see, there are some good reasons to give out your car’s VIN and some good reasons not to. It really depends on the situation. But if you’re ever unsure, it’s best to err on the side of caution and keep your VIN to yourself. Stay safe out there!