How to Identify Vehicles by VIN

A unique 17-digit vehicle identification number (VIN) identifies all vehicles manufactured since 1981. Your car, truck, trailer, motorcycle or ATV has a metal tag riveted to some part of the body that can be decoded online. You can identify the vehicle online for free. The decoder tells you the year, make and model of the vehicle along with the size and type of engine, body style, original manufactured suggested retail price and all the standard and optional features on the vehicle when it left the factory.

Instructions

1

Copy your VIN onto a piece of paper from the vehicle itself, the registration card, the title, the bill of sale or an insurance policy. See your owner's manual for the location of the VIN tag on the vehicle.

2

Go to decodethis.com and enter your VIN into the space provided. Click on "DECODE!" If you don't want to divulge the vehicle's serial number, enter "X" for each of the last seven digits. The year, make and model will appear under the maroon line.

3

Scroll down to the page and click on "General," "Equipment," "Installed" or "Optional" to see all the features of this vehicle. Also look on the right side of the page for the number of vehicle history reports available for the vehicle. You have no obligation to buy one.