How to Read the VIN Number on a 2002 Silverado

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandates that every road vehicle sold in the United States after 1981 must have a unique 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number. Models sold before 1981 have shorter VIN numbers. Insurance companies, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Motor Vehicles use the VIN to keep track of vehicles. The VIN also is used for tracking vehicle theft, warranty claims and recalls. Each VIN contains information describing the country where the vehicle was manufactured, the manufacturer's name and other details. The same rules apply to all vehicles in the U.S., including a 2002 Chevy Silverado.

Instructions

1

Look for the VIN, which is usually mounted on the dashboard on the driver's side near the window, or inside the doorframe. You might also find it on a proof of insurance card, in the vehicle's title and registration paperwork, or written in the owner's manual.

2

Notice that the first three characters of the VIN identify where the vehicle was built, its make and type. For example, "IGC" would indicate that it was made in the United States by Chevrolet and that it is a truck.

3

See characters four through eight, the Vehicle Description Section, which the manufacturer uses to identify features such as engine type, body style, and model.

4

Note that the ninth digit is a check number, used to verify that the rest of the VIN has been accurately represented.

5

Look at the tenth digit, which indicates the model year.

6

Notice numbers 12 through 17, which comprise the vehicle's unique serial number, assigned at the assembly plant.

7

Type the VIN into the Free VIN decoder at the Decode This website to get complete details about the VIN of a 2002 Silverado.