What is the VIN number?
The VIN (Vehicle Identification number) is a unique identifier assigned to each vehicle. It consists of 17 characters that contain information about the brand, model, year of production and the characteristic features of the vehicle. The VIN number is used to track the vehicle history, such as repairs, technical inspections and accidents. This is a key element when checking the technical condition and vehicle history before buying.
What is VIN check?
Checking the VIN gives you the opportunity to obtain vehicle history reports for inspected cars. To find the VIN, you can look at several locations: on the dashboard near the windshield, inside the driver’s side door frame, or in the engine bay. Additionally, the identification number should always be easy to find in the vehicle registration certificate and other documents like the insurance policy or the title. This process is crucial before buying a used car, as it allows you to investigate the vehicle’s past and identify hidden problems that could affect your purchase decision.
The serial number, assigned by the vehicle manufacturer, makes it possible to identify the make, model, and year of manufacture and provides information about the car’s history and technical data. It is used for all types of vehicles.
It’s a good idea to start the process of checking the VIN as early as when you’re browsing for deals. This can be done at no charge by checking the number in the ad or by asking the seller directly. Confirming that the serial number listed in the ad matches the actual identification number of the vehicle can protect you from fraud. Dishonest sellers may hide the vehicle body number to avoid revealing the car’s unfavorable past, such as accidents or damage. The VIN number can also be noted in the vehicle’s registration certificate, which is key to confirming its authenticity.
The presence of the chassis number in an ad increases its credibility and enhances the quality of the services offered by the ad platform. VIN numbers are standardized by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO -International Organization for Standardization) and have a unique 17-character format, which is crucial for proper vehicle identification.
Already during browsing purchase and sale offers, it's good to initialise the process of checking VIN of the vehicle you're interested in. VIN checking in the offer or directly asking the seller is free.
Where to check the Vehicle Identification Number VIN number for free?
Checking the VIN for free can be done online (as part of e-services), using government services or autoDNA reports.
Always perform VIN check when....
Always check the VIN number before buying a vehicle to avoid the following risks or hazards, such as:
previous use of the vehicle as a TAXI
total loss
check digit error
vehicle recalls
theft of the vehicle
scrapping of the vehicle
damage to the car
odometer discrepancy (odometer clocking)
vehicle not being roadworthy
lack of technical inspections
autoDNA reports use only proven and highest-quality data, so you can guard against a misguided purchase.
autoDNA obtains data from multiple countries as a world manufacturer identifier, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, Belgium, Slovenia, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Norway, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania and Denmark. This makes it possible to check the history of vehicles imported from various parts of Europe and North America.
The information obtained comes from more than 50,000 institutions operating in the automotive market: state authorities, central vehicle registries, insurance companies, workshops, service centers, and other technical institutions for vehicles manufactured after 1981.
Remember - there is always a good time to check the past of your car. If you didn't check the chassis number during the vehicle purchase-sale transaction, do it now to know the vehicle's history.
If you are still wondering - don't delay, just contact us. The autoDNA team is at your service to help you learn more about the vehicle you are interested in.
How long does it take to check a VIN number for free?
In just a few minutes you will check your vehicle by VIN. Just enter the
17-character vehicle engine number on the autoDNA website.
In the first step - a free check - you will receive the result of checking the availability of information for a specific VIN. This will let you know the range of information that the full paid Vehicle History Report contains.
In the next step, you can already decide to purchase the finished autoDNA report(s). Payment can be made via e-transfer, credit card, PayPal, or Voucher.
Promotional campaigns also offer discount codes that, when entered into a special field in the shopping cart, reduce the amount to be paid. Look for them on our blog or Facebook.
Free VIN check - your benefits
VIN checking via the VIN decoder is an integral part of a transparent vehicle buying and selling process. Vehicle History Reports provide comprehensive and accurate information about the history of used cars, including odometer readings, previous owners, damages, accidents, recalls, and other essential information. VIN checking improves the efficiency of the market, improves the quality of the product, and increases the price of vehicles in good condition.
Making your offer stand out among the advertisements
If a report is included in the buy-sell transaction, the customer is more likely to buy, even if the vehicle has a higher price - such an ad is perceived by the other party to the transaction as more credible.
Saving time
The report allows you to pre-screen good cars from cars with hidden defects, the so-called "lemon cars". Thus, there is no need to drive and look at many cars, wasting time.
Protection from poor purchase
The investment in the autoDNA report pays for itself hundred times over, because it protects you from buying a car that may be, for example, after a total loss and require huge expenses for repair.
According to data collected by autoDNA, the difference in the value of identical cars that differ only in mileage by 100,000 kilometers is more than EUR 6,000 on average.. The difference, which represents a measurable loss for an unaware driver buying a vehicle with a twisted odometer, is the greater the younger and more prestigious the car.
Find out what a
"lemon car"
is.Click to watch
According to data collected by autoDNA, the difference in value between identical cars, which differ only by 100 000 km, is, on average, more than 5.000 EUR. The difference, which represents a measurable loss for an unaware driver buying a vehicle with the odometer reversed, is the greater the younger and more prestigious the car.
For example, for an Audi A6 of 2018 vintage, a correction of the odometer by 100,000 km translates into more than a 10.000 EUR drop in real value. The same vintage Opel Corsa loses nearly 2.000 EUR in market value in a similar case, and the Volkswagen Passat (also from 2018) loses nearly 6.000 EUR in value for every 100,000 km turned. Older cars, on the other hand, may have the odometer rolled back not by 100,000 km, but by 200,000-300,000 or even more.
How does this relate to the real expenses from the wallet of a statistical Smith? The loss in value may be similarly high and perceptible - both for a younger car (relatively more expensive), and for an older car (with a very large revaluation).
FAQ
The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is a unique identification code assigned to each vehicle. It consists of 17 characters (numbers and letters) that represent various information about the vehicle, such as make, model, year, and place of manufacture, among others for driver’s purchasing peace of mind.
To easily check the VIN for free and find out important information regarding further questions, just visit the autoDNA website, enter any VIN number into the search engine on the main page, and then click the button.
Basic information about the vehicle will be displayed at no charge. The autoDNA service is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and uses a unique VIN decoder to find a particular vehicle's VIN information.
autoDNA's Vehicle History Reports are the most complete source of information on more than 500 million used motor vehicles in Europe and around the world. Each autoDNA vehicle report can contain a wealth of valuable information about a used car and its history, and it uses a database of 23 billion records.
Service autoDNA.com obtains information from more than 26 countries in Europe and North America which makes up a comprehensive Vehicle History Report. The data comes from more than 50,000 different institutions in the automotive industry, among these institutions are:
- Car dealers
- Workshops
- Vehicle inspection stations
- Financial institutions
- State administration
- Associations
- Repositories and records of stolen vehicles
- Police
- Disassembly stations
- Car dealerships
Before you purchase a used vehicle, we recommend not only obtaining an autoDNA motor vehicle report from the seller, it is important to conduct a test drive, as well as a mandatory detailed inspection of the vehicle by an authorized mechanic or specialized vehicle service station.
Yes, you can check the detailed history of a vehicle using the VIN number, but a full report is usually not available for free. The autoDNA service offers full reports for a fee, which may include information on:
- year of manufacture
- make and model of the car
- date of first registration
- country of origin
- accident history of the vehicle
- engine power and capacity
- recorded mileage
Checking VIN for free on autoDNA website does not require registration or login.
However, in order to access more detailed reports and services, registration on our site is necessary. By registering at autoDNA you will get access to a convenient customer panel. Vehicle History Reports are available by email, downloadable PDF and QR code up to 60 days after purchase.
