To Start, What Is A Vehicle Identification Number?

A vehicle identification number, commonly abbreviated to VIN, or chassis number, is a unique code including a serial number, used by the automotive industry to identify individual motor vehicles, towed vehicles, motorcycles, scooters and mopeds as defined in ISO 3833.

Why Should I Care?

Ensuring that you have the right VIN when building loads and creating orders for your customers keeps you safe. Not safe from lions, tigers and bears, oh my! but, from legal repercussions that may occur because you “accidentally” recorded the wrong one. Let us go into depth on how a vehicle identification number works.

How Does A Vehicle Identification Number Work?

A VIN is broken down into 7 main parts containing 17 characters (digits, not Bugs Bunny. Well, you know that already):

1.) The first character is the country where the vehicle was built.
2.) The 2nd and 3rd characters identify the manufacturer.
3.) The 4th-8th characters are vehicle attributes such as: 4-Safety Braking, 5-Series, 6/7-Body Style Chassis Type, 8-Engine Type.
4.) The 9th character is a security code that the manufacturer authorizes the use of the VIN.
5.) The 10th character is the model year.
6.) The 11th character shows what plant built the vehicle.
7.) Finally, the last 6 characters are the serial number of the vehicle. So if you have a 000001 at the end of your VIN, you have the first ever made version of your car!

Why Is This Important?

A vehicle identification number gives a global tracking system of vehicles. There is no guesswork involved when trying to identify a vehicle.

Can You Help Me With This?

Well of course! We have implemented a VIN lookup feature into GoPhore. So when you are building an order, just enter the VIN and boom! You have basic information about that vehicle. This helps prevent your drivers from “accidentally” picking up a brand new 2016 Lamborghini Aventador when you were supposed to pick up a 2011 Hyundai Genesis… Oops. *We do not condone stealing cars -as per my lawyers.