VIN Number: Where to Find It and How to Decode It

The VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) is the unique 17-character code that identifies a car among all others. It can be found at reference E on the carte grise (French vehicle registration certificate) and in several places on the vehicle itself. This VIN code remains the same from the moment the car leaves the factory until it is scrapped, even if the registration plate or owner changes. It is governed by the ISO 3779 standard. Reading the VIN correctly allows you to decode the car’s factory specifications, order the correct parts, and obtain a reliable history report before buying a used car. Here’s where to find the VIN number on the carte grise and the vehicle, how to read its 17 characters, how to decode it by brand, and what to do if it doesn’t match.

The VIN number is the unique and permanent identifier of a vehicle, made up of 17 alphanumeric characters. Assigned by the manufacturer at production, it is never reused for another vehicle. It is the equivalent of an identity card, permanently engraved into the car.

This code is governed by the international ISO 3779 standard, which sets its length, structure, and permitted characters. Since 1981, manufacturers selling in Europe and North America have used this unique 17-character format. Older vehicles had shorter, non-standardised serial numbers.

What is the purpose of the VIN number?

The Vehicle Identification Number is used to identify a vehicle with certainty, regardless of its country or owner. Its main uses are as follows:

• ordering spare parts that are exactly compatible with the model and its engine;
• checking the vehicle’s history, especially before buying a used car;
• checking manufacturer recalls issued for the model;
• identifying a stolen or damaged vehicle with the authorities.

For spare parts, the VIN number provides the exact reference for the model and its engine: the seller can find the correct part with no risk of error. For a sale, the buyer uses it to check the vehicle and confirm that the car matches the advert.

A VIN decoder reads this code and extracts the factory specifications: make, model, body type, engine, year, and manufacturer’s country code. A history report, on the other hand, links the number to the vehicle’s past, according to the available data.

VIN, serial number and chassis number: are they the same?

The VIN number is also called the chassis number or serial number, as it is often stamped on the chassis. These three terms refer to the same 17-character code. The VIN should not be confused with the engine number, which is specific to the engine block, nor with the registration plate, which can change during the vehicle’s lifetime.

The VIN number appears at reference E on the carte grise and in several physical locations on the vehicle. This redundancy allows it to be found and its consistency checked, even if a plate is erased. Here are the most common locations:

Source: ISO 3779 standard.

The VIN number on the carte grise (reference E)

On the French registration certificate, the VIN number can be found at reference E, below the registration information. This is the official reference to compare with the code stamped on the vehicle. For an old certificate, the layout is different: the guide to finding the VIN on an old carte grise details special cases, and the article dedicated to the VIN code on the carte grise explains each section.

Locations of the VIN number on the vehicle

On the car, the first place to look is the bottom of the windscreen on the driver’s side, at the dashboard, then the label on the driver’s door. The manufacturer’s plate in the engine compartment also bears the number. On recent models, the VIN sometimes appears in the onboard computer, under diagnostics or identification.

Before buying, checking the number in at least two locations helps to spot any inconsistency. Take a clear photo of the VIN: it will help you decode the code and request a history report at your leisure.

The 17 characters of the VIN number are read in three sections defined by the ISO 3779 standard: the WMI (manufacturer code), the VDS (descriptor code), and the VIS (identifier code). Each section provides specific information about the vehicle’s origin and characteristics.

The letters I, O and Q are excluded from the VIN to avoid confusion with the numbers 1 and 0. A code containing any of these characters is therefore necessarily incorrect.

Source: ISO 3779 standard.

The WMI: country of origin and manufacturer

The WMI (World Manufacturer Identifier) occupies the first 3 characters and indicates the geographical area and then the manufacturer. This manufacturer code allows the VIN to be decoded by country. The first character designates the manufacturing region, as follows:

The country code is read from the first character. For example, a VIN starting with V often indicates a manufacturer from France or Spain, W a manufacturer from Germany, Z a manufacturer from Italy, J a manufacturer from Japan. The second and third characters specify the manufacturer, for example the type of vehicle produced.

For more detail by brand, Autorigin offers a dedicated decoder that applies the conventions specific to each manufacturer, for example for Peugeot, Renault, Volkswagen or BMW.

The VDS and VIS: characteristics, model year and serial number

The VDS (descriptor section) covers characters 4 to 9 and describes the vehicle: model line, body type, engine, and sometimes safety equipment. The 9th character is a check digit, mainly used in North America to validate the code.

The VIS (identifier section) covers characters 10 to 17. The 10th character indicates the model year, the 11th identifies the assembly plant, and the last six form the car’s serial number at that plant.

The model year code follows a convention that repeats every 30 years. For example, the letter A corresponds to 1980 then 2010, the letter L to 1990 then 2020, the number 5 to 2005 then 2035. The letters I, O, Q, U, Z and the number 0 are never used for the year. The vehicle’s context clarifies any ambiguity between generations. This character changes with each new model generation.

To decode a VIN number, an online decoder reads the 17 characters and displays the vehicle’s factory specifications. Checking the code is free. To find out the car’s history, however, you need a history report, which is paid for: its price depends on the chosen offer. Decoder and report meet two different needs.

The VIN decoder and brand-specific decoder

A VIN decoder is a free verification tool that breaks down the code and returns the manufacturer’s specifications: make, model, engine, year. The Autorigin VIN decoder covers all brands, and brand-specific decoders refine the reading according to each manufacturer’s conventions. The search can be done using the VIN number, or from the registration plate for a vehicle registered in France. The decoding tells you what the car was when it left the factory, not what it has become since.

From the VIN number to the vehicle history report

The history report links the VIN number to the vehicle's past, according to the available data: declared accidents and damage, mileage records, changes of ownership, administrative status, vehicle reported stolen. This is a useful step before buying a used car. Automotive professionals have a dedicated process, described in the VIN verification guide for professionals.

No report guarantees an exhaustive history: it lists the events recorded and accessible via official sources. It complements the examination of documents, the technical inspection and the test drive. Before buying, you can obtain the history report using the VIN.

When the vehicle's VIN number does not match the one on the carte grise, there are two possible cases: a simple entry error, or a sign of fraud. The response is not the same.

Entry error on the carte grise

An error on a character of the registration certificate is an administrative mistake. The holder requests a correction online on the ANTS website, as for an online carte grise application, with supporting documents, notably the vehicle's certificate of conformity. Correction of an error attributable to the administration is free of charge. Also remember to check the VIN entered on the transfer certificate at the time of purchase: it must be identical to that on the carte grise and the vehicle.

As long as the title is not corrected, a history report launched with the incorrect VIN would return information for another vehicle. An error of just one character is enough to distort the result.

Illegible, altered VIN number or suspicious vehicle

A VIN number that is filed down, over-stamped, covered or whose characters are irregular is a major warning sign. It may indicate a stolen or disguised vehicle. In this case, it is better to give up the purchase, check the vehicle's history and, in case of serious doubt, report it to the authorities. Modifying or falsifying a VIN number is an offence: this guide explains how to read and check it, never how to alter it.

The VIN number is the unique 17-character code that identifies a car for life. It can be found at reference E on the carte grise, decoded in three sections (WMI, VDS, VIS) and checked at several locations on the vehicle.

Before buying, this same number gives access to the vehicle's past: claims, mileage, administrative status. Decode your VIN or check a vehicle by its VIN before making a commitment.

• ISO, ISO 3779 standard (structure and content of the road vehicle identification number), consulted on 15 October 2026: https://www.iso.org/standard/52200.html
• Service Public, sections of the registration certificate (reference E, identification number), consulted on 15 October 2026: https://www.service-public.gouv.fr
• ANTS, correcting an error on a registration certificate, consulted on 15 October 2026: https://immatriculation.ants.gouv.fr