How to find the car with the VIN number

The best way to find a car you've owned before is to use the VIN. With the VIN, you can easily verify the current owner of the car.

While you may get lucky and find your car without the VIN, having the VIN makes everything a million times easier. If you're trying to figure out how you're going to track your VIN after all this time, keep reading and we'll help you get the information you need.

How to track the VIN

If you don't have the VIN, finding your vehicle is far from guaranteed. But if you can track down the VIN and are willing to spend a little money, chances are you'll find it.

1. Old paperwork

If you have any of your old registration or insurance forms, the vehicle's VIN is most likely there. Whether you're a hoarder or just keep great records, this is one of the easiest ways to trace your vintage vehicle's VIN.

2. Access the DMV!

Just because you don't have any of the above registration documents doesn't mean you can't track where your vehicle is. For starters, the DMV usually keeps all of that information.

You will need one of two things to track down the VIN for your old vehicle. If you still have the same driver's license number that you had when you owned the vehicle, that's all you'll need. If you don't have it, but do have your old license plate number, that will work as well.

Whether you call them or visit them in person, just give them this information and ask if you can get the VIN. However, they can't tell you who the current owner of the vehicle is, so you'll have to make do with just the VIN.

3. Try the Insurance Company!

Whether you don't want to deal with the DMV or don't have the required information, there's another bureaucratic giant you can call for information: the insurance company you were using when you owned the car.

They must keep records of all the vehicles they have insured, so if you call them they should be able to provide you with the VIN.

4. The bill of sale

While this is technically paperwork, it's not something people think about all that often. But every bill of sale is required to have the VIN of the vehicle. So if you can trace the bill of sale from when you bought or sold the vehicle, you should be able to get the VIN.

How to Check the VIN Number on a Classic Car

All cars have an identification number (VIN) that helps to easily and uniquely identify them. This includes classic vehicles. In the case of classic vehicles, the VIN is made up of 13 digits that provide detailed information about the vehicle. Below, we'll take a look at where to find the VIN number on a classic vehicle and how to decode the VIN number on a classic car.

Where to locate the VIN of classic cars?

Here are some common things you can look for the VIN on your older vehicle:

●      Check under the dash right near the windshield. It is usually visible from the outside and the VIN plate is probably located directly on the dash.

●      Also check under the wheel arch on the driver's side.

●      Using a flashlight, check under the steering column, which is located under the steering wheel.

●      You can also look up the VIN on the vehicle's firewall or other components. Most of the time, the VIN number is usually stamped on the parts themselves.

●      Open the driver's side door and look under the door trim or door frame, as the VIN may be printed on a label.

How to decode a classic VIN number

A classic VIN number is a 13-digit number that is unique to a particular car. Below we will explain how to decode a VIN number from an old vehicle.

Step 1

Look at the first digit of the VIN number to identify the country of manufacture. Vehicles made in the United States will have a 1, 4, or 5 as the first digit in the VIN number code, for example.

Step 2

The second digit in the sequence is used to determine the manufacturer of the vehicle. For example, Jaguar is represented by the letter "A",

Step 3

The third character in the VIN number sequence determines the type of vehicle. For example, a passenger sedan would have a number of "3".

Step 4

Examine the fourth through eighth characters to find out the engine type, brake system model, restraint system, and body style. The ninth character of the VIN number series is known as the VIN number “check digit”, which verifies the accuracy of the preceding characters.

Step 5

Read the 10th character of the VIN number sequence to determine the vehicle's model year. If the vehicle was manufactured between 2001 and 2009, the digits will appear as 0-9.

Step 6

Find and examine the 11th character of the VIN number sequence to determine the manufacturing plant of your vehicle. Unlike the country of manufacture, this number represents the place where the vehicle was assembled.