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VIN — Vehicle Identification Number — is a unique 17-character identifier of the vehicle. Each car has its own, never repeated in the world. This code writes the entire history of the car: where it was manufactured, how many owners it had, what accidents it was in, whether the mileage was altered.
When buying a car from abroad, VIN verification is not optional — it is mandatory. You don't see the vehicle in person, so this is the only reliable source of information.
Where is the VIN written?
- Bottom left corner of the front windshield (visible from outside)
- On the label in the driver's door frame
- In the engine compartment, on top of the frame
- In the technical passport and insurance documents
In auction listings, the VIN is usually shown next to the lot information. If it's not shown — that's a red flag in itself.
What does each 17 character mean?
| Position | What it indicates | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1-3 | Manufacturer and country | 4T1 = Toyota, USA |
| 4-8 | Model, body, engine | K61AK |
| 9 | Check digit (anti-counterfeiting) | 9 |
| 10 | Year of manufacture | N = 2022 |
| 11 | Zavod | U |
| 12-17 | Serial number | 032714 |
In the VIN The letters I, O and Q are not used — so they won't be confused with 1 and 0 numbers. If you see these letters in the code, it's either a typo or it's fake.
What does the verification show?
- Accident history — how many times, what damage, insurance payouts
- Mileage records — the number recorded at each inspection. If there's a decrease, the odometer has been rolled back
- Title type — clean, salvage, rebuilt, flood, lemon
- Number of owners — frequent changes of hands are suspicious
- Service history — whether there was regular maintenance or not
- Theft database — whether the vehicle is reported as stolen
- Recalls — whether factory defects have been fixed
Which results are red flags?
Flood / Water damage — a flooded vehicle. Electronics cause problems for years, repairs are expensive and never fully recovered. Stay away from this.
Mileage reduction If 2021 year shows 90 thousand miles and 2023 year shows 60 thousand miles, the odometer has been rolled back. This is a crime in the US and the car's real condition is unknown.
Multiple serious accidents One minor collision is normal. Two or three serious accidents mean the frame geometry is damaged.
Salvage title, but no visible damage If everything looks good in the photos but the title is salvage, the damage is hidden. Request a detailed report.
Where to check?
Bizim Our VIN check page is free — you enter the code and the car's main information appears instantly. For deeper reports (accident history, mileage records), there are paid services like Carfax and AutoCheck; we can obtain them for you too.
Practical advice
Before the auction check, don't check after. Auction purchases cannot be returned — if you see a problem in the VIN after winning the lot, it's too late. A few minutes of checking can save thousands of dollars.
If you have a lot you like, send us the VIN code — we'll check it free of charge and explain the results. Fill out the order form or 050 202 30 80 message us.