You can locate a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) in a few different places, both off and on the vehicle.
Why it is important to you?
You will need to enter the VIN into the FinishFirst Mobile App, currently Mobile Tech RX, during creation of a customer invoice. By including the VIN in all FinishFirst invoices, we can assure we don’t “Double-Bill” any customers for the same vehicle by mistake or waste time and money doing the same vehicle twice and only get paid once.
A vehicle VIN does not include information regarding the paint and color; however, Mobile Tech RX can use the VIN to display what colors were available when the model was produced by the manufacturer for most vehicles.
On the Vehicle
The VIN can most often be found on the lower-left corner of the dashboard, in front of the steering wheel.
For most vehicles, you can read the VIN number by looking through the windshield in front of the driver side. Mobile Tech RX can use your phone’s camera to scan the VIN barcode into the app saving you time and reducing the possibility of errors.
The VIN may also appear in other locations:
- Front of the engine block. This should be easy to spot by popping open the hood, and looking at the front of the engine.
- Front of the car frame. Near the container that holds windshield washer fluid.
- Rear wheel well. Try looking up, directly above the tire.
- Inside the driver-side doorjamb. Open the door and look underneath where the side-view mirror would be located if the door was shut.
- Driver-side doorpost. Open the door, and look near the spot where the door latches, not too far from the seatbelt return.
- Underneath the spare tire.
Off The Vehicle
If you need to find a VIN, you can first check any documentation you have been provided for the vehicle by the dealership.
If you are not provided any documentation for the vehicle, you can find the VIN on the vehicle itself.
If you still can’t locate the VIN, try consulting the vehicle manual or contact someone at the dealership and request guidance.
Why Do Vehicles Have VINs?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) began requiring standardized VINs in 1954 for all road vehicles.
Vehicles model year 1981 and newer have a VIN made up of 17 characters (letters and numerals). Before that, the VIN length and format varied among vehicles. The VIN provides clues as to a vehicle’s background, including: The manufacturer; Model year; Where it was built; and Engine information.
A vehicle’s VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) records the vehicle’s identity. The National Highway Traffic Safety Association offers free VIN Checks.
Check VIN info here:Â NHSTA VIN Decoder
