What Is A Vin Number?
Your vehicle identification number, also known as VIN, is a code unique to your automobile. One of its key features is the serial number of the maker of the vehicle. Thanks to this, it can be used to determine the vehicle’s country of origin, its model, and even the type of components it uses.
It has some other functions as well, but these are the most important ones.
In our case, it is crucially important for auto glass procedures because we use your VIN to determine the exact auto glass part you need. Your vehicle identification number can be found in these places:
- The base of your windshield (driver side)
- Near the wiper fluid for your front windshield, on the frame
- Driver side door post
- Under your spare tire, but the exact place varies
You can also check some documents for the VIN, such as:
- Any and all documents originating from your insurer
- The owner’s manual
- The registration document of your automobile
- The vehicle title document
How To Quickly Locate It
One of the easiest ways to find this 17-digits number (in most cases) is to stand outside of your vehicle, near the driver’s side window. Now look towards your dashboard, and more specifically the corner where it meets your windshield. The VIN should be right there.
We’ve also had a few calls from past customers asking what is a VIN number while they were inside their homes, but you can find it just as easily from there as well. Other than checking the previously mentioned documents, you can also have a look at:
- Repair records from body shops
- The history report of your vehicle
Our suggestion is that once you determine what your vehicle identification number is, you just save it on your mobile device, so that you have it on hand always.
The Exact Uses Of VINs
Like we’ve already mentioned, VINs are handy for a great many things. It basically keeps track of what your car is, what components it uses, who made it, how many owners it had, if and what types of repairs or replacements it has had, and so on.
Your VIN will be able to inform any parties of the automobile’s usage history, as well as any types of services rendered on it. It’s also critically important if a factory recall was to be issued for certain defects. By using your vehicle identification number, manufacturers can easily inform all affected owners.
Additionally, in case you need an auto glass procedure done on your car, like a professional windshield replacement, providing your VIN is a must. Otherwise, there’s no way that we can know the precise auto glass part that’ll perfectly fit the make and model of your vehicle.
Summing It Up
So what is a VIN number in a few words?
It’s basically the lifeblood of your vehicle. It is used to keep a detailed record of its entire history, from fabrication, to all owners, any and all repairs or replacements it has had, as well as what components are the right fit for it.
