After all the talk about Vehicle Identification Numbers, you must be wondering why they are used in the first place. There are a lot of people who will be inquisitive about the origination of VINs. You would want to know why the earlier standards were inadequate in identifying a vehicle.
There are more than a billion cars traveling the roads today. They come in different models, from different manufacturers, different countries of manufacture, and so on and so forth. Although cars come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors, many cars look exactly alike, in terms of external appearance. However, the truth is they are not alike. They are different, just as two people, who might resemble each other, are actually different. In order to identify a vehicle from a billion others, it is necessary to have an identifier that distinguishes one vehicle from another. It is based on the same concept of naming people to identify them. The only major difference is that these vehicles have codes that are comprised of alphabets and letters.
The commonality of vehicles in America is also the element of differentiation of these vehicles. This is the Vehicle Identification Number. The system is common for all vehicles. However, no two vehicles have the same VIN. The VIN will ultimately tell you the disparities between two vehicles, which look similar to the eye. Each of the numbers in a VIN has a unique meaning to it. VINs have evolved over the years. They do not serve the same purpose they served years ago.
VINs Pre-1950
Prior to 1950, Vehicle Identification Numbers were used for the sole purpose of serialization. Unlike today, in those times VINs were not required. It was during this period that the first few characters identified only the make and model of the vehicle in question, and the remaining numbers of the code represented the model year. This information was quite inadequate, since it did not offer substantial data regarding the manufacturer, the country, the manufacturing division, the vehicle type, and other critical data. However, a few of the manufacturers of this era assigned characters for the assembly plant and number of cylinders in the vehicle's engine.
1950-1980: The rise of VINs
The increase in importance of VINs was witnessed around this period. Around 1950, most American car manufacturers had begun to inscribe the Vehicle Identification Numbers on their cars and the components. The intent then was to attribute a number to a vehicle that would help in offering an accurate description of a vehicle, in a period where automotive production was a booming sector. Post 1950, spanning over three decades, the information included in the VIN started to increase. With the passage of time, the VINs began to include corresponding characters for year, make, and model, as well as body style, engine, and assembly plant, as a standard requirement. During this era, the vehicle's "body plate" also incorporated codes corresponding to the body type, build date, paint, price class, rear end, transmission, trim, etc.
1980-Present Day: The 17-Character Standard
After the introduction of the VIN standard in 1980 up to now, the VIN number is being defined as a 17-character alphanumeric identifier. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transports) established a rule in 1980. By virtue of this rule, all vehicles sold in the US were required to have a 17-character VIN. In modern times, we have a fixed VIN system for all major vehicle manufacturers, which includes motor vehicles, trailers, motorcycles, and mopeds. No manufacturer is exempt from this rule.
More than an accepted standard, the 17 digit Vehicle Identification Number has become the unique identifier of a vehicle that provides crucial data like a vehicle's history. It helps when a purchaser is buying a vehicle. It is very hard to identify which car is in a better shape when two cars looking and feeling alike are presented to you. Only with the history of the car, can you find out if the car is good.
What a VIN Tells You
A VIN can be used to order a history report of a vehicle you are looking to buy. You can find out if the car has been wrecked in the past or reported stolen. You can also find out if there are any recalls on it, if there is any reported flood or hail damage, or even if the odometer has been tampered with.
VIN numbers are quite useful in title and registration purposes, as they also carry important registration records. These records reflect the car's "driven" history. You can find out if it was used for police business, as a taxi, or in a fleet. The Vehicle Identification Number will also help you know if the car has been salvaged or rebuilt, saving you some precious bucks.
