Got a German car on your hands? Buying a used car from Germany? Are you interested in what the VIN holds? Look no further. If you are interested in the details that can be accessed with the VIN number of your vehicle, the only way to do this is through a VIN check. In this article, we will dive into the steps you need to take to carry out a German VIN check and discover the hidden details encoded in a VIN.
What is a VIN number?
A VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) is an identifier that is attached to a vehicle during manufacture. This identifier, usually 17 characters long, holds information about:
- The vehicle’s specifications, such as year, make, model and trim, which can be easily decoded with the help of a VIN decoder. The VIN decoder is another tool that can be used to check German car VIN numbers and gain access to accurate vehicle specifications only.
- The history and records of the vehicle. To find out the vehicle’s history and records, you would need to carry out a full VIN check.
- The VIN number is one that can be used to discover the full records of a vehicle, and when a good VIN check tool is utilized, car buyers can make informed decisions and leave with their desired vehicles.
What is the main purpose of a VIN?
In the early days, there was a need to find a method to identify vehicles as car production increased daily with the growth in technology. This led to manufacturers having different sorts of formats for these identifiers (Vehicle Identification Numbers). They were used basically to identify a vehicle and became necessary whenever details or any information had to be recorded on any vehicle. Over the years, VINs became a tool for accessing vehicle information and have been effective in identifying issues such as stolen records, accident information, avoiding car scams, since all of these details were recorded and connected to the VIN number that identified each particular vehicle, which makes the whole car-buying process easier.
In 1981, new vehicles that were manufactured were stamped with the standard 17-character VIN to aid uniformity across all car brands and manufacturers across the world. This, however, does not imply that the VINs from previous years with less than 17 characters were out of date. No. With a good VIN decoding tool and German VIN check tool, you can easily verify the overall condition and reliability of any German car before purchase. Detailed Vehicle History is one of the few vehicle history report providers specializing in generating concise and detailed vehicle history reports for both classic and modern vehicles without errors.
What is the main purpose of a VIN?
If you are a first-time used car buyer, then you may not understand or know what a VIN is or where it can be found. The VIN can actually be found in a number of places, ranging from the dashboard to the vehicle papers. The most common locations are:
- – On the dashboard
- – The driver’s side door jamb
- – The driver’s side door frame
- – On the engine block
- – Certificate of title
- – Bill of sale
- – Insurance documents, etc.
What is the main purpose of a VIN?
As earlier mentioned, a modern VIN has 17 characters. This string is a mix of letters and numbers, each holding significant information about a vehicle. To gain access to the information encoded in a German VIN, you would have to carry out a Germany VIN check with a reliable vehicle history report provider. However, the VIN holds some data that you may be able to uncover without the aid of a VIN check tool.
Here are the details that are encoded in the characters of a VIN:
- – The vehicle’s manufacturer and country of origin: This information is encoded in the first three characters of the Vehicle Identification Number, and these characters make up the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI).
- – The vehicle’s model, body type, and engine type: The next five characters of a VIN encode information about the vehicle’s model, body type, engine type, and other specifications.
- – The ninth character is the check digit that determines if the VIN is valid or not.
- – The model year: The 10th character provides information about the model year of a vehicle.
- – The manufacturing plant: The details about the manufacturing plant are encoded in the 11th character.
- – The serial number: Each vehicle has its own serial number that makes up the last six digits of the VIN number.
Let’s take a real example of the information obtained after a Germany VIN Check with the Detailed Vehicle History VIN check Germany tool on “NMTER16RX0R073590”:
- – N represents the country of origin, which in this case is Germany.
- – M represents the manufacturer, Toyota.
- – T represents the vehicle type, a passenger car.
- E shows the body type: Minivan.
- – R encodes information about the vehicle engine type: 1.8L L4 DOHC 16V AWD.
- – 1 represents the vehicle’s series.
- – 6 shows the vehicle’s safety features installed.
- – R represents the vehicle model, the Toyota Corolla.
- – X: This is the check digit that tells if the VIN is fake or not. In this case, the VIN is original.
- – 0: represents the vehicle model year, 2006.
- – R: information on the plant
- – 073590: The vehicle’s serial number
And that’s it. With the VIN, along with vehicle specifications for car buyers, consumers can also get full vehicle histories and records about the vehicles they are interested in by carrying out German car VIN checks.
ALSO READ: How to Find the Best Used Car at the Right Price
Buying a used car at a dealership is a big deal for lots of people. This is why it is always recommended to find out as much information as possible about a vehicle before the purchase is complete. Having vehicle information gives you an edge over dealers or fraudsters who may not want to come clean on vehicle details. With a German VIN check with Detailed Vehicle History, you can easily discover the following:
- – Accurate vehicle information
- – Accident history
- – Damage history
- – Odometer readings
- – Auction records with more than 10 photos
- – Lien and loan records
- – Title brand records
- – Theft records
A vehicle history report generated with the Detailed Vehicle History German car VIN check tool also finds good use with car owners as it can accurately:
- Provide past damage records and help identify defects and damages.
- Provide accurate vehicle parts to aid in part repair and replacement, and more.
There are lots more benefits to having all the information you need on a vehicle right in your hands. It gives you a lot more confidence, puts you in control, and helps in negotiations. To carry out a German VIN check successfully, the steps to follow are quite easy. They are:
- – Locate your VIN. The VIN could be 17 characters long or less (in classic vehicles).
- – Visit the Detailed Vehicle History website.
- – Navigate to the VIN check tool.
- – Fill out the provided form with the requested information. Make sure your VIN is entered correctly and there are no mistakes in other details.
- – Select “VIN Check.”
With these steps, you will be able to carry out a German VIN number check on any vehicle and generate a concise vehicle history report, including a window sticker by VIN about the vehicles they are interested in by carrying out German car VIN checks.
Tips to remember when carrying out a VIN check in Germany
Here are some tips for checking a German VIN number with a VIN check tool from Detailed Vehicle History:
- – Before you use a VIN check tool to investigate a vehicle, it’s important to ensure that you have the complete and accurate 17-character VIN number, consisting of both letters and numbers. Take a moment to cross-check the VIN number against the vehicle’s documentation, like the registration or title certificate, to make sure they match up. If they don’t match, this could be a sign that the vehicle has a history of theft or has been tampered with.
- – Next, select a reputable and reliable VIN check tool like the one offered by Detailed Vehicle History. This tool can give you a wealth of information about the vehicle’s past, including details about any accidents, repairs, or title changes.
- – As you go through the VIN check report, be on the lookout for any red flags that may signal potential problems. For example, a salvage title could mean the vehicle was badly damaged and rebuilt, while a history of accidents could suggest safety and reliability issues. Learn more about salvage titles to keep yourself protected.
- – It’s also important to check for any outstanding liens or loans on the vehicle that could prevent you from obtaining a clear title.
- – Finally, take the time to review the VIN check report provided after a VIN check Germany carefully and ask questions if anything seems unclear or raises concerns about the vehicle’s history or condition.
By following these tips, you can use a VIN check tool from Detailed Vehicle History to obtain valuable information about the history and condition of a vehicle before making a purchase.
