The VIN Number Dilemma (To Share or Not To Share?)

Your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is a unique code that has valuable information about your car. But is sharing it as safe as it sounds?

While it is often necessary to share your VIN, and typically it is safe to do so, there is a risk. It’s good to know when, why, and whom to provide your VIN to when it comes to protecting your vehicle and personal information.

The VIN Basic

Every motor vehicle gets a unique 17-character code called a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) when it is manufactured. The VIN is the identity for your car. No vehicle has the same VIN.

A VIN is not just a series of random characters, as it is an organized string of letters and numbers with relevant information for your vehicle.

Your VIN will contain information about your automobile. Here’s a quick breakdown:

1st digit: Country in which your vehicle was manufactured
2nd + 3rd digits: Code representing manufacturer
4th – 8th digits: Vehicle description (model, body type, engine type)
9th digit: Check digit to validate the VIN
10th digit: Model year
11th digit: Plant where the vehicle was assembled
Last 6 digits: Vehicle production number

What if the VIN is under 17 characters?

Confirm that you have the correct VIN and written it down correctly. After verifying that your VIN is under 17 characters, this VIN is probably from a vehicle built before 1981.

Before 1981 auto manufacturers used to produce VINs that were from 11 to 17 characters long. AutoCheck can only report on vehicles with a 17-character VIN so information on vehicles produced prior to 1981 will be limited.

What do the numbers and letters in a VIN actually refer to?

What do the 17 digits in the VIN actually mean? See the breakdown below including the meaning of each segment of the VIN:

VINs provide at least seven different pieces of information.

Origin. If a VIN starts with a 1, 4, or 5, it is a vehicle made in the U.S. Also, other individual countries have their own unique identifier; for instance, if it has a 2, it is Canadian; a J is Japanese.
Manufacturer. The 2nd and 3rd characters indicate what manufacturer the VIN denotes. In some cases, the code corresponds with a brand of vehicles that is now owned by a larger corporation. For example, Dodge and Jeep are both owned by Stellantis, but each has its own. Lincoln has been a division of the Ford Motor Co. since 1922.
Description. The 4th through 8th characters provide various information, including body and engine type.
Security. The 9th character is a “check digit” calculated through a complex mathematical calculation based on the numbers and letters assigned in the rest of the VIN. The digit is either a number or an X letter, and is used to verify the VIN has not been forged.
Year. The 10th character indicates the model year. Only one slot is indicated, and not all letters and numbers are used, leading to repetition. For example, an R could be for 2024 or 1994.
Factory. The 11th character indicates which plant the vehicle was assembled in.
Serial number. The last six characters of a VIN are a serial number that differentiates it from any other vehicle made in that factory that is the same type and model year.

Locating Your Car’s VIN

You can often find your VIN in multiple places on your car:

Driver’s side dashboard (In the windshield)
Driver’s side door
Engine block
Rear, front end of the frame (In older cars)
Registration documents/insurance documents

The easiest place to usually spot it is the dashboard. Just look in the windshield on the driver’s side and find the VIN plate near the base of the windshield.

Note: It’s also important to know that the fact that car manufacturers allow the VIN to be easily visible from the outside of the car should provide you comfort that it generally isn’t high risk to know a VIN alone, just like seeing a license plate number.

Why Would You Share Your VIN?

Your VIN, or Vehicle Identification Number, isn’t a trade secret. There are plenty of situations when you’ll want to share your VIN. Let’s look at a few common uses for your VIN.

#1. Purchasing or Selling a Vehicle.

If you’re about to make a big purchase or you’re selling a car, your VIN is important. It allows the buyer to check the vehicle’s history in a legitimate way, and proves the identity of the vehicle.

As a consumer, would you buy a vehicle from a seller who is unwilling to provide a VIN? You might feel like they’re hiding something about the vehicle.

#2. Insurance.

If you want insurance, you are going to have to provide your VIN to the insurance company.

This collection of characters will help insurance companies determine your vehicle’s value and features with great specificity. This is required to determine the cost of your insurance.

#3. Vehicle Registration and Titling.

The government loves your VIN. They use your VIN on all of their paperwork. This may include renewing your tags or transferring ownership.

#4. Maintenance & Repair.

That rattling noise? Your mechanic might want the VIN to fix it. Repair shops usually require a VIN to grab parts or to get to a vehicle’s specifications or technical service bulletins (TSBs).

Want some car parts for DIY maintenance or repairs? When you are shopping on one of the many great online parts stores, sharing your VIN is usually a guaranteed way of ordering the correct part for your vehicle.

#5. Recalls & Safety Bulletins.

The car companies won’t forget your VIN. They will track vehicles to see if they need any safety updates done or if they are part of a recall.

#6. Vehicle History Reports.

Want the story of a car? Reports based on a VIN tell you everything you want to know about accidents, recalls, previous owners, maintenance records, etc.

#7. Parking & Toll Systems.

Some modern-day parking spaces and toll booths track vehicles with VINs and process payments.

Sharing your VIN in these situations isn’t just okay; it is often required. Most importantly, make sure you are only giving it out to reputable businesses and for recognized reasons.

Not sure? It’s ok to ask why and how they will protect your VIN!

Risks of Sharing Your VIN

Though in most cases, sharing your VIN is appropriate, there are some risk factors. Though not common, here are some instances of how your vehicle’s identification number can be misused:

Vehicle Cloning – A clever crook can use your VIN to clone another vehicle. They place your VIN on a stolen vehicle, making it look legitimate; you could easily find yourself caught as a victim of automotive identity theft.
Identity Theft – Your VIN is not only related to your vehicle, but can be used in the pursuit of stealing your identity. It doesn’t take long from using your vehicle to your credit card.
Insurance Fraud – Imagine having your VIN used to file false insurance claims. You could have a record of accidents that you have never had to report to your insurance company, and increased premiums.
Stalking or Harassment – Your VIN, in the wrong hands, can give someone insight into where you live or work. This is often a viable way for a criminal to find your address.
Targeted Scams – Scammers can use the VIN you provided to create convincing stories. Similar to spoofing, scammers might impersonate dealerships or manufacturers, claiming to be following up to look for urgent recalls or special offers. Indeed, you could receive a Motor Vehicle Service Notification letter that looks official.
Title Washing – Unethical sellers can wash a salvage title by using your VIN. Your SHORT-TERM purchase of a vehicle could leave you stuck with a lemon or a pre-owned vehicle with a long history of damage.
Parts Theft- Some thieves can use VINs for replacement parts, which aids a thief in stripping a car without raising questions.

These risks sure sound scary, but there is no need to worry! The only way to combat these threats is through awareness. You are already ahead of the game if you understand these risks and what they entail.

Is it safe to reveal my VIN when selling a car through Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace?

The short answer: it generally is safe, but be careful.

Benefits to providing your VIN:

It builds trust with prospective buyers
It lets serious buyers run vehicle history reports
It helps weed out time-wasters who are not serious about pursuing the vehicle for purchase

Drawbacks to providing your VIN:

It opens the opportunity for scams or other fraudulent activities
It may attract shady characters that you do not want to contact you
It may ultimately lead to identity theft if combined with some additional personal details

Things to do to protect yourself when selling online:

Never provide your entire VIN in the public advertisement
Only give your entire VIN to serious buyers if and when they contact you directly
Use the platform’s messaging capabilities instead of providing your personal email or phone number until you are comfortable doing so

Remember, your VIN is not a magic key to your car, but you also don’t need to plaster it on the internet for no good reason.

Safe VIN Sharing

Here are some common-sense tips to protect your VIN, too:

#1. Confirm the Asker.

Whenever you are asked for your VIN, verify the identity of the person asking for it. In the event that someone says they are from your insurance or says they are from the DMV, don’t hesitate to confirm. A simple phone call to their legitimate phone number can save you a ton of headaches!

#2. Share on a Need-to-Know Basis.

Your VIN is not something to are just shooting the shit with. You should only provide it when absolutely necessary. If they ask for your VIN, ask why they need it.

If selling your vehicle, be prepared to provide the VIN number because a buyer is likely to be leery of you if you do not supply it. They may assume you are trying to hide something about the vehicle’s history or condition, and you could lose out on the sale before it even starts.

#3. Blackout Everything Else.

If you are providing documents with your VIN, be smart and blackout any other sensitive information that is not needed.

Your social security number should not be associated with your VIN; however, other information, like address and phone number, should not be provided unless there is a legitimate reason for it.

#4. Review Your Vehicle History- Regularly!

Don’t wait until beforehand to find out the bad news. Look into your vehicle history report once or twice a year. It’s like preventative care to check your vehicle’s identity.

Although CarFax has dominated the vehicle report industry for a long time, new players like Car Vertical are providing more extensive information for less money than CarFax. For example, a car Vertical report costs at least $10-$15 less than Carfax.

And when considering more than one report, it is even greater savings.

Also, the National Insurance Crime Bureau offers a free VIN check that will tell you if any vehicle has a past report of an insurance theft claim, it has not been recovered, and if it is reported to have a claim of a salvage title.

#5. Use VIN check services appropriately.

Using a VIN check service is always recommended, but not all online VIN checkers are created equal, and some are shady.

Stick to well-known, reputable platforms. There are certainly others than the one disclosed above, just make sure to research before you share your VIN.

What Cannot Be Done With Just a VIN?

While we have identified some of the risks, it is equally important to realize that there are limits to the misuse of a VIN. Let’s bust some myths so that you can rest a little easier.

Driving Off With Your Car – Take a deep breath. VIN numbers are not magic keys. Thieves will not be able to punch a VIN into a keypad and drive off with your car. They will still need the key or some method of overcoming the engine immobilizer or anti-theft system on the vehicle.
Digging Up Your Personal Information – Your VIN is not a magic key to your life story. A VIN is not going to lead to your address, your phone number, the last four of your social, or what you had for breakfast. There is a lot of personal information that is buried deep beyond just a VIN.
Duplicating Your Keys – A VIN is not a magic key for duplicating car keys. Key duplication requires more than a VIN. Without physical access to your car or your keys, there is no way a bad actor can duplicate your keys.
Renewing Your Registration – DMVs are not that gullible (though there are some occasions where they can be). The process of renewing vehicle registrations requires more than a VIN. The registrants will be required to provide proof of identity and ownership to complete the registration process.
Hacking the Vehicle’s Computer – Cars today are smart, but not that vulnerable. A VIN can lead to viewing information related to a vehicle’s build and specifications, but it will not permit a hacker access to the vehicle’s onboard computer or control over the vehicle remotely.

If nothing else, understanding the limitations of what a VIN can accomplish may help you sleep better at night. While it is good to be careful with your VIN, it is not the magic key to your life that some people think it is.

Legal Protections & Regulations

The law isn’t oblivious to VIN antics. A patched-up series of laws and regulations exists to protect a vehicle’s identity. Let us survey the landscape when it comes to VINs legally.

Driver’s Privacy Protection Act (DPPA)

This federal legislation is a thorn in the side of would-be VIN thieves. It limits access to personal information (PII) in motor vehicle records – your state DMV can’t just provide your name and address to anyone who wants it.

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act

The name of a law squeezes the life out of financial institutions. The Gramm-Leach-bliley Act makes them describe how they share your information, and gives you some say in the process. Even though your VIN is a part of the documents provided to insurance, loans or title lenders, it does get some protection here.

State-Specific VIN Laws

The states are not outdoing it and have also created their own rules on the use, exclusivity, and other protection of VINs. In California, for instance, businesses need affirmative written consent in order to run a VIN check, except in certain situations.

Anti-Tampering Laws

You shouldn’t mess with a VIN, and will regret it. Federal legislation provides for large fines and potentially jail time for someone who tampers with a VIN. It relays a clear “hands-off” attitude towards the less-than-honorable types of society.

Used Car Rule

The Federal Trade Commission has issued the used car rule, which means that dealers have to play by the rules on certain things, including letting them know about a used car’s VIN by requiring them to include a buyer’s guide that includes the VIN. A buyer’s guide relays fairness for sellers and buyers alike.

Junkyard Laws

Even junkyards have laws related to VINs. Many states require junkyards to keep records of the VINs of vehicles that are scrapped. Although this law is not perfect and varies from state to state, it makes it much harder for chop shops and car thieves.

Data Breach Notification Laws

If a company takes over your VIN along with other ID info, they will most likely have to notify you. Most states require companies to tell their customers about potential data breaches.

Most of us have participated in data breaches, and very likely related to passwords or social security information; however, breaches about VIN numbers are not as severe.

However, when they occur (and they will), the company that has company related to the data breach will usually provide a one-time free vehicle history report, or something along those line.